Havila Voyages wins High Court battle to take delivery of new ships

The Norwegian cruise company took legal action in London to resolve a payment issue with subsidiaries of sanctioned Russian leasing company GTLK relating to two ships, Havila Polaris and Havila Pollux, which are currently being completed at a Turkish shipyard, as well as the ownership of existing ship Havila Capella.

The court has ruled in favour of Havila Voyages, which means it can now take delivery of Havila Polaris, which had been postponed pending the outcome of this case. GTLK is one of the Russian firms sanctioned in Europe over the war in Ukraine.

Havila Voyages managing director Bent Martini said: “This is a good clarification for us, and states that we have the full right to take over Havila Polaris and eventually Havila Pollux, at the same time that we get to settle Havila Capella.”

The company said Havila Polaris would now be delivered over the weekend and sail to its home port in Norway “as soon as possible”.

“It’s starting to become time-critical to get the start-up on schedule on 29 December, but we turned around Havila Castor in Bergen in five days and can do it again,” added Martini. 

“At the same time, it will have to happen over the Christmas period, and we are dependent on our suppliers to finish the work on Havila Polaris when she has returned home.

“We now need some time to find out where we stand and how much we will be able to do in Bergen after the ship arrives there and will give an update on when Havila Polaris will start operations along the Norwegian coast as soon as is possible.”

The High Court ruling allows Havila Voyages to settle its debt to GTLK for financing the construction and leasing of the ships by paying into a frozen bank account to comply with sanctions.