Nassau Cruise Port Limited (NCP) continues to pursue money owed to it by Crystal Cruises, as the affairs of Crystal's parent company Genting Hong Kong continue to be wound up. NCP's Chief Executive Officer Mike Maura Jr. told Guardian Business yesterday that the port's lawyers have continued to pursue Crystal Cruises for sums of money owed to the port.

Crystal Cruises used Nassau’s cruise port as a home port last year, just before ports in the US were allowed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reopen.

Crystal Cruises’ fuel supplier began a spiral of lawsuits against Crystal Cruises after Genting Hong Kong went bankrupt.

Two of Crystal Cruises’ ships are now set to go to auction next month, with creditors hoping the sales will be enough to settle Crystal’s debts with them.

The ships were seized by Bahamian authorities in February after a Florida court ordered the arrest of the vessels when the company was sued by its fuel supplier in January over its unpaid fuel bills.

“Our lawyers are dealing with that,” said Maura. 

“I did read in your paper that the vessels are being auctioned. I would hope that the proceeds from that auction go to pay creditors, and we are a creditor and we need to be taken care of. 

“So I’m hoping and would expect that the proceeds from that auction would help to make us whole or bring us as close to whole as we can get.”

According to an article on maritime news website, The Maritime Executive, the banks holding lien on the ships will have the final say on who gets to purchase the ships and at what price.

“The banks that hold the mortgages will decide the outcome of the auctions, as they could move to take over the ships through the auctions or petition the court to reject the bids if they are deemed too low,” the article said.

“The administrators in Florida overseeing the liquidation of the company reported recently that over 30,000 creditors filed claims.

“In addition, the fuel supplier that set off the collapse when they moved to arrest the cruise ships for unpaid bills, other suppliers, former crew members, travelers with reservations, and travel agents due commissions are believed to be among the claims.

“The Federal Maritime Commission has also set up a mechanism for passengers covered by the cruise line’s bond to be reimbursed.

“Separately in Florida, the contents of Crystal’s offices and warehouse are being sold off in an auction ending next week. It includes everything from surplus furniture to computer screens and even pallets of playing cards with the cruise line’s logo.”

Both ships remain in Bahamian waters, according to the article.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian