Norwegian based Havila Voyages announces that they got their two last coastal cruise ships, the Havila Polaris and Havila Pollux, handed over at the Tersan Shipyard in Turkey on the 1st August. This was marking the end of a challenging journey as the company faced significant obstacles since the original lender was sanctioned on 24 February last year, requiring lots of time, resources, and patience to find legal solutions as a result of same.
Havila Voyages states that the breakthrough came with a groundbreaking financing method as the company successfully raised EUR 305 million from HPS Investment Partners to refinance its fleet, with an additional EUR 65 million contributed by the company’s largest owners and investors in a private placement. The holding company, Havila Holding AS, chipped in with an unsecured and subsidised loan of EUR 20 million it was mentioned.
Bent Martini, CEO Havila Voyages says at the delivery celebration that “On this day, as we finally possess our own beautiful and state-of-the-art coastal cruise ships, with spacious cabins and providing a high level of comfort for everyone on board, it marks a significant milestone for the shipping company.”
Havila Polaris meantime has left Turkey on the 3rd August for Bergen in Norway where its maiden voyage is departing on the 17th of August. The Havila Pollux also left Turkey on the 4th August and she is scheduled to follow the same route and embark on its journey from Bergen on 23rd of August 23rd. With the maiden voyages on the horizon, the company is facing hectic days once arriving at Bergen, in order to ensure that the ships are well-prepared and undergo the final touches before embarking on their exciting new journeys, the company mentions.
