Havila Voyages

Havila Kystruten AS was founded on 13 November 2017 in Fosnavåg, Norway, and uses the name Havila Voyages internationally. The company operates four of the eleven ships on Norway’s coastal route.

Havila Kystruten on Norway’s coastal route

The coastal route runs north from Bergen to its northern terminus at Kirkenes; from there, travellers can also head south along the Norwegian coast. Havila describes the full round trip as taking twelve days and calling at 34 ports. A northbound one-way trip takes seven days and also covers 34 ports; the southbound route takes six days and calls at 33 ports.

Fleet, construction history and propulsion

The series comprises Havila Capella, Havila Castor, Havila Polaris and Havila Pollux. The four sister ships are each 124 metres long and 22 metres wide. Published capacity figures distinguish between 468 passengers in cabins and 172 day passengers. Cargo capacity includes space for 190 pallets, 40 of which can be refrigerated or frozen.

The construction contracts were initially split between two shipyards: Capella and Castor were built at Tersan in Turkey, while Polaris and Pollux were started at the Spanish shipyard Hijos de J. Barreras. Following financial difficulties there, the contracts for the two ships were terminated, and their partially built hulls were transferred to Tersan. The shipyard ultimately completed all four vessels.

Havila Capella was laid up in the port of Bergen from April to the end of June 2022; the stoppage was related to the sanctions situation.

The vessels entered service in stages. Havila Capella began operating on 12 December 2021. Havila Castor was delivered on 22 April 2022 and entered service on 10 May. Havila Polaris and Havila Pollux were delivered on 1 August 2023; Polaris first took on passengers in Bodø on 18 August, and Pollux completed her first regular round trip on 23 August.

Havyard’s design is designated Hav923. All four ships combine liquefied natural gas (LNG) with a 6.1-megawatt-hour battery storage system.