Press release -
Havila Polaris is heading north
On Friday evening, Havila Polaris cast off from Festningskaien in Bergen and set course northwards. The coastal route ship is now expected to commence its route in Bodø on Sunday, August 20th.
Less than three days after arriving in Bergen from the voyage from the Tersan shipyard in Turkey, Havila Polaris was ready to depart from Bergen. Over the past few days, several hundred people have been working to prepare the ship for operation along the Norwegian coast.
"The effort that has been put in here these days has been absolutely tremendous. Everyone has worked as a team, and we have carried out an unprecedented joint effort. Getting a ship like this ready in under three days is truly a unique achievement," says CEO Bent Martini of Havila Voyages.
In addition to the crew on board Havila Polaris, the crew from Havila Pollux and employees from other ships in the company who were originally off-duty, as well as employees from the onshore organization, have been on board to help.
"We've had to pitch in wherever there's been a need, and I'm confident that as a company, we have built closer bonds that will strengthen us going forward," says Martini.
"I must also extend a big thank you to all the subcontractors we've had on board during these days. They have truly understood the time pressure we've been under and delivered outstanding efforts to assist us in reaching this moment."
Commencing in route in Bodø
Friday's departure from Bergen means that Havila Polaris will commence its route in Bodø on Sunday, August 20th, not in Tromsø as initially reported.
"It's gratifying that we are able to commence the route earlier than we thought, and that we can give our guests on board the opportunity to experience Lofoten and Vesterålen," says Martini.
This also means that the ship's guests will have the opportunity to participate in selected excursions from Bodø and further north.
Proud captain
Out of Bergen, Captain Joakim Albriktsen was at the helm.
"This is a proud moment for me, and it's with a certain awe that I'm allowed to be the captain on the maiden voyage of this magnificent ship," says Albriktsen.
Albriktsen has normally served as first officer and is familiar with Havila Voyages’ ships after several shifts on Havila Capella and Havila Castor.
"The advantage is that all four ships are identical, and there's no difference in that regard whether I'm on board here or on any of the other ships. This gives us good flexibility internally to help each other out if someone is unable to go on duty," says the captain.
Martini also believes this flexibility is beneficial for the company.
"With four ships, all of our crew members can easily switch between the ships without having to learn new areas and routines. This has been a deliberate choice from the drawing board, that we should have four identical ships. It provides predictability for our employees, and it can open doors for new offerings for our guests who may want to be on board for a few days before disembarking in a port. Then they can hop on the next Havila Voyages ship and get the exact same cabin for the voyage ahead," says Martini.
"Now that we are soon fully operational along the coast, we will continue to evolve to cater to present and future travelers, while delivering on our societal mission as we promised," he concludes.
Passing by the headquarters on Saturday morning
Around 10:00 AM on Saturday morning, Havila Polaris will pass by the Havila headquarters at Mjølstadneset in Fosnavåg.
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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.
