Swan Hellenic has taken delivery of the SH Diana, the third and final cruise ship built by Helsinki Shipyard.
This new vessel is larger than her predecessors/sisterships by design, with an increased passenger capacity of 192 guests and a crew of 140. SH Diana has been equipped with large tender boats and Zodiac boats to offer guests immersive experiences.
The SH Diana was ordered in October 2020, along with the first two ships from Swan Hellenic, as part of the yard's rebirth after being sold to a new investor group. The delivery of SH Diana marks the end of new ship orders for Helsinki Shipyard, which will now focus on repairs and the luxury yacht segment.
Swan Hellenic faced challenges in launching its cruise ship due to contracting with a Russian finance firm that was caught by sanctions on Russian financial institutions. Helsinki Shipyard was able to declare the finance firm in default and sell the second and third ships to Swan Hellenic, which arranged new financing. The first ship, SH Minerva, has been purchased by the cruise line but remains laid up in Uruguay while the firm works to complete the transfer from the finance firm's ownership.
SH Diana is one of the last cruise ships on order for the expedition segment of the industry, as new orders move toward luxury cruising. Helsinki Shipyard recently confirmed media reports that it is in discussions with Davie Shipyard of Canada to acquire the Finnish company's assets. Davie is reportedly interested in Helsinki Shipyard because of its long history and experience building Arctic ships.