The operator of Polar Star
went into receivership last
week and the crew are still
stuck in Spain.
KARLSEN SHIPPING CO LTD, THE CANADIAN
operator of the 105-passenger Polar Star, has
ceased trading and, according to the ship’s
captain, left the 27 crew members unpaid
for three months.
The crew of the polar expedition vessel
have reportedly spent the past week in the
Spanish port of Las Palmas with no contact
from the seized ship’s owner or receivers,
and booked passengers have been left
without cruises.
“Abandoned in a foreign
country, away from home, on
the ship with no cash, little
food supplies and no agent to
co-operate with.”
The company was placed in the hands of
accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers
last Tuesday.
In a letter to Captain Jacek Lisiecki,
published on his blog on Friday, PwC said funds were being organised “soon” to pay
for the repatriation of all crew.
On 18 May, Capt Lisiecki made a
desperate plea to the public to donate
money to help his crew “abandoned in a
foreign country, away from home, on the
ship with no cash, little food supplies and no
agent to co-operate with”.
Polar Star hit the headlines in January
when it ran aground after striking an
uncharted rock in Antarctica.
Spanish authorities claim Karlsen owes
Astican Shipyard US$1.4 million for repairs
resulting from the Antarctic incident.
Two banks are also reportedly owed a total
of more than US$5.5 million.
Meanwhile, booked passengers are hoping
to be rebooked on cruises with competitors
such as Oceanwide, Quark and GAP
Expeditions.
Despite the company going under, the
Polar Star website is still operating and
inviting bookings via a worldwide toll free
number.
