Havila coastal contract investments are being reassessed after Norway proposed a shorter agreement for the Bergen–Kirkenes route after 2030. Havila Kystruten is pausing some planned vessel adaptations and will review its emissions targets once the final terms are known.

Key Takeaways

  • The proposed contract would last four to five years, compared with ten years under the current agreements.
  • Havila is holding investments in car-transport adaptations where work has not yet begun.

Havila coastal contract proposal

Norway’s government set out the proposal in its 2027 national budget on October 7, 2026. The current contract runs through 2030 and would not be affected, but the proposed terms would influence decisions Havila must make during that period.

The proposal maintains daily calls at 34 ports, currently served by 11 vessels, and seeks to improve cargo and private-car capacity. Climate requirements beyond those stipulated by law would be imposed only where their implementation costs are justified.

Investment and emissions plans

Havila had planned adaptations for the next contract period, including modifications to allow cars to be transported at all ports, alongside scheduled maintenance. It is putting those investments on hold for vessels where the work has not started.

The company said its targets of climate-neutral operations by 2028 and zero emissions from 2030 depend on long-term agreements, investment and predictable conditions. It said a four- to five-year contract would provide a significantly weaker basis for such investment and that it would reassess the targets when the final framework is established.

Options beyond the coastal route

Havila said that under a four- to five-year contract, growth would increasingly need to come from commercial markets outside the coastal route. Its vessels were designed for use beyond the route, and the final contract terms will determine the company’s direction after 2030.

The company plans to discuss the next contract’s structure with authorities, including its duration and climate requirements.

Next milestone

Norway’s parliament is expected to decide on the proposal in December 2026. If the framework is retained, it will underpin a tender expected in 2027.

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