Havila Kystruten has received the necessary certificates from the Norwegian Maritime Authority, meaning the coastal cruise ship Havila Capella is now fully insured and can resume operations off the Norwegian coast. Operations will resume on June 28.
The Havila Capella has been moored at the Bergen dock since April 12, when insurance companies terminated their contracts on the ship due to EU sanctions against leasing company GTLK Asia.
Havila Kystruten has also been working on solutions to acquire ownership of the vessel. Among other things, the company has filed a lawsuit in the High Court of England and Wales in London to force a change of ownership of the Havila Capella. At the same time, the shipping company, through a petition to the Hordaland District Court on June 16, demanded the temporary detention and forced use of the Havila Capella for its operation.
On June 20, the Hordaland District Court issued its ruling, granting the company's request. "Through the Hordaland District Court's ruling, we have been granted the role of principal administrator of Havila Capella, with all the rights that a registered owner has," Martini explains.
“The Norwegian Maritime Authority has now issued valid certificates for the Havila Capella to Havila Kystruten, which means we have received valid P&I insurance with the assistance of the insurance company Skuld. In the coming days, we will seek to finalize the vessel's hull insurance, which means the Havila Capella will be able to resume operations from June 28, when it will embark on its next voyage along the Norwegian coast.” Martini also wishes to emphasize that Havila Kystruten has had excellent cooperation and open communication with the Norwegian Maritime Authority on this matter.
The Havila Capella is moored at the Bergen pier with its crew on board and ready to welcome guests. “It has been important for us to safeguard our values, and no less so our greatest resource: our employees. We always believed we would find a solution and chose to keep everyone employed. We are now pleased with that decision. We have a crew on board who have shown great willingness to cope with a challenging situation, and who are now eager to show our guests the best of the Norwegian coast,” says Martini.
“It is also very important for our company that the Havila Capella is back in operation. It is of great importance to coastal communities and to the creation of Norwegian value. Our social mission along the Norwegian coast contributes to a significant number of jobs, businesses, and Norwegian tourism beyond our voyages, as well as being an important part of the infrastructure along the coast,” says Martini.
“It is very gratifying that we have reached a solution based on our own initiatives, in good cooperation with the Norwegian authorities, including the Norwegian Maritime Authority, lawyers and our insurance company, which gives us the opportunity to put the Havila Capella back into normal operation,” he concludes.
