HAVILA CASTOR
August 1, 2024 | Bergen, Norway
Havila Castor (Havila Voyages) is seen in Bergen, Norway, on August 1, 2024. Entering service in 2022, the Norwegian coastal passenger ship combines LNG and battery-electric propulsion while operating the historic coastal route between Bergen and Kirkenes.
Havila Castor is seen in Bergen, Norway, on August 1, 2024. Operated by Havila Voyages, the Norwegian-flagged passenger ship serves the historic coastal route linking Bergen with communities along the Norwegian coast as far north as Kirkenes.
Built by Tersan Shipyard in Turkey, Havila Castor entered service in May 2022 as the second of four new Havila coastal ships. Although the vessel provides cabins, restaurants and many features associated with cruising, her role extends beyond tourism. The Norwegian Coastal Express connects numerous communities along the coast, continuing a passenger and transportation service with roots extending back to the nineteenth century.
Havila Castor is particularly notable for her LNG and battery-hybrid propulsion system. A 6.1 MWh battery installation allows the ship to operate for periods using battery power alone, while the vessel was also designed to reduce emissions compared with earlier generations of coastal ships.
Information List
Name: Havila Castor
Operator: Havila Voyages
Service: Norwegian Coastal Express
Ship Type: Coastal passenger ship
Flag: Norway
Builder: Tersan Shipyard, Turkey
Built: 2022
Entered Service: May 2022
Length: 124 meters / 407 feet
Beam: 22 meters / 72 feet
Gross Tonnage: Approximately 15,500 GT
Passenger Capacity: 640
Cabins: 179
Service Speed: 15.5 knots
Propulsion: LNG and battery hybrid
Battery Capacity: 6.1 MWh
Route: Bergen–Kirkenes coastal service
Gallery Date: August 1, 2024
Gallery Location: Bergen, Norway
History and Features
Havila Castor:
Havila Castor was built by Tersan Shipyard in Turkey for Havila's Norwegian coastal passenger service.
She arrived in Bergen in May 2022 and began operating the coastal route shortly afterward.
The ship followed sister vessel Havila Capella into service.
Havila Polaris and Havila Pollux subsequently completed the four-ship Havila fleet.
The vessels were purpose-built for the demanding operating conditions and frequent port calls of Norway's coastal route.
The Norwegian Coastal Express:
Havila Castor operates between Bergen and Kirkenes along one of Norway's most important coastal passenger routes.
The complete round voyage links 34 ports and takes approximately 12 days.
Northbound Bergen-to-Kirkenes voyages take approximately seven days, while the southbound journey takes approximately six days.
Many stops are relatively short because the service connects a succession of coastal communities rather than operating like a conventional destination cruise.
Havila specifically distinguishes the Norwegian Coastal Express experience from a typical cruise.
Battery-Hybrid Propulsion:
One of Havila Castor's defining technical features is her LNG and battery-hybrid propulsion system.
The ship carries a battery installation with approximately 6.1 MWh of capacity.
Havila states that the battery system allows the vessel to operate for as long as four hours using battery power alone.
Battery operation enables periods of silent, locally emission-free sailing, particularly valuable in environmentally sensitive areas.
When Havila Castor entered service, Havila described the installation as the world's largest battery pack aboard a passenger ship.
Reduced-Emission Operation:
LNG provides the ship's principal fuel when she is not operating solely from battery power.
Havila reported substantial reductions in nitrogen oxide emissions and lower carbon dioxide emissions compared with conventional propulsion arrangements.
The vessels were also designed so that liquefied biogas could be blended with or replace LNG as suitable fuel becomes available.
Their machinery was developed with future alternative fuels in mind, allowing the company to pursue further emission reductions during the ships' operating lives.
Geirangerfjord and Battery Sailing:
The ship's battery capacity is particularly important when operating in environmentally sensitive Norwegian fjords.
Shortly after entering service, Havila Castor became associated with battery-powered operation in the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord.
Havila promoted the ability to travel through the World Heritage area silently and without local emissions while operating on battery power.
This capability demonstrates how the vessel's propulsion technology is directly connected to the landscapes through which she operates.
Passenger and Coastal Service:
Although the Norwegian Coastal Express performs an important transportation role, Havila Castor was also designed for passengers traveling specifically to experience the Norwegian coast.
Large windows and observation areas provide extensive views of the passing landscape.
Cabins accommodate passengers traveling overnight or completing longer portions of the route.
Restaurants emphasize Norwegian ingredients and regional food traditions.
An expedition team provides talks and interpretation connected with Norway's history, culture and natural environment.
Bergen and the Coastal Route:
Bergen serves as the southern terminus of the Norwegian Coastal Express.
Northbound voyages depart Bergen for a succession of coastal ports before eventually reaching Kirkenes near Norway's northeastern frontier.
Southbound voyages retrace the coast with a different schedule of port calls before returning to Bergen.
The service combines transportation between Norwegian communities with one of the world's most distinctive passenger-ship journeys.
Bergen therefore represents both a beginning and an end point in Havila Castor's regular operating cycle.
August 1, 2024 – Bergen:
These photographs show Havila Castor in Bergen on August 1, 2024.
Her compact proportions reflect the specialized requirements of Norwegian coastal service rather than the increasingly large dimensions of contemporary resort-style cruise ships.
The vessel's dark hull, extensive glazing and large observation areas create a profile closely connected with her role as a scenic coastal passenger ship.
The Bergen setting also places Havila Castor at one of the most historically important points on the route she was specifically built to serve.
Legacy:
Havila Castor represents a modern interpretation of Norway's long-established coastal passenger service.
Her combination of scheduled coastal transportation, overnight passenger accommodations and destination-focused travel continues a type of maritime service that differs substantially from conventional cruising.
Her battery-hybrid technology also illustrates the increasing importance of reducing emissions from passenger ships operating in environmentally sensitive coastal regions.
The August 1, 2024 Bergen gallery adds this modern Norwegian coastal-service tradition to the broader range of passenger ships documented by Ocean Liner Photography.
OLP Social: Combining LNG engines with battery-electric propulsion, this modern coastal passenger ship operates Norway's historic route between Bergen and Kirkenes, carrying travelers and connecting communities along the coast.
