It comes after Russian company GTLK, which owns the leasing company in Hong Kong which financed the line’s maiden vessel, was sanctioned by the EU.
Havila "assumes" the sanctions will prevent GTLK from carrying out the financing of the three remaining vessels being built at the Tersan shipyard in Turkey.
Havila Voyages’ chief executive Bent Martini voiced support for sanctions against Russia "in this dire situation the world is in" and said the line is now working to refinance Havila Capella to "break all ties with sanctioned and Russian-owned companies".
Havila Capella is the only one of the company’s ships which is financed and leased from GTLK. The remaining ships are owned by the Tersan shipyard until Havila takes delivery of them.
All sailings with Havila Capella are planned to go according to a communicated route plan, and the ship is registered in the Norwegian Ordinary Ship Register, with the Norwegian flag, Norwegian crew and Norwegian operating company.
“Havila Voyages is the operator of Havila Capella," Martini continued. "The ship is approved by the Norwegian authorities and satisfies all requirements in the Norwegian Maritime Act so that it can sail under the Norwegian flag.
"Even though we have paid rent to a Russian-owned company, the ship is Norwegian for all practical purposes. We have assessed what has now happened as a possible outcome and have for a period worked to find alternative financing for our coastal cruise ships."
Havila Voyages plans to take delivery of its second ship, Havila Castor, in a week’s time.
"We have to work with several options," Martini added. "The short-term solution is to take delivery of Havila Castor as soon as we can. The slightly more long-term solution is to find an alternative financing for the last two ships under construction, as well as how we will solve Havila Capella which is already in operation.
"The ships at the Tersan shipyard are owned by the shipyard until delivery. The plan was to finance the ships through leasing agreements with GTLK Europe and GTLK Asia, two reputable companies in ship financing, but today’s situation makes it impossible for us to use GTLK as a financing institution for our ships".
