Cruise ship impounded on world cruise

The cruise ship Van Gogh has been detained in Madeira stranding 460 passengers.

The vessel has been prevented from leaving port for Falmouth in the UK on the final section of a world cruise.

A dispute involving the administrators of former operator Travelscope over previous charter arrangements has been reportedly blamed for the problem.

The administrators are seeking payment of £1.6 million. Travelscope went into administration on December 21.

A relative of passengers on board told TravelMole that the ship had also been impounded for a day in Cape Town last month – but this was disputed by the administrators. Other sources have suggested it was detained in Gilbraltar.

There are also claims that the crew have not been paid for three months and that passengers are clubbing together to give them money.

Van Gogh Cruise Line, a subsidiary of Dutch company Club Cruise, is working to get the release of the vessel which was impounded on Tuesday in Funchal.

It is hoped the passengers should return home by Sunday if the dispute can be resolved.

A statement from Van Gogh Cruise Line managing director Mark Horwood said: “Currently Club Cruise’s lawyers are liaising with the authorities in an effort to prevent further delay by allowing this matter to be handled on return to Falmouth, to minimise further distress to our passengers. However the administrators have so far refused to allow this.”

He said that Travelscopes administrators, Menzies Corporate Restructuring, had obtained an order detaining the ship due to “alleged claims against the owners of the vessel in relation to the previous charter agreements with Travelscope”.

Horwood, a former director of Travelscope, added: “We would like to remind you that it was through the intervention of Club Cruise that the Van Gough’s world cruise was saved following the administration of Travelscope.” 

He said a further statement would be made as soon as there are any developments.  

Paul Clark, one of the joint administrators, said: “We sincerely regret the inconvenience to passengers currently onboard the MV Van Gogh caused by Travelscope’s detention of the vessel in Madeira.

“We have pursued this course of action in order to protect a valuable asset of the company for the benefit of the company’s creditors, being a substantial claim against Club Cruise. 

“We are hopeful that the owners of the vessel will assist us with resolving this issue to avoid any further delay to the cruise.”

by Phil Davies

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