Press release -
Cancellation of round trip with Havila Polaris
Havila Voyages regrets to announce that Havila Polaris must cancel the remaining round trip from Ålesund following an incident of overheating on board the ship yesterday.
On Wednesday, July 24th, overheating occurred in the propulsion system on the port side outside of Stranda on the way to the Geirangerfjord. This has resulted in damage that requires immediate repair.
"It is, of course, very unfortunate for all our passengers who were looking forward to a unique experience along the Norwegian coast, and this is a situation we wish we could have avoided, but it has been beyond our control," says CEO Bent Martini.
"Safety is our highest priority, and we will never compromise on that. Therefore, Havila Polaris will not be able to sail until repairs are completed and the systems thoroughly tested. We plan for Havila Polaris to be back in service from Bergen on August 3rd," explains Martini.
Havila Polaris will find a suitable location to continue inspections and perform the necessary repairs. The company greatly appreciates the passengers' understanding and patience in this situation and apologizes for the outcome for the guests on board.
"We are very sorry that this situation has disrupted our passengers' vacation. All affected guests will be contacted by Havila Kystruten as soon as possible for information on further handling and possible alternatives. We will do our best to offer them the opportunity to take a new trip at a later date," says Martini.
Martini also takes the opportunity to thank the crew on board who handled the situation excellently, preventing more significant damage to the ship while also taking good care of the guests on board.
"From what we in the shore organization experienced and based on feedback from passengers who were on board on Wednesday, our crew on Havila Polaris handled this incident very well. They prevented more significant damage and made the right choices to ensure the safety of passengers, crew, and the ship. Additionally, the incident occurred without too much drama and in an orderly manner. Their efforts in a critical situation have been outstanding," concludes Martini.
After repairs, Havila Polaris will return to service from Bergen on August 3rd, 2024.
Topics
Categories
Havila Voyages is a Norwegian shipping company that sails the classic coastal voyage between Bergen and Kirkenes with the Norwegian coast's most environmentally friendly ships.
The four new ships are loaded with one the world's largest battery pack ever installed on passenger ships and can sail for up to four hours without noise or emissions through vulnerable areas. The batteries are charged with clean hydropower at shore, and when the batteries are low we switch to natural gas which cuts CO2 by around 35 %.
The hull is specially designed for maximum energy efficiency, and excess heat from cooling water and sea used for heating on board. On the menu are locally made dishes from local producers, and all unnecessary plastic is avoided. We are already exceeding the authorities' requirements for cutting emission, and we have set sail with zero emissions as the future target.
Havila Voyages is part of the Havila Group that dates back to the 1950s. It all started when the founder, Per Sævik, bought his first fishing boat in his teens. From fishing and herring fishing, Havila is now a group operating in shipping technology, offshore, transport and tourism.
