Opinion
Cruise ship with hundreds of passengers diverts to Bahamas after US issues arrest warrant over unpaid bills
A cruise ship with a whole bunch of passengers and crew diverted its vacation spot path from Miami to the Bahamas to reportedly evade a U.S. warrant over $1.2 million in unpaid gas payments.
“The U.S. marshal can be there with the arrest warrant if the ship exhibits up in Miami,” J. Stephen Simms, the lead legal professional representing Peninsula Petroleum Far East Pte. Ltd, instructed Bloomberg. “My good cash is that it’s not touchdown in Miami, from what we’ve been instructed. Our consumer is decided to get better.”
A pedestrian watches because the Crystal Symphony cruise ship arrives at Flynn Cruiseport in Boston, Massachusetts, on Aug. 18, 2021.
(Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe by way of Getty Photographs)
The luxurious cruise ship, Crystal Symphony, was scheduled to port in Miami on Saturday after a two-week sojourn within the Caribbean, however diverted to the Bahamas with about 300 passengers and 400 crew members after a U.S. court docket issued an arrest warrant.
The ship is operated by Genting Hong Kong Ltd., which has been financially struggling for the reason that pandemic affected journey. Peninsula Petroleum Far East filed swimsuit within the U.S. to get better $4.6 million in unpaid charges for bunker gas for 3 totally different ships owned by Genting, together with $1.2 million from the Crystal Symphony, the Day by day Mail reported.
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A British musician who was acting on the ship mentioned the passengers are scrambling to reschedule their flights after being delayed within the Bahamas, however “there’s no panic.”
“Each one among these persons are attempting to reschedule their flights,” musician Elio Tempo instructed the Day by day Mail. “There’s no panic, there’s no tantrums occurring, they’re taking it of their stride.”
Lighthouse guarding the port to Nassau, Bahamas
(iStock)
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Genting Hong Kong on Wednesday filed with the Supreme Courtroom of Bermuda to nominate provisional liquidators after exhausting “all affordable efforts” to barter with collectors, in accordance with Bloomberg. The corporate reported in Might that it misplaced $1.7 billion because the pandemic and shutdowns continued affecting the journey trade.
Crystal Cruises notified employees on the Crystal Symphony on Wednesday that every one cruise operations can be suspended till no less than April.
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“This was a particularly tough choice however a prudent one given the present enterprise setting and up to date developments with our mum or dad firm, Genting Hong Kong,” Jack Anderson, Crystal’s president, mentioned in a press release on the choice to stop all cruises, in accordance with the Day by day Mail.
Miami, Florida, skyline (iStock)
Tempo mentioned passengers had been shocked when the announcement was made, however that he nonetheless carried out and operations continued as common.
“That was fairly extraordinary, to be ready to must carry out to individuals, with them realizing the cruise line has gone into liquidation,” he mentioned. “This was a shock to all people once we received the announcement on Wednesday.”
The ship docked in Bimini simply earlier than midnight native time on Saturday. Passengers are anticipated to be ferried to Fort Lauderdale from the Bahamas.
“For me it’s a headache, however for the crew, for the employees, the sensible employees of this attractive luxurious liner, I really feel extra sorry for them,” Tempo added. “I’m put out, however they’ve misplaced their jobs for the foreseeable future.”
Crystal Cruises didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information’ request for touch upon the matter.
