– I have been looking forward to this all my life, says Louise Hill (78). She is originally from Australia but lives in Italy. Together with a group of Italians, she was to experience the beautiful Norwegian coast on the ship Havila Polaris. But on Wednesday, all passengers had to be evacuated due to overheating in the propulsion system. It is now clear that the rest of the tour will be cancelled. Hill is clear about how she feels about it. – I am very, very disappointed. I don’t know if I can come again next year, because I am almost 80 years old, she says. Trying to find other solutions Lasse Vangstein, communications director at Havila, thinks it’s a shame that the passengers miss the journey along the Norwegian coast. – We are terribly sorry on behalf of our passengers, but we cannot compromise on safety. The safety of passengers, crew and ship is the most important thing for our company, he says. – Overheating is always serious, whether on board a ship or a car. But fortunately we have crews on board who handled the situation according to the textbook, says Lasse Vangstein. Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / news Vangstein says that everyone who has booked a full or half tour should get everything refunded. – Also for unused excursions and any other packages they have ordered in advance, he says and continues: – Some passengers were on slightly shorter trips, where we try to find other solutions in relation to transport and that they get a percentage refunded. Planned a trip with her husband The 78-year-old says that she and her husband had been talking about going on this trip since he retired 20 years ago. – But we didn’t do it and now I’m alone. I traveled because it was something we had planned together, so I am extra disappointed now, she says. The 78-year-old is unsure whether she will be able to go on such a trip again. Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / news Danger to reputation Vangstein says that they are now aiming to have Havila Polaris back on the normal route from Bergen on 3 August. – The propeller system is out of order, and it needs to be repaired, quite simply. That is why we cannot continue the route. Havila has had several challenges, delays and passengers who have not been allowed to travel as they were supposed to before. – What does this situation mean for your reputation? – It is clear that our reputation can be affected by situations like this. At the same time, we hope that people understand that this is an event beyond our control. The danger potential in case of hot running and possible fire is much greater than the outcome, says Vangstein. Havila Polaris cannot sail on after the propulsion system overheated on one side on Wednesday. Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / news – A fantastic trip One person who has not been scared away by Wednesday’s incident is family man Andreas Leutenegger from Zurich in Switzerland. – It was a fantastic trip, just a little shorter than we had thought. We will definitely come back, he says. The family had planned to take the ship to Trondheim and then fly home to Switzerland. Now it’s a bus trip. He says that the evacuation went very well. – I’m surprised at how calm people were, actually. Family man Andreas Leutenegger from Zurich in Switzerland is very satisfied with how the evacuation was handled on Wednesday. Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / news Charles Lindgren from Minnesota USA was supposed to be on the ship for seven days, but it was only two. Now he and his wife have decided to go on a road trip instead. – My wife and I are trying to make lemonade from lemons. It’s not the best situation, but at least we have enough days left of the trip to do our own thing, he says. He is happy because they get all their money back from Havila. – They did the right thing, so we are fine. Charles Lindgren has rented a car to be able to drive around to see Norwegian fjords. Photo: Mia Sofie Ytreberg / news Published 25.07.2024, at 14.56 Updated 25/07/2024, at 15.38
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The passengers are disappointed – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
