Spanish yard cancels work on Havila Kystruten newbuildings

Spanish news outlets report that a number of design and financial problems have compelled local shipyard Hijos de J. Barreras to terminate construction on two passenger vessels ordered by Norwegian shipowner Havila Kystruten.

Work on the newbuildings was suspended in August after the yard had admitted to encountering unforeseen “design challenges” with the vessels’ draught and displacement.

These and some unspecified financial issues are said to have prompted the company’s removal of its senior management team. Moreover, approximately 1,300 of the yard’s workers have not returned to their respective posts, further affecting construction.

Barreras has since sent a cancellation notice to Havila, which is now in the process of looking for another shipyard to supply two newbuild vessels in time for the company’s official start of operations along the Norwegian coast in January 2021. The two other vessels in Havila’s initial fleet are currently under construction at Tersan Shipyard in Turkey.

Similar problems are said to have beset Barreras’ work on two newbuildings for Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, thus postponing the scheduled delivery of the company’s first vessel, the 190-metre Evrima (formerly Azora), by five months to June 2020.

Ritz-Carlton has stated that the delay was due to problems with “delivery and project cost” at the shipyard.