Press release -
All ships in route along the coast
The coastal cruise ship Havila Pollux departed from Bergen on Wednesday evening, marking the inclusion of all of Havila Voyages vessels in service along the historic coastal route between Bergen and Kirkenes.
Havila Pollux is the fourth and final vessel from Havila Voyages to be deployed along the Norwegian coastline, putting an end to a long waiting period for the company.
“We have truly faced our challenges in recent years, and I believe we have been just as frustrated and impatient as the authorities with whom we have a contract to operate the coastal route, customers, and coastal communities. In the past few weeks, we feel the tide has turned a bit, with more positive news since we took over our last two ships. Today is the ultimate confirmation, and it was a true delight to be on board as Havila Pollux cast off in Bergen”, says CEO Bent Martini.
Havila Pollux arrived in Bergen from the Tersan shipyard in Turkey last week, and the past week has been dedicated to preparing the ship for operations along the coast.
“We had a bit more time than with Havila Polaris. At the same time, our crew on board and our subcontractors have put a lot of effort in to ensure she was ready on time. It is great to have the ship ready, approved, and on schedule”, says Martini.
Honorable mission
On the bridge leaving Bergen, Captain Martin Iversen was at the helm.
“To be allowed to take a ship on its maiden voyage is an honorable mission. I am grateful for the opportunity and look forward to sailing this fantastic ship along the coast”, says Iversen.
“The crew on board is prepared and ready for the tasks ahead, and I promise that we have a highly motivated team to operate the ship in the best and safest possible way, while also taking good care of all our guests on board.
Means everything
Martini emphasizes that this day is a turning point for Havila Voyages.
“This means everything to us. Now we will finally have the opportunity to deliver as we have committed to in the contract with Norwegian authorities and showcase our incredible product. We will contribute to critical infrastructure along the coast, and provide our guests on board with experiences of a lifetime”, he says.
Sister ship Havila Polaris is well underway with her first roundtrip on the coastal route and turned around in Kirkenes on Wednesday, heading south again.
“The reception Havila Polaris has received along the coast from Bodø and northbound has been fantastic. It is very clear that the coastal communities have been waiting for our state-of-the-art ships. We are thrilled about it, and we look forward to giving something back to the coastal communities”, says Martini.
On Thursday morning, Havila Pollux will dock at Mjølstadneset in Fosnavåg in front of the Havila House.
“Tomorrow, we are making an exception from the route and docking in front of the headquarters instead of the Port of Torvik. We have many employees in the Havila group who have been waiting and are excited to see the newest addition to the family”, Martini concludes.
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The Havila Voyages is a Norwegian shipping company that sails the classic coastal voyage between Bergen and Kirkenes with the Norwegian coast's most environmentally friendly ships.
The four new ships are loaded with the world's largest battery pack, and can sail for four hours without noise or emissions through vulnerable fjords. The batteries are charged with clean hydropower at shore, and when the batteries are low we switch to natural gas which cuts CO2 by around 25 %.
The hull is specially designed for maximum energy efficiency, and excess heat from cooling water and sea used for heating on board. On the menu are locally made dishes from local producers, and all unnecessary plastic is avoided. We are already exceeding the authorities' requirements for cutting emission, and we have set sail with zero emissions as the future target.
The Havila Voyages is part of the Havila Group that dates back to the 1950s. It all started when the founder, Per Sævik, bought his first fishing boat in his teens. From fishing and herring fishing, Havila is now a group operating in shipping technology, offshore, transport and tourism.
