The coastal cruise ship Havila Capella was christened by godmother Hege Sævik Rabben in front of Havila Voyages' headquarters in Mjølstadneset, Fosnavåg, Norway.
Just under a year after launching its service on the historic coastal route between Bergen and Kirkenes, the Havila Capella has been officially christened in Fosnavåg. The ship's godmother, Hege Sævik Rabben, a member of the Havila Voyages board of directors, christened the vessel with clean water drawn from Geiranger.
“It’s a great honor to be the godmother of such a large ship, especially here in Fosnavåg, where the shipping company is headquartered,” says Sævik Rabben. “It’s been a challenging start for both the Havila Capella and the company, but we’re optimistic about the future.”.
Stars were the starting point for naming Havila Voyages' new ships. It all began when the president and main shareholder, Per Sævik, announced a naming contest for his eight grandchildren. The names were supposed to be Havila followed by the name of a star.
“The names of our four ships are stars that guide us. Throughout history, Capella, Castor, Polaris, and Pollux have been used for navigation at sea and to guide sailors home,” explains Per Sævik.
The Havila Capella is the most environmentally friendly ship on the coastal route, with its hybrid liquefied natural gas (LNG) operation and the world's largest battery pack on a passenger ship. Earlier this year, the Havila Capella also received the "New Generation Ship Award" at the Nor-Shipping trade fair outside Oslo.
“The Havila Capella’s characteristics make it a guiding star along the coast, just like its sister ships. We have already sailed the Geirangerfjord emission-free, four years ahead of the regulatory requirements, and we have ships built to meet the requirements for future completely emission-free voyages. Therefore, it is fitting that the Havila Capella bears the name of a guiding star,” says Managing Director Bent Martini.
