Asia/Pacific News
Classic International Cruises Goes Into Administration
Sydney, Australia based Classic International Cruises Pty Ltd (CIC Australia) was placed into voluntary administration on Wednesday October 31, 2012, a statement by chartered accountants Lawler Partners who have been appointed as the firm's administrators has said.
The news follows financial difficulty at Classic International Cruises in Europe who have had four of the vessels it owns arrested over unpaid bunkers and other outstanding debts.
One of those vessels, Athena, arrested last month in Marseilles, France had been chartered by CIC Australia and on November 12, 2012 was due to depart the port on a 36 day cruise ending in Fremantle where it was to be used during the Australian cruise season.
CIC Australia said it had been in negotiations to source an alternate vessel in the event Athena remained unavailable and on Monday it was revealed that Passat Kreuzfahrten's Delphin was to be the replacement vessel, a decision met with disapproval from one passenger who subsequently corresponded with Ship & Bunker.
However, CIC Australia said that the following day, October 30, 2012, it was notified a final agreement on the vessel's use might not be reached, prompting the decision to place the company into administration.
The Western Australian reported today that CIC Australia managing director Grant Hunter said the move was primarily to isolate its money from the European company, and had essentially "ring-locked" the money of the 6,000 people already booked in for the 2012-2013 cruise season.
Lawler Partners said that Athena remains under arrest in port, and all future bookings have been placed on hold while it searches for a suitable ship to fulfill the existing bookings, although "the future availability of MV Athena is still being negotiated."
A meeting of the creditors of the company will be held at the James Cook Ballroom, Intercontinental Sydney, 117 Macquarie Street, Sydney on Monday November 12, 2012 at 2:30 pm and, following an investigation into CIC Australia by the administrators, a second meeting is planned no later than Wednesday December 5, 2012.
Consumer Protection Commissioner Anne Driscoll said passengers should contact the administrator to record their details.
