Havila Polaris ferry

On March 23, 2018, Norway's Ministry of Transportation and Communications split the "Norwegian Coastal Express" ferry service between Hurtigruten and the Norwegian company Havila Shipping (Havila Kystruten Ltd). The Bergen-Kirkenes-Bergen route is operated by Hurtigruten since 1893. Norwegian Government's annual subsidy for this regularly scheduled passenger shipping service is NOK 788 million (~USD 100M).

In late-December 2018 was announced that Enova (Norwegian government agency) will provide NOK 88 million (USD 10,1M) as financial support for Havila Kystruten's newbuilds (or NOK 22 million per vessel). Havila ships are from the Havyard-923 series and designed specifically for the "Norwegian Coastal Express" service. The four newbuilds are LNG-powered hybrids (alternative battery power) and passenger capacity 640 (each). The vessels were designed by "Havyard Ship Technology" (subsidiary of Havyard Group - Norwegian maritime company established in 2000, owns Loland Verft in Leirvik Norway).

Rolls-Royce Marine was contracted to provide Havila ships' power plants and propulsion units. The equipment includes 2x dual-fuel engines, 4x Bergen gas engines (two 9-cylinder, plus two 6-cylinder, all IMO Tier 3 compliant), 2x LNG tanks (with bunkering systems), 2x LNG fuel systems, control and safety systems. Ship's propulsion is also Rolls-Royce manufactured and includes 2x Azipull thrusters (with Permanent Magnet drive motors), stabilizers (Neptune 200), tunnel thrusters (allowing slimmer hull shape, better energy efficiency low noise-vibration levels). LNG fuel systems are separate, custom-designed, and serving both machine rooms (front and aft).

In late-February 2019, the Candian stock-listed company Corvus Energy was contracted by NES (Norwegian Electric Systems) for delivery and installation of world's largest ship battery-package ESS (Energy Storage System / air-cooled system with patented single-cell thermal isolation). Orca ESS (battery pack/weight 86 tons) has capacity 6,1 MWh/6100 kW per hour (double the capacity of currently largest battery-packed/electric ferries) and allows 4 hours "silent sailing". Battery power is combined with hybrid gas-electric propulsion. The powerplant consists of 4x LNG-powered marine engines (per vessel) with combined output 7,76 MW.

Another modern marine technology is the heat recovery system that also uses seawater for cooling. All Havila cruise ships are also fitted with shoreside-power capabilities, allowing them to use electricity from the city's power grid (while docked/berthed in all seaports with such capabilities) instead of running the main engines/generators.

In early-April 2019, Havila Kystruten and Kongsberg Maritime (ferry equipment's supplier) signed a 10-year contract (NOK 150 million / USD 17,6M) for "Power-by-the-Hour" service for the new cruiseferries. This Kongsberg service was introduced in 2017 with NorLines (Norwegian coastal shipping and logistics company).

• By the Havila-Kongsberg agreement, the shipowner Havila handed to Kongsberg the responsibility for the vessel's service planning and performance.
• The shipowner pays a fixed charge per hour of operation per vessel. Kongsberg monitors in real-time the equipment from land-based control centers (collecting data from shipboard sensors) where engineers can remotely access the equipment and carry out services or send out service staff to assist.
• The "Power-by-the-Hour" package also includes the ship's planned drydock-wetdock maintenance. Kongsberg's equipment package includes propulsion system (Azipull thrusters with Permanent Magnet drive motor), tunnel thrusters, stabilizers, and LNG systems (including four Rolls Royce-made Bergen C26-33L gas engines).

The ship's namesakes are the icebreaker Polaris (2016-built), the riverboat Travelmarvel Polaris (2021) and the expedition ship Viking Polaris (2022).

Havila Polaris ship's construction (IMO number 9873759, hull/yard number "BARRERAS 1710") started at Barreras Shipyard (Vigo, Spain). However, in August 2019, due to financial difficulties, the shipyard suspended all works on both Havila Kystruten-owned newbuilds (Polaris and Pollux) and in late November 2019 canceled both orders. In late-December, both unfinished hulls were towed to Tersan Shipyard (Yalova, Turkey). The Turkish shipyard was already building Havila's other 2 ships (Capella and Castor), and the deliveries of all 4 ferries were rescheduled (for 2021-2022).

The deliveries of the Turkey-built Polaris and Pollux were rescheduled for, respectively, 2023 January (delayed from December) and 2023 March. However, both vessels were officially delivered from Tersan to Havila on August 1, 2023. The ceremony was attended by Bent Martini (Havila Voyages CEO).

In December 2022, Havila Voyages was forced to delay Polaris ship's delivery (its first 4x Norwegian coastal voyages were canceled) as it awaited a resolution of financing impacted by the EU sanctions against Russia (specifically Russian financial institutions were banned from European businesses).

Havila initially entered into an agreement with GTLK-State Transport Leasing Company (Russia's largest leasing company) to build and operate under long-term charters the four cruiseferries (Capella, Castor, Polaris, Pollux). Earlier in December, Havila won a legal case in the UK (The High Court of Justice, Business and Property Courts of England and Wales, Commercial Court in London) that settled the dispute over the debt/ownership of the vessels. In September, Havila reached terms on a EUR 370 million (USD 390 M) refinancing of the cruise fleet and for payments to Tersan Shipyard for the completion of the 3rd and 4th units (Polaris and Pollux). In addition to completing the last 2 boats, the refinancing was also used for the redemption of existing debt. The British court confirmed to meet the restrictions under the sanctions, that the payments will be made to a frozen bank account. GTLK opposed this solution but will gain access to the funds when sanctions permit. However, Havila was not able to take delivery of Polaris pending clearance of a legal settlement to the blocked Russian account.

On April 28, 2023, Havila Voyages received a license from the Central Bank of Ireland required for the legal financing and delivery of Havila Polaris and Havila Pollux to proceed. To assist in the financing procedures, Havila Voyages contracted as facilitators two Norwegian investment banks - Fearnley Securities AS (1869-founded) and Arctic Securities AS (2007-founded). They were hired to settle Havila's debts to the Russian lender (GTLK) to a frozen account and to release the security in the ships.

In June-July 2023, Havila Voyages secured the necessary financing for Pollux and Polaris by raising EUR 305M from HPS Investment Partners LLC (2007-founded, NYC-headquartered American investment firm). Additionally, Havila's principal owners and investors raised EUR 65M in additional equity, and Havila Holding AS provided a loan of EUR 20M. This allowed the delivery (in August) of both vessels.

Havila Polaris left Turkey (Yalova) on Aug 3rd (at 18:14 UTC) while Havila Pollux left on Aug 4th (at 16:30 UTC). Polaris arrived in Bergen on Aug 15th (at 21:11 UTC) docking at Jekteviken Terminal, and was later moved to Festningskaien.

Havila Voyages hoped to take immediate delivery of Polaris and relocate the boat from Turkey to Norway/Bergen for final outfitting. Polaris' maiden voyage (initially planned to depart from Bergen on December 29, 2022) was postponed to 2023 - first February 11th, then June 12th and finally for August 17th. Pollux's delivery was also delayed (initially scheduled for March 2023) and the maiden voyage was postponed/rescheduled twice - first for June 18th and eventually for August 23rd.