Turkish shipbuilder Tersan has delivered the first out of four LNG-powered coastal cruise ships to Norwegian shipping firm Havila Voyages.
The LNG-powered Havila Capella would soon leave the yard and head towards the Norwegian coast, according to a statement by Havila Voyages.
It would start working on the traditional coastal route from Bergen to Kirkenes on December 1, Havila said.
Tersan launched this vessel along with its sister ship Havila Castor last year, after battling for months with the restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This vessel will also work on the coastal route between Bergen and Kirkenes, just as two other sister ships on order at Tersan.
The DNV-classed 121 meter long vessels feature Bergen engines and the “world’s largest” battery packs supplied by Corvus Energy that enables low-emission sailing of up to four hours.
“Havila Capella is a large hotel with 179 cabins, several restaurants and large common areas that will be made ready in a very short time in addition to crew and hotel employees to get to know the ship, systems and each other,” Havila Voyages CEO Bent Martini, said.
“But we have got off to a good start already, and we are confident that this will go well,” he said.
Mehmet Gazioğlu, general manager of Tersan said the four coastal cruise ships for Havila Voyages “are a special assignment for us.”
“We have faced various challenges, including the corona pandemic, which has led to delays, but we have learned a lot from the first ship and expect more efficient construction of the next ones,” he said.