Crystal ship taken off course

CRYSTAL Cruises’ Crystal Symphony has had its current final voyage diverted to the Bahamas, after a judge granted an arrest warrant for the ship in Miami over unpaid fuel bills.

Singapore-based Peninsula Petroleum obtained the ruling in Miami on Fri, where the ship was scheduled to dock prior to ceasing operations under the company’s plan to “temporarily” pause sailings due to the financial issues faced by Crystal’s parent, Genting Hong Kong ( t 20 Jan).

Peninsula’s complaint also cited unpaid bills by sister Genting brand Star Cruises, dating back to 2017.

Passengers aboard Symphony were told that the Bahamas-flagged vessel would sail to Bimini, from whence they would be returned back to the US mainland by high speed ferry.

Genting Group, the parent firm of Genting Hong Kong, has a resort and a marina in Bimini.

The US court directed marshals to “arrest the defendant vessel, her boats, tackle, apparel and furniture, engines and appurtenances, and to detain the same in your custody pending further order of the court”.

MEANWHILE a separate hearing in Bermuda on Fri confirmed the appointment of Hong Kong and Bermuda-based Joint Provisional Liquidators (JPLs) to Genting HK.

The company said the JPLs were “in discussions with the company’s management team in order to assess urgently the financial condition of the Company and to identify potential remediation plans”.

Genting Hong Kong shares are suspended from trading until further notice, the firm added.

The website of Genting Hong Kong’s Dream Cruises has had its booking engine turned off, with no future sailings listed.

CRYSTAL Cruises has “paused its call centre until further notice,” according to an update posted on its Australian website late on Fri.

The crystalcruises.com.au website now lists a series of email addresses for enquiries, noting it’s still taking new reservations for future voyages with no money down.