SH Minerva: Swan Hellenic Celebrates Expedition Ship's Comeback with New Asia-Pacific Routes

Von alexleo · Krasnodar - http://fleetphoto.ru/photo/162723/, CC BY 4.0, Link
The cruise line Swan Hellenic is strengthening its fleet, announcing the return to service of its third expedition ship, the SH Minerva, for November 2025. Following a prolonged forced hiatus, the vessel, completed in 2021, will first spend a season in Antarctica before significantly expanding the company's global routes.

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Global Presence with Three Specialized Ships

Starting in March 2026, the SH Minerva will be the first ship in the fleet to set course for the Asia-Pacific region. Expedition voyages are planned to remote destinations such as Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, the Indonesian atoll of Raja Ampat, as well as Japan and the Philippines. With this move, Swan Hellenic completes its global coverage. Its identical sister ship, the SH Vega, serves routes around South and Latin America, while the slightly larger SH Diana (192 passengers) explores the Indian Ocean and the coasts of Africa.

All three ships are designed for the 5-star segment and are specifically built for expeditions in polar and hard-to-reach regions. With a capacity for only 152 guests and the high polar ice class PC 5S, the SH Minerva offers an exclusive and safe travel experience.

"We are delighted to welcome SH Minerva back to the fleet," stated Andrea Zito, CEO of Swan Hellenic. "We are very proud of this moment, which completes our mission of providing expedition cruises to every continent, allowing our guests to see what others don't see."

The Background of the Forced Hiatus

The SH Minerva was delivered to Swan Hellenic in November 2021 from the Finnish shipyard Oy in Helsinki and began its initial voyages to Antarctica. However, its career was abruptly interrupted. From April 2022, GTLK Europe DAC, the parent company of the ship's owner, STLC Europe Nine Leasing Ltd., was sanctioned by the EU, US, and UK due to its connection to the Russian leasing company PAO GTLK. Consequently, the SH Minerva has been laid up in Fray Bentos, Uruguay, since April 2022.

A crucial turning point came in May 2023 when GTLK Europe DAC entered liquidation. The High Court of Ireland appointed joint liquidators, causing the sanctioned PAO GTLK to lose control over its European subsidiaries and their assets, including the SH Minerva. This paved the way for a sale of the vessel in compliance with all sanctions. After extensive negotiations, Swan Hellenic successfully reacquired the SH Minerva from STLC Europe Nine Leasing Ltd. on July 25, 2025, using shareholder funds.