By
Alex Smith |
Swan Hellenic has held a keel laying ceremony for SH Minerva, the first of its two new expedition cruise ships, at Helsinki Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland.
The traditional ceremony saw the first 347-tonne block of the ship being set on the keel over coins. The vessel will be christened SH Minerva after the company’s first purpose-built vessel, named for the Roman goddess of Wisdom.
“We are very happy to have been able to invite our workers back, engaging them in this exciting project,” said Carl-Gustaf Rotkirch, CEO of Helsinki Shipyard. “Now we can do what we know best – designing and building ships with a great history behind them and an even greater future ahead. These vessels for the iconic Swan Hellenic are inspiring us, and I hope the customer feels that.”
SH Minerva will be able to accommodate 152 guests in 76 cabins and suites, the majority of which will include balconies. The 113-metre long ship will feature a 4.6-megawatt diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system with selective catalytic reduction, along with a 3-megawatt battery package and an ice-strengthened hull.
“We’re excited and honoured to take Swan Hellenic into this next chapter and look forward to meeting you on board when we head to Antarctica in November 2021,” said Andrea Zito, CEO of Swan Hellenic. “Join us to see what others don’t!”