The surprise announcement on Wednesday that the arrested cruise ship Olympia Countess would be sold by auction in two weeks' time has thrown into confusion plans to resume cruises soon.
But the charterers, Starlight Cruises, said they were hopeful any new owner would be prepared to resume cruising for the rest of the South African season.
The cruise ship, on charter to Starlight Cruises from owners Royal Olympic Cruises for a summer of cruising out of Durban, was arrested in the port on January 8 by a number of creditors, that has now increased to about 10, forcing the cancellation of a cruise to Mozambique due to begin later that day.
The cancellation left hundreds of passengers at the quayside holding tickets, but with nowhere to go and thousands of others with the prospect of cancelled holiday plans.
Because of the legal implications, it had been expected that any sale of the ship would take months to arrange.
Starlight Cruises, which has chartered the ship during the past two summers, said that refunds would be made but it was hopeful that regular cruises would resume shortly.
"I was told by the owners that some form of agreement with the banks in Germany was expected and that the ship would be freed in time for the February 13 cruise," Alan Foggitt, Managing Director of Starlight Cruises, said on Wednesday.
This would have allowed another 17 cruises from Durban before the ship was due to return to Europe in April.
Foggitt was unaware that the main creditors had ordered the ship to be sold on January 29, but said this could turn to everyone's advantage as a new owner might be prepared to enter into another charter agreement for the remainder of the South African summer.
Captain Roy Martin of Admiralty Ship Sales, who will conduct the auction on behalf of the creditors, said permission had been granted to hold the sale on board the vessel which is berthed at N-Shed.
"It is costing the creditors about $40 000 (R266 000) a day just to sit there, so the sooner a buyer is found and the matter wrapped up the better for all concerned," he said.
Martin expected the ship to realise between $15- million and $18-million (R105-million to R127- million), although he thought the number of people interested in buying cruise ships was limited.
He said he had undertaken a full inspection of the vessel which was in good general condition and well cared for despite being 28-years-old. Whoever buys the ship will have to comply with new international safety regulations, which come into effect at the end of this year. This required the installing of a full sprinkler system throughout the ship which would cost $2-2.5million (R13-million to R16,5-million).
The ship, which began service as the Cunard Countess for Cunard Line in 1975, is under contract to serve as a floating hotel at Athens during this year's Olympic Games, which might act as a further inducement for would-be buyers provided they are able to arrange for the Greek Olympic Committee to renew the contract.