Swan Hellenic has christened its new ship Minerva at the Helsinki Shipyard during a small private ceremony.

The event was attended by the ship’s godmother Johanna Mäkelä, Finland’s first professor of food culture, Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito, and Helsinki Shipyard CEO Carl-Gustaf Rotkirch, among others.

Swan Hellenic recently took the decision to delay the start of Minerva’s inaugural season due to “global supply chain disruptions and recent spikes in Covid-19 cases in Finland”.

The 152-guest ship is now scheduled to depart the shipyard early next week.

Helsinki Shipyard project manager Jonas Packalén said: “We are glad to see this day finally, following the many global challenges that made our task far from easy. Our special thanks to everyone involved in the project for their unstinting dedication and superb work.”

Andrea Zito added: “I, too, would like to congratulate everyone at Helsinki for their impeccable work in difficult circumstance and the tight safety measures, which have kept Minerva a safe environment at all times.

“The vessel has been completed after only 26 months from the signing of the contract which is a remarkable achievement. We now very much look forward to taking our guests to see what others don’t, exploring in exceptional comfort and style.”

Minerva will be joined in the fleet by Vega, launching in April 2022, and a third, unnamed ship later the same year.

The third ship will be a larger PC 6 ice-class vessel accommodating 192 guests in 96 staterooms and suites.

All ships will feature three dining venues, Scandi-style interiors, extensive outdoor spaces and dedicated expedition facilities.

Speaking when the keel-laying ceremony was held for Vega, Jonas Packalén added: “New builds Minerva and Vega are designed for extreme weather conditions, from the heavy ice of the polar regions to the heat and humidity of the tropics. And they’re naturally designed to respect the sensitive ecosystems of the unspoilt regions they explore.”

Swan Hellenic said that itineraries will include an expedition team comprising expert guides, speakers and lecturers.