Swan Hellenic announced that its new ship SH Minerva had left Helsinki for Argentina and her first cultural expedition cruise of the Antarctic, a 10-day New Year celebration of discovery departing Ushuaia on the 29th of December 2021.

SH Minerva was delivered on the 3rd of December following her christening on the 23rd of November and 3 days of highly successful sea trials in which the next-generation polar expedition vessel performed beyond expectations in all respects, from manoeuvrability and stability to top speed and emissions. The elegant new purpose-designed ship sailed through the Kiel Canal on the 6th of December.

SH Minerva was delivered on the 3rd of December following her christening on the 23rd of November and 3 days of highly successful sea trials in which the next-generation polar expedition vessel performed beyond expectations in all respects, from manoeuvrability and stability to top speed and emissions. The elegant new purpose-designed ship sailed through the Kiel Canal on the 6th of December.

She is the first in a series of three stunning high ice class cultural expedition cruise vessels made for premium cruise experiences worldwide, with a strong bias for extreme latitude areas. SH Minerva features a 5-megawatt diesel-electric propulsion system with selective catalytic reduction and a PC5 ice-strengthened hull with extra-large stabilisers for exceptional passenger comfort. At 113 m, the 10,500-ton vessel has been specially designed to explore the most inspiring and inaccessible places on the planet.

The vessels have been designed to meet the latest environmental regulations. SH Minerva is completely self-sufficient for up to 40 days or 8,000 nautical miles. Preparations have been made to implement battery technology which would also make it possible to operate silently. The vessels are equipped with exhaust gas cleaning, advanced wastewater treatment systems and the waste storage facilities required for operating in sensitive polar areas.

Providing spacious 5-star accommodation for 152 guests in 76 spacious cabins and suites, the vast majority with large balconies, SH Minerva is operated by an onboard team of 120 to provide the highest levels of personal service.

Now in the expert hands of industry veterans Captain Tuomo Leskinen and Hotel Director Philipp Reutener, SH Minerva is set to take her first guests on a 10-day cultural expedition cruise of the Antarctic to celebrate the New Year. There, they will explore the inspiring sights and wildlife of the peninsula and milder Shetland Islands in the company of Expedition Leader Pablo Brandeman, polar expert Steve Blamires and renowned ornithologist Andy Bunten.

Internationally acclaimed chef Jörg Lehmann will be bringing the distinctive Swan Hellenic gastronomic vision to life aboard SH Minerva, presenting varied menus of freshly cooked delicacies that include original Italian and Asian fusion dishes, created in partnership with award-winning Consultant Chefs Andrea Ribaldone and Sang Keun Oh.

At delivery, Helsinki Shipyard Project Manager Jonas Packalén commented:

This is a proud day for us all. SH Minerva is even more beautiful and elegant than we dared hope! We wish her and her crew fair winds and following seas, with special thanks to everyone involved in the project for their unstinting dedication!

Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito added:

I, too, would like to congratulate everyone at Helsinki for their superb work in creating this wonderful new ship. We are delighted with the quality of their work, underlined by the superb performance SH Minerva achieved in her sea trials. With Swan Hellenic now a unique presence on the waves again, we very much look forward to taking our guests to see what others don’t, exploring the Antarctic in exceptional comfort and style.

Minerva will be followed by her sister ship SH Vega (NB517) and the slightly larger NB518, which are both already under construction at Helsinki Shipyard.