Singapore-based fuel supplier Peninsula Petroleum secured an arrest warrant to impound Crystal Cruises’ ship Crystal Symphony.
A court in Miami granted the arrest warrant after hearing the Peninsula petition, claiming Crystal parent Genting Hong Kong owes $2.1 million in unpaid fuel bills for Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity.
Peninsula says it is also owed $1.3 million from sister brand Star Cruises’ SuperStar Libra.
The cruise company is apparently trying to avoid the ship being seized.
Miami port authorities said it wouldn’t return as planned and instead it ended the cruise in Bimini, Bahamas where another Genting company owns a dock and casino resort.
A US arrest warrant cannot be executed there.
Crystal Cruises has suspended all cruises when current voyages end.
Genting HK also owns Asia-based Dream Cruises.
Genting filed for liquidation last week after the collapse of its German shipbuilding business.
Crystal said ‘suspending operations will provide Crystal’s management team with an opportunity to evaluate the current state of business and examine various options.’
Ocean cruise ship operations are suspended until late April.
Meanwhile, the uncertainty has extended to Genting HK’s Asia-based brands Dream Cruises and Star Cruises.
Both brands ‘reservations have gone offline.
