The two Crystal Cruises ships that docked in the Bahamas to avoid legal action against them for unpaid bills in the United States, have been seized instead by the Bahamian authorities for the same reason.
Local media outlets reported that the Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity which had initially been docked in Bimini, were seized off Freeport about 9 p.m. Friday.
The vessels are in the custody of the admiralty marshal, said Stephen Turnquest, a Bahamas-based attorney for a fuel supplier that is suing Crystal Cruises.
No passengers were on board when the ships were seized.
Crystal announced in January that it would suspend ocean cruises through the end of April after Genting Hong Kong, its parent company, filed in Bermuda to dissolve the company on Jan. 18.
Last month, a federal judge in Miami issued a warrant to seize the ships alleging Crystal Cruises and a related operator did not pay fuel bills reaching about US $3.4 million. The Crystal Symphony then skipped Miami where it was scheduled to end its two-week voyage, sailing instead to Bimini with about 700 crew and guests on board. Guests were subsequently ferried to Fort Lauderdale.
Just over a week later, Crystal Serenity was denied entrance to Aruba, where its aborted world cruise was scheduled to end, and it too sailed to Bimini. Those passengers were also transported to Fort Lauderdale by ferry.
The fuel supplier, Peninsula Petroleum Far East, then sued the cruise company in the Bahamas, Turnquest said.
“Whether the ships are going to Aruba or anywhere else, they would have presumably taken the same approach,” he said.
The Crystal Endeavor ended a 19-night Antarctica voyage last week in Argentina. It has since left Argentina but its intended destination remains unknown.
The company suspended operations until late spring to “provide Crystal’s management team with an opportunity to evaluate the current state of business.”
Quoting the acting port controller, the Nassau Guardian reported that nonessential crew members were being sent back to their home countries.
Crystal Cruises spokesman Vance Gulliksen said the company could not comment on “pending legal matters.” He did not provide details on what the next steps would be for crew members.
“The officers and crew on board are being well cared for and staying in single accommodations some of which are guest staterooms,” he said in a statement. “We are making sure they are comfortable and able to enjoy the various amenities on board. Crew members have been paid all wages due and we are meeting and exceeding all contractual obligations.”