Tuesday marked a historic day for the coastal route, as according to Ola Johannessen, a history enthusiast and employee at Hammerfest Port, it was the first time a ship on the Bergen – Kirkenes coastal route was named in Finnmark.

“The first voyage on the coastal route back in 1893 went from Trondheim to Hammerfest, so we felt it was especially fitting to hold the naming ceremony for Havila Polaris in this city,” says CEO Bent Martini at Havila Voyages.

“Additionally, Finnmark and Hammerfest are still very important for the coastal route today, in addition to us having our crew office up here.”

The naming ceremony was held at the new city pier in Hammerfest. A local, former mayor of Hammerfest, and now the Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Marianne Sivertsen Næss, was the godmother and named the ship by pouring clean water from Geiranger onto the ship's side.

“We chose a more environmentally friendly naming ceremony rather than smashing a champagne bottle on the ship's side. This is in line with our sustainability efforts, and the wooden ladle used to pour the water symbolizes the need to care for both nature and our resources,” says Martini.

“I think it was a dignified and beautiful ceremony, and we are pleased that all four of our coastal route ships are now named.”

“Humbled and Proud”
Marianne Sivertsen Næss expressed great joy in being chosen as the godmother for Havila Polaris.

“I am both humbled and proud of this honorable task of being the godmother for a ship that showcases the best of our technology and design, and that will sail on the most important and beautiful coastal route in the world. And, not least, that I get to do so in my own hometown,” says Sivertsen Næss.

“For 130 years, the Bergen – Kirkenes coastal route has been a lifeline for the coast. It has become a central part of our cultural heritage. It's also a journey through World Heritage, as the coastal route's ships visit Geiranger.”

Sivertsen Næss also emphasizes how important green solutions will be for the coastal route in the future.

“For the coastal route to continue being a lifeline for the coast – for another 130 years – the ships that operate it must not only navigate safely across the sea and to all the ports but also lead the way toward green solutions that the future depends on. This ship does exactly that,” she says.

“That's why I'm proud to be the godmother of a ship like *Havila Polaris*, which has been developed with a focus on climate, environment, and sustainability. It's also very inspiring to see the attention to detail as Havila Voyages emphasizes local, regional, and national value creation through the use of local ingredients and efforts to reduce food waste.”