By
Alex Smith |
Swan Hellenic’s new ship SH Vega was christened at Helsinki Shipyard in Finland on 11 July.
The vessel was named by Patrizia Zito, wife of Swan Hellenic’s CEO Andrea Zito, in a ceremony attended by executives of Helsinki Shipyard, the media, and members of the worldwide cruise and travel industries.
“This is a proud day for us all,” said Jonas Packalén, project manager for Helsinki Shipyard. "SH Vega is every bit as beautiful and elegant as her twin sister! We wish her and her crew fair winds and following seas, with special thanks to everyone involved in the project for their unstinting dedication!”
SH Vega is the second in a series of three expedition cruise vessels being built for Swan Hellenic by Helsinki Shipyard. The ship features a five-megawatt diesel-electric propulsion system with selective catalytic reduction and a Polar Class 5 ice-strengthened hull. It is also equipped with exhaust gas cleaning, advanced wastewater treatment systems and waste storage facilities, and will be able to accommodate up to 152 guests in 76 staterooms and suites.
The ship is sailing to Tromsø for an 11-day maiden cruise exploring the Svalbard Archipelago that will depart on 20 July 2022. SH Vega will then sail an inaugural season of voyages visiting Arctic destinations, before travelling down the East Coast of the USA in autumn to offer cruises to Antarctica between November 2022 and March 2023.
“I would like to congratulate everyone at Helsinki for their superb work in creating this wonderful new ship,” said Andrea Zito, CEO of Swan Hellenic. “We are delighted with the quality of their work, creating another unique presence on the waves, and very much look forward to taking her first guests to see what others don’t, exploring the Arctic in exceptional comfort and style.”
SH Minerva and SH Vega will be joined in early 2022 by the slightly larger SH Diana, which is already under construction at Helsinki Shipyard.