Status from Havila Voyages
Contact Information for Voyages:
- Press Duty: +477 67 400
- Emergency Phone for Crew Relatives: +477 67 305
- Emergency Phone for Passenger Relatives: +477 67 910
24.07 Havila Polaris Delayed from Ålesund
Following the incident on board the coastal cruise ship "MS Havila Polaris" earlier today, the ship will be delayed in its schedule from Ålesund.On Wednesday, July 24, Havila Polaris experienced overheating in the propulsion system on the port side off Ålesund while en route to the Geirangerfjord. The ship docked at Stranda under its own power, where passengers and part of the crew were evacuated ashore via gangway for safety reasons.
Havila Polaris has now received temporary sailing permission from DNV and the Norwegian Maritime Authority to sail back to Ålesund, where the ship will dock at Storneskaia. Expected arrival at Storneskaia is at 11 p.m. Wednesday. Initially, Havila Polaris will be delayed in its schedule from Ålesund.
"We never compromise on safety and would never sail back to Ålesund unless it was safe for passengers and crew," says CEO Bent Martini in Havila Voyages.
"It is, of course, unfortunate that we had an incident on board, but as we see it, the crew has handled the situation as well as possible and prevented more significant damage to the ship."
Passengers on board will be able to stay on the ship in Ålesund, and Havila Voyages will provide more information about the next steps once the extent of the damage is clarified and further plans are made.
"It is important for us to get a complete overview of the damage and how this affects future operations. We need some time for this, in cooperation with our suppliers," says Martini.
"We will take good care of our passengers and do our utmost to ensure they have a good experience in Ålesund tomorrow," he concludes.
More information about the future operations of Havila Polaris will be provided as soon as it is available.
Update at 14:50: Havila Polaris has received temporary sailing permission from DNV (Det Norske Veritas) and the Norwegian Maritime Authority to sail back to Ålesund, where Havila Polaris will dock at Storneskaia. Passengers and crew are on their way back on board, and the expected departure from Stranda is in about half an hour.
Havila Kystruten AS: Incident on Board "MS Havila Polaris"
Today, July 24, 2024, at 13:18, there was an incident with the coastal cruise ship "MS Havila Polaris" off Stranda on its way into the Geirangerfjord. All passengers and part of the crew have been safely disembarked ashore at Stranda.
Havila Polaris was off Stranda on its way into the Geirangerfjord on a northbound route, and at 13:18 today, overheating was reported in the propulsion system on the port side. There has been no outbreak of fire on board, but significant overheating triggered cooling and foam spraying in the affected areas.
Havila Polaris had 397 passengers on board in addition to a crew of 68. The ship has docked at Stranda, where all passengers and 30 of the crew members have been disembarked via gangway for safety reasons. The disembarked crew is assisting passengers on land.
Everyone that has been disembarked are gathered at the cultural center in Stranda, which will serve as a reception center. No passenger injuries have been reported, but two crew members are being checked by medical personnel on land for suspected smoke inhalation.
More information will be released as soon as it becomes available.
Contact Information for Voyages:
- Press Duty: +477 67 400
- Emergency Phone for Crew Relatives: +477 67 305
- Emergency Phone for Passenger Relatives: +477 67 910