Swan Hellenic announces third ship

SWAN HELLENIC and HELSINKI SHIPYARD PRESS-RELEASE (21 October 2020)

Swan Hellenic orders new 5-star expedition cruise ship from Helsinki Shipyard

Plans for third ship in fleet show strong confidence in market and brand vision

Today Wednesday 21st October 2020, Swan Hellenic and Helsinki Shipyard announced that the dynamic cultural expedition cruise company had entered into a contractual agreement with the Finnish shipyard for the order of a third Vega Class expedition cruise vessel.

Larger than its sister ships and designed to sail to all continents, the 12.000 GRT Vega 3 will be a 5-star polar PC6 ice-class vessel 125m LOA. Accommodating 192 guests in 96 spacious cabins and suites, the vast majority with large balconies, it will be operated by an onboard team of 140 - almost as many as the guests - to provide the highest levels of personal service.

Featuring a 4.6 megawatt diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system with selective catalytic reduction, 3-megawatt max. battery package and ice-strengthened hull, the new ship will not only be able to reach the most remote and inaccessible corners of the world, but also do so in almost total silence under battery power. Causing minimal disturbance to sensitive ecosystems and wildlife, Vega 3 will thus bring its guests a uniquely immersive experience seeing what others don't.

The procurement of the main equipment has already begun, with all three Vega ships being built at Helsinki Shipyard following a fast-track schedule. The ambitious timing was confirmed as entirely realistic when the keel laying ceremony of Vega 1 took place on schedule in September despite the challenges of the COVID pandemic.

During the ceremony it was announced that Vega 1 would be christened SH Minerva in honour of the iconic company’s first purpose-built vessel, named after the Roman goddess of creativity and wisdom.

With the three Vega ships scheduled for delivery in November 2021, April 2022 and year-end 2022, Swan Hellenic is demonstrating solid confidence both in the strength and resilience of the high-end cruise market and its own unique vision of cultural expedition cruising.

"The new order is significant for Helsinki Shipyard,” observed CEO Carl-Gustaf Rotkirch, “as it shows our customers' confidence in our operations and is a strong signal of the long-term nature of our operations".

Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito confirmed “We see the increase in demand for experiences that are truly out of the ordinary and are confident in the bounce back of our industry.”

About Swan Hellenic

Swan Hellenic was relaunched in July 2020 to proudly continue the spirit of cultural expedition cruising the company pioneered in the 1950s. Building on its British roots, the new company has a global cultural cruising outlook dedicated to providing guests with the opportunity to ‘see what others don’t’.

Two new 5-star polar PC 5 ice-class expedition cruise ships arriving in November 2021 and April 2022 will each accommodate 152 guests in 76 spacious staterooms and suites, the majority with large balconies.

Dedicated to guests with a passion for adventure and cultural exploration, the company’s meticulously planned itineraries explore the wild landscapes, wildlife, peoples an unique cultures of the world’s less travelled regions.

Its ships feature elegant Scandi-design interiors, extensive outdoor spaces and dedicated expedition facilities. The crew includes an expedition team comprising expert guides, speakers and lecturers, and numbering 120 and 140 respectively almost equals the number of guests, reflecting the high levels of attentive personal service provided.

About Helsinki Shipyard Inc.

Helsinki Shipyard Inc. celebrated its 1st anniversary in May 2020, but shipyard operations date back 155 years to when Helsingfors Skeppsdocka was authorized to open a shipyard in Hietalahti on the 4th of March 1865. The shipyard is renowned as a pioneer in Finnish shipbuilding, a substantial employer and part of the history and landscape of the City of Helsinki.

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