Navigare celebrates major milestone with delivery of MV Hav Leiti

Ólavur Í Geil
8 hours ago
2 min read

Navigare Shipping & Logistics marked a historic milestone this week with the naming and delivery of MV Hav Leiti in Harlingen, the Netherlands. The vessel is the first of four new sister ships being built for the Faroese shipping company and represents the first newbuilding delivery in the company's history.

The occasion was particularly significant for the owners of Navigare, who took over the company twenty years ago. The delivery of MV Hav Leiti reflects two decades of growth, perseverance, and commitment to developing the business. During the ceremony, company representatives highlighted the importance of the milestone and paid tribute to the many employees, partners, and supporters who have contributed to the company's journey over the years.

MV Hav Leiti is a modern general cargo vessel measuring nearly 90 metres in length, more than 15 metres in breadth, and approximately 4,000 gross tons. The ship has been designed with a strong focus on environmental performance, energy efficiency, and reduced emissions. It features a diesel-electric propulsion system powered by four electric motors, while its deck crane is also electrically operated. These solutions significantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions compared with older vessel technologies, making the ship both more environmentally friendly and more competitive in today's market.

The vessel also highlights the growing importance of the Faroese maritime sector beyond the fishing industry. The Faroe Islands have developed a substantial and expanding merchant fleet operating under the Faroese International Ship Register (FAS).

Today, around 80 vessels are registered under the scheme, with Faroese owners controlling nearly half of them. As of 1 January 2026, the FAS system supported 1,697 jobs, including 1,438 seafarers and 259 shore-based employees.

Industry representatives have emphasized the importance of maintaining and strengthening the FAS framework to ensure continued competitiveness. They point to the need for additional double taxation agreements and cabotage agreements, which would allow Faroese-registered vessels greater access to domestic shipping routes in foreign countries. Expanding such agreements is seen as an important political and commercial objective for the future development of the sector.

For Navigare, however, the focus of the day was firmly on celebration. The delivery of MV Hav Leiti marks the beginning of a new chapter for the company. Three additional sister ships are scheduled for delivery later this year and in 2027, further expanding the fleet and building on a milestone that will be remembered as a defining moment in the company's history.