Press release -
Havila Voyages announces annual results
Havila Kystruten AS (Havila Voyages) has published its 2022 annual results, along with its first ever sustainability report.
“Last year was financially very challenging for us both in terms of income and expenses due to the challenges we experienced in connection with the sanctions issue, says CEO Bent Martini.
However, after a complex start-up phase, Martini is confident that the company will deliver positive results when all four ships are in full operation along the Norwegian coast.
“We believe we have what it takes to succeed in our mission along the Norwegian coast, but we are still in the start-up phase of our operational activities. We are confident that we will deliver what we committed to the Norwegian authorities and will provide memorable experiences for our guests. That is why we are optimistic about the future," he says.
“We are committed to creating value locally and nationally and aim to be a company that our employees are proud to work for. We are actively working on refinancing our fleet, after a complex and time-consuming process to find a legal way out of our original financing agreement. It has never been an option for us to give up, but we have had to dig deep and engage in numerous discussions with partners, lawyers, and legislative bodies to get to where we are today. We are now very pleased that the process of raising funds to refinance our ships is underway, and we are looking forward to reaching the end of this process”.
First sustainability report
Along with the annual report, Havila Voyages published its first-ever sustainability report. It shows, among other things, positive steps forward in reducing CO2 emissions and food waste.
“Last year, we made history as the world's first cruise company to sail into the UNESCO World Heritage site in Geirangerfjorden emission-free and silently, four years before the Norwegian government's requirements for emission-free ferries and ships in the World Heritage area comes into effect," says Martini.
“This demonstrates our strong commitment to the climate, environment, and sustainability. We want to reduce our emissions as much as possible, and we have clear goals to be as sustainable as possible”.
In 2022, the company aimed to have only 75 grams of food waste per person per day on board their coastal route ships, which they considered feasible because all the food on board is served à la carte.
“75 grams of food waste per person is very low, and with all all four ships in operation, we would have reduced food waste by a total of 60 tons per year, by not using buffets. In 2022, we successfully achieved our goal and can report we currently operate with only 71 grams of food waste per person. It is not only good for the environment, but also economically sustainable too." he says.
“The fact that we achieve such good results is thanks to the fantastic efforts of those who have developed our food concept, those who prepare and serve the food on board, and, not least, our guests who are made aware of the concept. And no one leaves our restaurants hungry”.
Havila Voyages’ new and modern ships use liquefied natural gas (LNG) and large battery packs on board along the Norwegian coast, which also reduces their environmental footprint.
“With current operations, we have reduced our CO2 emissions by up to 35-40% compared to similar ships using traditional fossil fuels. We also reduce our local emissions of NOx and SOx by more than 90%. CO2 emissions could be further reduced if there was a better charging infrastructure along the coast," explains Martini.
“In the near future, we hope to gradually switch from natural gas to liquefied biogas, and our goal is to be completely climate-neutral by 2028. After that, we will transition to zero-emission fuel alternatives such as hydrogen, with the goal of zero emissions by 2030 with our current ships”.
Martini explains that it is no coincidence that the newest addition to the historic coastal route focuses heavily on climate, environment, and sustainability.
“We believe that our sustainable approach to coastal tourism is a positive contribution to the transition to a zero-emission society. We look forward to continuing our journey and doing our part to make the tourism and shipping industries more sustainable. Together, we will lead the way towards a greater focus on sustainability, and we aim to be among the first to achieve zero emissions," concludes Martini.
Download the annual report for 2022, Havila Voyages’ first sustainability report, and watch the video presentation of the annual report below.
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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.
