| Golden Horizon arrested

TRADEWIND Voyages insists the maiden season of its new Golden Horizon will go ahead as planned, despite the vessel being detained upon its arrival in Dover yesterday.

Golden Horizon (pictured), which is the world’s largest tall ship, was originally ordered by Star Clippers, and is involved in a complex financial dispute with the Brodosplit shipyard in Croatia where the vessel was built (CW 03 Jan 2020).

Star Clippers issued a statement, confirming that “earlier today, the English authorities have upon instruction of Star Clippers…arrested the vessel Golden Horizon in Dover”.

“Despite several payment demands, Croatian shipyard Brodosplit refused to voluntarily discharge its outstanding financial obligations to Star Clippers, which made an arrest unavoidable,” the line said.

It’s understood about 7 million is being demanded, with Star Clippers saying once the debt is discharged, Golden Horizon will be released.

The 330-passenger ship, which had previously been named Flying Clipper, had faced “continuous delays” during its construction on behalf of Star Clippers, with the dispute believed to have ultimately led to the vessel’s sale to a new owner (CW 30 Jan 2020).

It’s unclear at this stage what impact, if any, the dispute will have on Golden Horizon’s planned upcoming Australian deployment, with local GSA Cruise Traveller (CW 28 Sep 2020) unable to comment before CW’s deadline today.