The Norwegian coastal operator will sail its new vessels between Bergen and Kirkenes from 2021
By
Elly Yates-Roberts |
Norwegian cruise ferry operator Havila Kystruten has revealed the names for its four new ships, which were designed by Havyard Design & Solutions and will start service in Norway in 2021.
The ships have all been named following a contest between the company owner’s eight grandchildren. Prior to the contest it was decided that the new ships’ names would each include ‘Havila’ and the name of a star. With that in mind the ships will be called Havila Capella, Havila Castor, Havila Polaris and Havlia Pollux. The first two will be built at the Tersan yard in Turkey, while the second two will be constructed at the Barreras yard in Spain.
According to Havila’s CEO, Arild Myrvoll, the ships will be the most environmentally friendly on the Norwegian coast, thanks to their LNG engines and battery packs, provided by Havyard Group subsidiaries Norwegian Electric Systems (NES) and Norwegian Control Systems (NCS). This will enable the line to sail into the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Geirangerfjord, with zero emissions by 2021 – five years earlier than the zero-emission requirements set out by the Norwegian Parliament for sailing into the World Heritage fjords.
Once in service, the vessels will provide services along the Norwegian coastal line between Bergen and Kirkenes, a route that has previously only been sailed by Hurtigruten.