Cruise ship stranded in Cambodia seized in Singapore
The vessel was placed under arrest in Singapore weeks after its operator suspended voyages and left about 200 guests stranded in Cambodia.
Key points
- The Odyssey was placed under arrest in Singapore on Sunday, according to court records
- No passengers were on board; the crew are reported to be well
- Operator Villa Vie Residences suspended operations last month, citing fuel costs
- About 200 guests had to leave the ship in Sihanoukville, Cambodia
A round-the-world cruise ship that left its passengers stranded in Cambodia has been seized in Singapore. According to BBC News, citing Singapore court records, the vessel known as the Odyssey was placed under arrest on Sunday morning. Local authorities say it is now anchored in Singapore port waters.
The ship’s US-based operator, Villa Vie Residences, abruptly suspended operations last month. Roughly 200 guests were required to disembark in Sihanoukville, a port city in Cambodia. The company blamed what it called extraordinary increases in fuel costs.
Singapore’s port authority said the crew are reported to be well. It added that there were no passengers on board. AFP news agency reported that the authority said the crew’s care was now the responsibility of the vessel’s creditors.
Who is behind the arrest
Helmsman LLC, a Singapore legal practice, is listed as the party that filed the arrest, yet which client it acts for remains unknown. Sources do not confirm who has brought the legal action.
The ship set off from Belfast in October 2024. It was meant to sail for three and a half years and visit 150 countries. Passengers could buy their cabin outright, pay for a five-year residency, or rent a cabin for shorter tours.
Permanent residencies were priced between $120,000 (£89,272) and $440,000, according to the company’s website. Cabins were also offered for rent from $3,500 a month.
Problems from the start
The voyage ran into trouble early on. Its departure was delayed by four months because of repairs and paperwork. CBS News, the BBC’s partner in the US, reported that crew members in Vietnam were forced to shop at local markets for meals, as the firm had unpaid debts to a food supplier that had stopped making deliveries.
CBS also reported that the operator had warned passengers about its financial difficulties in August. In that period, the company had already cautioned travellers about money problems and gone to them for cash contributions. Passenger Holly Hennessey told the BBC that people on board had been invited to weigh up a fuel surcharge as costs climbed, and that the route had been greatly shortened.
Fuel costs and the company’s statement
In a statement on 27 October, Villa Vie Residences said the Iran war had pushed fuel prices sharply higher this year. Fuel expenses for each cabin per month in some Asian regions had climbed as high as $8,000, compared with $1,800 previously. The company said its efforts to cut fuel use were not enough.
The firm added that it was assisting people living aboard to arrange accommodation for the time being while the vessel was in Cambodia. The vessel had sailed back into Singapore earlier this month, weeks after the sudden halt in Cambodia.
Frequently asked questions
Why was the Odyssey cruise ship seized?
The ship was placed under arrest in Singapore on Sunday, according to Singapore court records. Helmsman LLC, a Singapore legal practice, is listed as the party that filed the arrest, but the client it acts for is not known.
Were passengers on board when the ship was seized?
No. Singaporeu0026#039;s port authority said there were no passengers on board. The crew are reported to be well, and the vesselu0026#039;s creditors are handling their care.
Why did the Odyssey operator stop its cruises?
Villa Vie Residences suspended operations last month and blamed sharply higher fuel costs. Around 200 guests had to leave the ship in Sihanoukville, Cambodia.
Sources
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