SH Vega, up for tender, at Helsinki Shipyard
Swan Hellenic is going through the process of directly acquiring SH Vega from Helsinki Shipyard, which has started the legal process of inviting tenders for the vessel after Russian-owned leasing company GTLK Europe defaulted on payment.
SH Vega was going to be ownedby GTLK and chartered to Swan but as a consequence of Russia sanctionsin April, the company defaulted on ship payments. GTLK is also prevented from taking delivery as all its assets are frozen in the EU.
Due process
Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito told Seatrade Cruise the brand will ‘secure control of the vessel’ and putting it out to tender is ‘due process’ resulting from GTLK defaulting. A company spokespersonsaid ‘the tender process is in progress and will be officially completed soon.’
Swan Hellenic, as a priority buyer, has already submitted abid and is at an advanced stage of preparing the documents for transfer of the SH Vega title, and is ready to take full control at the completion of the tender, he said.
The company could not immediately provide an update on an infusion of fresh equity, which Zito said was under way in May.
But it said plans to acquireSH Minervaand2023 newbuild SH Diana are still in place. Swan has requested authorisation from the Irish authorities to purchase SH Minerva, since GTLK is the registered owner. ‘The purchase of SH Minerva will be carried out once this authorisation is granted,’Zito reaffirmed.
Swan Hellenic also is takinglegal steps to purchase SH Diana from Helsinki Shipyard on its completion in February 2023.
Arctic sailings going ahead as planned
Swan Hellenic is not expecting any change to SH Vega’s itinerary, with the vessel due to set sail July 20 from Trömso, Norway as part of its inaugural Arctic season.
