The 2021-built expedition vessel SH Minerva rejoined the Swan Hellenic fleet, after extended inactivity caused by sanctions and legal constraints.
The luxurious ship was reacquired by Swan Hellenic on July 25th, using shareholders’ funds and following negotiations with liquidators in full compliance with applicable sanctions.
Following routine maintenance and careful preparation to meet Swan Hellenic’s standards, SH Minerva will set sail in November 2025 from Ushuaia to begin its 2025–2026 Antarctic season alongside sisterships SH Vega and SH Diana.
After the polar deployment follows Swan Hellenic’s first-ever Asia‑Pacific program (March 2026) that combines voyages visiting new destinations such as the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia's Raja Ampat, the Philippines, and Japan.
These itineraries promise intimate encounters with ancient rituals, anthropology, WWII heritage sites, wildlife observation, snorkeling and watersport adventures that align with the company’s ethos of immersive discovery.
Andrea Zito, COE of Swan Hellenic, considered the return of SH Minerva a defining milestone, emblematic of the cruise line’s resurgence. The upcoming Asia‑Pacific season, she noted, would allow Swan Hellenic to sail on every ocean and across every continent, underscoring the company’s pride and renewed global ambitions.
Built at Helsinki Shipyard at the end of 2021 and initially chartered through STLC Europe Nine Leasing Ltd, SH Minerva had been laid up in Uruguay from April 2022 following sanctions imposed on its parent company GTLK Europe DAC. That company went into liquidation in May 2023, and after lengthy legal proceedings, Swan Hellenic reacquired the vessel in July 2025.