Six months after beginning operations off the Norwegian coast, the Havila Castor has been officially christened in Ålesund. The ship's godmother is Aurora Sævik, granddaughter of the chairman of the board and principal shareholder, Per Sævik.
“I felt incredibly proud and happy when Grandpa asked me if I wanted to be the godmother of the Havila Castor,” says Aurora Sævik. “We grandchildren were allowed to help choose the names of the coastal cruise ships, but I never imagined I’d be here today. It will be a memory for a lifetime.”.
The Havila Castor is named after a star in the Gemini constellation. Pollux, which gives its name to the latest ship in the Havila Voyages fleet, is the second star in Gemini, stars historically used for navigation at sea to guide ships and crews safely to port.
“We would have loved for our sister ship, the Havila Pollux, to be here today as well, but its christening ceremony will take place sometime next year,” says Per Sævik.
“The past week has been significant for Havila Voyages, as we have finally christened our first two ships. Now we look to the future and are eagerly anticipating the Havila Polaris and the Havila Pollux commencing service on the historic coastal route.”
In early June, the Havila Castor sailed for the first time in the Geirangerfjord. The voyage was completed using only battery power, with zero emissions and complete silence. This event took place four years before authorities mandated zero-emission operation for ships in Norwegian fjords.
“When Parliament introduced legislation for zero-emission ships in 2018, many people said that 2026 was too soon and completely impossible. We have more than proven that it is possible, and that puts us at the forefront of development on the Norwegian coast,” says Managing Director Bent Martini.
Many members of the local community came to Skansekaia to witness the naming ceremony of the coastal cruise ship. “Ålesund is an important port on the coastal route. In winter, we dock here for several hours, and in the summer and autumn seasons, it's the starting point for our voyages through the Geirangerfjord and the Hjørundfjord. That's why it seemed logical to hold the christening ceremony here today, and we're delighted that so many people wanted to share the day with us,” says Martini.
