The next-generation expedition vessel SH Minerva has once again joined the Swan Hellenic fleet, heralding the line’s return to full global service. After extended inactivity caused by sanctions and legal constraints, the ship was reacquired by Swan Hellenic on July 25, 2025 using shareholders’ funds, following negotiations with liquidators in full compliance with applicable sanctions.
Following routine maintenance and careful preparation to meet the line’s high standards, SH Minerva will set sail in November 2025 from Ushuaia to begin its 2025–2026 Antarctic winter season alongside sister ships SH Vega and SH Diana.
Upon conclusion of the polar season, the ship will venture into Swan Hellenic’s first-ever Asia‑Pacific programme in March 2026, carrying cultural expedition voyages to new destinations including the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Raja Ampat in Indonesia, 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, chief executive 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.