Havila Kystruten says it has received the necessary certificates from the Norwegian Maritime Directorate, which means that the coastal cruise ship Havila Capella is now fully insured and can restart operations along the Norwegian coast.
“Havila Capella has been moored at the quay in Bergen since 12 April, when the insurance companies terminated their contracts on the ship due to the EU's sanctions against the leasing company GTLK Asia,” the company said in a statement.
GTLK is a Russian financial group that is facing sanctions following Russian attack on Ukraine.
The company said it had also been working on solutions to take over ownership of the ship. “Among other things, the company has filed a case to the High Court of England & Wales in London to force a change of ownership of Havila Capella. At the same time, the shipping company, through a petition to the Hordaland District Court on 16 June, demanded temporary arrest and forced use to operate Havila Capella,” it said.
Operations to resume on 28 June
On 20 June, the ruling came from Hordaland District Court, where they upheld the company`s request.
“Through the ruling from Hordaland District Court, we have been given the role of principal administrator of Havila Capella, with all the rights that a registered owner has”, CEO Bent Martini explains.
“The Norwegian Maritime Directorate has now issued valid certificates for Havila Capella to Havila Kystruten, which means that we have received valid P&I insurance with assistance from the insurance company Skuld. Over the next few days, we will seek to conclude the hull insurance for the ship, meaning Havila Capella can resume operations from 28 June, when she will embark on her next voyage along the Norwegian coast,” he said.
Martini also wants to point out that Havila Kystruten has had a good collaboration and good dialogue with the Norwegian Maritime Directorate in this matter.
Great importance to the coastal communities
Havila Capella is moored at the quay in Bergen with crew on board and is ready to receive guests.
“It has been important for us to secure our values, and not least our greatest resource - our employees. We have always believed that we would find a solution and have chosen to keep everyone at work. We are pleased with that decision now. We have crew on board who have shown a great willingness to deal with a demanding situation, and who are now very much looking forward to showing off the best of the Norwegian coast to our guests,” said Martini.
“It is also very important for our company to get Havila Capella back in operation. It is of great importance to the coastal communities and Norwegian value creation. Our social mission along the Norwegian coast contributes to a significant number of jobs, and to Norwegian business and tourism beyond our voyages, in addition to being an important part of the infrastructure along the coast,” he concluded.
