Cruise & Ferry Review - Autumn/Winter 2020

5 9 Norwegian fjords and in and out of most harbours in order to reduce noise and pollution. This will reduce the emissions by more than 40 per cent compared to today’s operations. It will also give the customers a different experience. There will not be any dark smoke, no vibration and complete silence.” The claims upon Havila’s environmental credentials are significant – especially given that the line’s major competitor, Hurtigruten, promotes its own environmental credentials. Onboard, Havila’s ships will be a celebration of Norwegian culture, according to Myrvoll, with local companies chosen to furnish both public spaces and cabins. There will be chairs and sofas from Brunstad, Fora Form and Ekornes of Norway, while passengers and crew will sleep on mattresses from the Norwegian company Recticel. Myrvoll says that the choice of furniture is about more than just aesthetics. “This is quality furniture that provides a high degree of comfort for our passengers,” he explains. “It has also been important for us to use furniture from local suppliers, located within a short distance from the coastal route’s ports of call, to make it practical, easy and sustainable also when it comes to service and delivery.” However, an obvious question for a company that is so rooted in Norwegian culture, is why not build the ships in Norway? The answer was primarily a lack of interest from Norwegian shipyards. “Nonetheless, it’s important to us that the building of these ships stimulates Norwegian value creation, and we have found a good alternative solution where Norwegian design, equipment and other Norwegian deliveries make up over one- third of the building costs,” says Myrvoll. That philosophy is embodied in the partnership with Norwegian Marine Interior and the architects at Steen Friis Design, which have planned, designed, and will deliver and install the furniture and interior for the four new ships. These ships might be being built in Turkey – but they’re Norwegian through and through. C&F Photo: Havila Voyages “Our ships and company profile shall be in the lead when it comes to green technology”