But first, a local marching band is rousing up the crowd.

Then, Lasse Vangstein, Head of Communications, welcomes everyone before introducing CEO Bent Martini.

By now, the quay is crowded.

The CEO tells us briefly about Havila Voyages’ “difficult birth” which is why we are not quite on track with our original schedule. No one could have imagined a bankrupted shipyard, worldwide pandemic or a devastating war in Ukraine.

Covid-19 is also the reason why the christening of Havila Capella has been postponed until today, almost a year after her maiden voyage in December 2021. You see, we wanted to celebrate her the proper way!

“These ships are built for the future, and regarding sustainability, environment and safety, we have come further than anyone else”, says Martini.

In 2018, few believed that it would be possible to sail completely emission-free through the world heritage fjords in 2022 – four years sooner than required for all vessels by the Norwegian government. Nevertheless, both Havila Capella and Havila Castor have done it already, and they even sail emission-free through other vulnerable fjords as well.

After Martini’s speech, founder and head of the board, Per Sævik, gets the floor. He is clearly moved when he talks about the proud ship-star.

Afterwards, we are treated to the touching song performance by a school children’s choir with about 100 singers.

Godmother, Hege Sævik Rabben, christens Havila Capella, using water from a waterfall in Geiranger.

From the left: Hotel Chief Anton Abrahamsen, founder Per Sævik, godmother Hege Sævik Rabben, CEO Bent Martini, and captain Tom Rune Einarsen.

After the ceremony, specially-invited guests enjoy a delicious lunch in the Havrand restaurant.

The mayor of Herøy (the municipality in which Fosnavåg is located), Bjørn Prytz, is the first to speak during the lunch. On the right: Founder Per Sævik.

Havila Voyages received several gifts. Here, we see Bent Martini showing of a painting. It was presented by Jan Magne Goksøyr on behalf of Hav Design AS, which is the designer of our four coastal cruise ships.

“The ships got their names after my father (Per Sævik) arranged a naming competition for his grandchildren, with the theme “Havila + Star Names”. Aurora and Trym (two teenage cousins) suggested the name “Havila Capella””, says the godmother of Havila Capella, Hege Sævik Rabben.

“The name, “Havila”, is taken from 1^st book of Moses, and the text about the land called Havila, near Garden of Eden.  There was gold in that land, and the gold was good”.

Capella is one of the brightest stars in the Nordic sky. It is seen as one star, but really consists of four stars circling around each other. The two largest stars are bright, yellow giants, while the other two are cool, red dwarfs. The large ones are almost eighty times brighter than the sun, having a diameter twenty times larger than the sun, and they lie more than 40 light-years away from us. That means it will take you 40 million years to fly there.

Elise Nærø (4^th finalist in the Norwegian TV show, “The Voice”, in 2017) sings two appropriated songs, ne of them of which she has written herself: “Heime her” (available on Spotify).

From the left: Liv and Per Sævik, Tom Rune Einarsen (captain), and Hege and Kjell Rabben. (Flip the phone horizontally to see the whole image when viewing on mobile)

Many thanks to all the hardworking employees and others who have done everything in their power to make this day as memorable as possible. And not to mention all the hundreds of people who showed up on the quay to celebrate with us!

Warm regards from everyone in Havila Voyages.