The first two of Havila Voyages’ four new coastal ships, HAVILA CASTOR and HAVILA CAPELLA, were launched at the Tersan shipyard on Saturday 5 September.
Arild Myrvoll, CEO of Havila Kystruten said that because of the pandemic, the first two ships will not be ready for the new year as originally planned. “It looks like delivery may take place during Q1 of 2021,” he said.
In anticipation of the new ships, Havila Voyages has received approval for two replacement vessels, but the demand for the coastal route between Bergen and Kirkenes is currently very uncertain, and the need for capacity at the start of the new contract on 1 January 2021 is under evaluation.
Havila Voyages has an agreement with the Norwegian Ministry of Transport to operate four of the eleven ships that sail the classic coastal voyage between Bergen and Kirkenes from 2021 to 2030. The seven other ships will be operated by Hurtigruten.
It is unclear when ships number 3 and 4 will be delivered, as the Spanish yard went bankrupt.
The ships will have LNG propulsion and the world’s largest battery packs.
