Monday, January 24, 2022
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A CRYSTAL Cruises ship was diverted to The Bahamas over the weekend after a United States judge issued an arrest warrant for the vessel over its unpaid fuel bills, according to international reports.
The Crystal Symphony was enroute to Miami following a two-week cruise in the Caribbean when it received news of the warrant, which stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Peninsula Petroleum Far East in Hong Kong last week.
However, while en route to the US, the ship changed its course and instead sailed to Bimini.
According to reports, the ship will be seized if it docks in Miami and fails to pay some $1.2m in monies owed for its fuel purchases.
When contacted for comment yesterday, West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe said he was made aware of the issue on social media.
While he could not say how long the ship would remain in Bimini, Mr Wilchcombe said he understood the Crystal Symphony was a Bahamas flagged vessel.
“I became aware as you did through social media,” the minister told The Tribune yesterday.
“I have been keeping abreast of the development with Hong Kong relative to the situation there and the file for bankruptcy and that’s in Hong Kong. I did follow up to determine whether or not that was going to affect their property in Bimini and I was told ‘no, it’s not’ and that was a separate matter.
“...The vessel I understand does fly The Bahamas flag so I believe that assists in them changing their schedule and landing here.”
Some 700 people were reported to be onboard the vessel.
Attempts to reach Minister of Housing and Transport Jobeth-Coleby Davis were unsuccessful up to press time yesterday.
According to Cruise Critic, after the collapse of parent company Genting Group, Crystal Cruises “has announced it will cease sailings on a temporary basis while its executive team examines options for it to continue operations.”
Comments
bahamianson says...
Bahamas was always a.place for this kind of action. Our history tells the tale.
Posted 24 January 2022, 9:31 a.m. Suggest removal
Proguing says...
Yes please send all the bankrupt cruise ships here, you can't make this stuff up
Posted 24 January 2022, 10:45 a.m. Suggest removal
ohdrap4 says...
they already carried all the natives to make up cash flow:
http://www.tribune242.com/news/2021/jul…
Posted 24 January 2022, 12:07 p.m. Suggest removal
whogothere says...
Exposes the desperation of crystal cruises in the pushing the homeporting agenda with little or no transparency for the family destinations…
Posted 24 January 2022, 11:23 a.m. Suggest removal
GodSpeed says...
so not only avoiding seizure but holding 700 people hostage. very bold
Posted 24 January 2022, 11:41 a.m. Suggest removal
John says...
Not so. The passengers have all been ferried to Miami
Posted 25 January 2022, 1:29 p.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
De article's headline is both misleading and forgiving. ― Yes?
Posted 24 January 2022, 11:43 a.m. Suggest removal
whogothere says...
Yes - Should read:
**"Bahamas aids and abets business partner in fuel heist."**
Posted 25 January 2022, 9:22 a.m. Suggest removal
tribanon says...
We need a national declaration that all of these cruise ships are not welcome in our territorial waters. All of the cruise line companies our corrupt politicians keep pandering to are as corrupt as corrupt can be, and that's in addition to them being major polluters and pathogen incubators.
Posted 24 January 2022, 12:28 p.m. Suggest removal
Proguing says...
The Bahamas used to be a hiding place for Pirates, now we are a hiding place for fugitive cruise ships???
Posted 24 January 2022, 12:40 p.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
**Is this is truly de big one** that we colony's Five-hundred thousand PopoulacesOfCommeners, and de Cruise Port's Chief Comrade Michael Maura's Jesus's sea waters calming moment that de first **truly pirate** ship has **legally Flag of Convivence ported** that shows us, He's still in control even when we do not realize it, ― Yes?
Posted 24 January 2022, 1:04 p.m. Suggest removal
John says...
There are two or three more ships out to sea on cruise. At least let them come here until they sort things out.didn’t yinna allow the Covid-19 laden ships to come herr
Posted 24 January 2022, 8:26 p.m. Suggest removal
rodentos says...
dismantle and sell for scrap metal
Posted 24 January 2022, 9:25 p.m. Suggest removal
DiverBelow says...
Quickly fix the dock in Abaco, dock it there as a Hospital/Govt Office/Temporary Housing/food Bank. Has the equipment, only needs the personnel & supplies.
Posted 25 January 2022, 12:13 p.m. Suggest removal
John says...
Did y’all hear Joe Biden cussing out the reporter when he thought the mic was dead.. from sleeping Joe to cussing Joe…
Posted 25 January 2022, 4:26 p.m. Suggest removal
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