On Tuesday, August 1, the coastal cruise ships Havila Polaris and Havila Pollux were finally delivered to Havila Voyages during an official ceremony at the Tersan shipyard in Turkey. “A milestone for the shipping company,” stated CEO Bent Martini.
The Norwegian flag and the flag of the shipping company Havila Voyages were finally raised on both coastal cruise ships, which are in the Tersan shipyards, outside Yalova, Turkey.
“We have achieved our goal after a process that has required a great deal of time, resources, and perseverance. In particular, it has demanded a great deal of patience from the Norwegian authorities with whom we have an agreement to operate, our customers, the coastal communities, our partners, and all our employees,” says CEO Bent Martini.
“We remained confident that we would reach this moment, even though we have encountered new challenges at every turn. Now that we finally own our own beautiful, state-of-the-art coastal cruise ships, with spacious cabins and a high level of comfort for everyone on board, it is a milestone for the shipping company.”
Osman Nurettin Paksu, chairman of the board of directors of Tersan Shipyard, was also present at the ceremonies.
“It is a fantastic day for us to celebrate the delivery of these beautiful vessels to Havila Voyages. Despite the challenges faced by both us and Havila Voyages during the construction process of these impressive ships, we are delighted to have delivered them today. These are the most modern and environmentally friendly vessels on the Norwegian Coastal Route, and we are proud that they will carry the Tersan Shipyard name along the beautiful Norwegian coast. We also extend our gratitude for the support and efforts of Havila Voyages and their cooperative representatives, who made these deliveries possible; it has been a pleasure working with them,” says Paksu.
In recent years, many Havila Voyages employees have participated in and contributed to the construction process in Türkiye, and Martini emphasizes the importance of this.
“We want to thank Tersan Shipyard for their excellent cooperation and great understanding of our challenges over the past few years. They have built four fantastic vessels, and without them, as well as other suppliers and partners, we wouldn't be standing here today,” says Martini.
“Furthermore, we've had our own employees here in Turkey throughout the entire process. Having our own people close by has been absolutely crucial for us, and I thank each and every one of them for their dedication and hard work.“
The Havila Polaris is scheduled to begin operations from Bergen on August 17 and will be the first vessel to leave the Tersan shipyard. Shortly thereafter, the Havila Polaris is scheduled to follow the same route before commencing operations from Bergen on August 23.
“Our crews will be on board shortly, and we’re now clearing the necessary equipment through customs before final checks. The Havila Polaris will then depart for Bergen. Depending on the weather conditions we encounter on the way home, it will take us between 10 and 12 days to bring the ships back to Norway,” says Martini.
“The crew of the Havila Pollux will be on board the Havila Polaris upon its arrival in Bergen and, together with our team onshore, will work to ensure a successful launch. It will be a collaborative effort that I eagerly anticipate. We are all looking forward to welcoming our first guests aboard.”
Next-generation ships
Like their sister ships, the Havila Polaris and Havila Pollux have energy-efficient hull designs created to withstand the conditions of the Norwegian coast. The vessels are equipped with a 6.1-megawatt-hour battery pack, allowing them to operate emission-free for up to four hours. This means they can visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Geirangerfjorden area silently and without emissions.
The ships' propulsion system is a hybrid solution combining 86 tons of batteries and liquefied natural gas (LNG). The batteries can be charged while the ships are docked, using clean Norwegian energy. This reduces CO2 emissions by up to 35% and local emissions by 90% compared to equivalent vessels powered by traditional fossil fuels.
“For us, it’s important to demonstrate our commitment to climate, the environment, and sustainability. This isn’t just a marketing ploy or empty words. From the first day the Havila Capella entered service, we have exceeded the requirements set out in our contract with the Ministry of Transport,” explains Bent Martini.
