Americas News
Arrested Nova Star Freed After Singapore Owner Pays Most of its Outstanding Bunker Bills and Other Debts
The arrested Nova Star ferry has been released from custody while remaining financial claims are settled after the vessel's Singapore-based owner, Singapore Technologies Marine (STM), posted a $750,000 surety bond, local U.S. media reports.
As Ship & Bunker previously reported STM has already paid off many of the outstanding bunker bills and other debts incurred by the vessel's Canada-based operator Nova Star Cruises.
The amount of the surety bond is said to substantially exceed the total amount of unsettled claims still remaining against the Nova Star.
Three bunker suppliers had been claiming for unpaid fuel, including over $1 million by Cockett Marine Oil (Cockett), almost $500,000 by World Fuel Services (WFS), and nearly $300,000 from Sprague Operating Resources (Sprague).
The ferry was reported to be expected to leave the Portland, Maine harbour, where its been held since October 30, this week.
Edward MacColl, an attorney for STM, says that he is unaware of the ferry's intended destination or if it had been chartered by a new company, but noted that a interested operator had examined the vessel last week.
However Ship & Bunker received at least one report indicating the vessel was heading to the Bahamas, where she is registered.
MacColl says a dispute with Century Casinos, Inc. (Century Casinos) delayed the ferry from leaving the port last week.
In November, Ship & Bunker reported that one of the companies claiming money from Nova Star Cruises said they suspected STM would start paying the company's debts "so they don't lose the ship at a bankruptcy auction."
