Saevik family-owned Havila Kystruten is taking legal action to try to extricate its new cruise ferry from a nightmarish sanctions Catch-22.

The Oslo-listed company is seeking to become the legal owner of the 15,500-gt Havila Capella (built 2021) and secure its interests in other newbuildings under construction.

The vessel has been stuck in port since 12 April after domestic insurer Gard dropped its cover when the ship’s lease financier, Russia’s GTLK Asia, was sanctioned over the war in Ukraine.