After two months in Bergen, “Havila Capella” can sail again

More than two months ago, the passengers on board the “Havila Capella” had to take their suitcase and go ashore again. Since then, several trips have been canceled. Russian ownership has made it impossible for Hurtigruten competitor Havila Kystruten to use “Havila Capella”. After the war against Ukraine, Norway and the EU imposed sanctions on Russia, and the coastal cruise ship remained dormant. Havila was not allowed to operate a ship owned by Russia. Take the ship by force Since 12 April, the company has been trying to find a solution to the problem. On Monday, Kystruten writes in a press release that Hordaland District Court, at the request of the company, has arrested the ship. Havila Kystruten has been given the right to use it for two years. Now it only says that to get an insurance in place, before “Havila Capella” can once again loosen up and leave Bergen. The recent challenger to Hurtigruten had only sailed along the Norwegian coast for a few months when they encountered a problem. Photo: Dag Harald Kvammen Andersen / news Dispensed Havila Kystruten previously received a dispensation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so that they could sail, even though a Russian company owned their ship. But the insurance company did not get the same license. According to a “Secret” letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the insurance company was refused due to the danger that insurance money would end up in Russia. Working with refinancing The right of use that is now in place is only intermediate. Kystruten is working to take over the ownership of “Havila Capella”, by buying out the Russian leasing company, which is the formal owner. But Norway will not trade with Russia. Havila is therefore trying to find out if they can transfer the money in a way that gives them ownership of the ship, at the same time as they follow the sanction rules. For example, by transferring the money to a frozen account, so that the money is not available to the Russian company. The agreements between Havila Kystruten and the Russian company are regulated by English law, and Havila said before the weekend that they expected a clarification of this from English law within a reasonable time.



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