SH Minerva Returns to the Swan Hellenic Fleet

Overview

SH Minerva has returned to the Swan Hellenic fleet after undergoing routine maintenance to uphold the company’s high standards.

The vessel is set to set sail in November, joining its sister ships SH Vega and SH Diana in Ushuaia to commence the 2025–2026 Antarctic winter season.

In March 2026, SH Minerva will debut Swan Hellenic’s inaugural Asia-Pacific Season, expanding its award-winning expedition cruises to exciting new destinations.

New Destinations

The expanded itineraries will explore regions such as the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Raja Ampat, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan, offering unforgettable experiences including:

• Primitive art and ancient rituals
• Historical WWII sites
• Wildlife encounters and snorkeling adventures

Executive Remarks

Andrea Zito, chief executive of Swan Hellenic, stated: “We’re delighted to welcome back our flagship SH Minerva. A symbol of Swan Hellenic’s rebirth, her inaugural Asia-Pacific Season will take us to fly our flag across the globe, reaching every ocean and continent. It’s a moment of immense pride for us.”

Background Information

The expedition ship was built at Helsinki Shipyard OY at the end of 2021 and was chartered to Swan Hellenic by the Irish company STLC Europe Nine Leasing Ltd. Following sanctions imposed on its parent company due to geopolitical factors, SH Minerva was idle since April 2022 in Fray Bentos, Uruguay.

After extensive negotiations, Swan Hellenic reacquired SH Minerva on July 25 using its shareholders’ funds.