Havila Voyages' Managing Director, Bent Martini, confirms that the shipping company is delighted to finally cast off and offer its first coastal voyage along the Norwegian coast, becoming an integral part of the daily coastal shipping traffic. "With a brand-new shipping company, a first operational vessel, and three more new ships on the way, I think we can safely say that December 12, 2021, is a historic day for both Havila Voyages and the Bergen-Kirkenes coastal route," he commented.
Havila Voyages has invested around 500 million Norwegian kroner to make its ships environmentally friendly. Among other things, the plug-in hybrid ships have the world's largest battery packs designed for passenger ships. They weigh 86 tons and have a capacity of 6.1 megawatt-hours, equivalent to 600 high-end Teslas.
The batteries allow them to navigate for four hours without noise or emissions, and they can navigate silently and sustainably through fjords that are a World Heritage Site.
Battery packs are just one of several measures that enable their ships to reduce NOx emissions by approximately 90% and CO2 emissions by 25%. The onboard dining concept, with no buffets and personalized table service for all meals, also means that Havila Voyages will reduce food waste by a total of 60 tons per year.
Martini states that Havila Voyages navigates through priceless natural landscapes and must do so in a way that allows future generations to experience them in the same way. Havila Voyages will provide exceptional experiences while always protecting the environment.
