The Hurtigruten competitor Havila Coastal Route has experienced bankruptcies, delays and problems as a result of the corona. In December, the company could finally start sailing along the coast. But since then they have encountered a number of problems.
“Havila Capella” is financed by a Russian leasing company, and was hit by sanctions against Russia in April.
On April 26, Havila got the Coastal Route exemption from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the sanctions regulations so that they could sail with “Havila Capella” for six months.
Thus, there was hope that the ship, which has a doctor at the quay in Bergen since April 12, could soon be allowed to sail again. But they also had to get a dispensation to be able to insure the ship. This should now have been rejected.
– It is naturally very disappointing, and means that we still have an unresolved situation “Havila Capella,” he says Bent Martini, CEO of Kystruten.
According to Havila, the rationale for the refusal must be that taking out insurance in itself will mean that a fortune will be put to the advice of the registered owner. An owner who is listed as sanctioned in Norway.
Wondering about the Foreign Ministry
The coastal route will operate the sailing lanes along the coast on request from the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
The four ships, which the Havila Coastal Route is scheduled to sail along the coast with, have a total value of around NOK 4 billion. Havila has worked to refinance the ship after they were hit by the sanctions against Russia. But this takes time.
DRAWER: Bent Martini says it is disappointing that they have been denied a dispensation to insure the ship.
Photo: Øyvind Sandnes / NRK
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After a quarter of an hour, the Havila Coastal Route still received a dispensation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to sail “Havila Capella” for six months, while they continue to work on refinancing the ship.
Martini, therefore, wonders to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ assessment of not approving the insurance, at the same time as they have granted a dispensation to operate the ship.
– We can not sail without valid insurance. We can do nothing but accept the authorities’ assessment, but disagree with the decision, he says.
Havila Kystruten emphasizes that it will not be the owner who receives a payment, should an accident occur.
– As the sanctions are set up, any insurance payment will not benefit the ship’s registered owner. In the event of a total accident, there are other parties who will receive the insurance payment, says Martini.
NRK has been in contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has no opportunity to comment on the case tonight.
Working with refinancing
Lasse A. Vangstein, communications manager at Havila Kystruten, says that it is still unclear how long it will take to refinance “Havila Capella”.
– We have been working on this since February, but it is complex and time-consuming to refinance a ship to NOK 1.2 billion. The best solution would have been that the ship was not owned by a sanctioned company, and that is what we are working on, he says.
– Do not give up
Problems with the insurance also lead to them being forced to cancel the next round trip as well “Havila Capella”. It was to leave Bergen on 15 May.
– We will continue to work to find a solution so that the ship can sail again. Until we have clear what room for maneuver we are facing, it is difficult to provide any more information now, says Martini.
The sister ship of Havila Capella, “Havila Castor”, is financed in another way and takes its first sail as planned from Bergen Tuesday, May 10th.
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