Cruise Ship Diverts to Bahamas to Avoid US Marshals in Miami

Crystal Cruises mum or dad firm Genting Hong Kong Ltd., which earlier this week suspended all operations over an obvious lack of money, has ordered its Crystal Symphony ship to divert to the Bahamas in the present day to keep away from U.S. Marshals who’re ready in Miami with arrest warrants.

The Symphony, with a number of hundred passengers and crew nonetheless aboard, was scheduled to return to Miami on Saturday.

However a U.S. court docket issued arrest warrants and seizure of the ship after Genting didn’t pay $1.2 million in gas payments. U.S. Marshals are on website in Miami, however the Symphony docked within the Bahamas on Saturday night time. America doesn’t have jurisdiction within the Bahamas and its arrest warrants aren’t acknowledged, in response to Bloomberg Information.

“The U.S. marshal might be there with the arrest warrant if the ship reveals up in Miami,” J. Stephen Simms, the lead lawyer representing Peninsula Petroleum Far East Pte. Ltd., informed Bloomberg. “My good cash is that it’s not touchdown in Miami, from what we’ve been informed. Our consumer is set to get better.”

Peninsula Petroleum filed go well with in U.S. court docket to get better a complete of $4.6 million in gas delivered to 3 of Genting’s ships since 2017.

Passengers aboard the ship have been being taken by ferry from Bimini to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday.

Right here’s dwell video of ferry leaving Bimini heading for @PortEverglades with #cruise passengers from @CrystalCruises #CrystalSymphony fr @PTZtv https://t.co/QjrLnlkzHe

— Stewart Chiron (@CruiseGuy) January 23, 2022

Crystal Cruises introduced Wednesday it might pause sailings on its three ships – the Symphony, the Serenity and the Endeavor – by means of April 29, 2022.

“This was a particularly tough choice however a prudent one given the present enterprise surroundings and up to date developments with our mum or dad firm, Genting Hong Kong,” stated Crystal Cruises president Jack Anderson. “Crystal has been synonymous with luxurious cruising for greater than 30 years, and we look ahead to welcoming again our valued company once we resume operations. We want to thank our company and journey advisors for his or her unbelievable help throughout these ongoing difficult instances.”