Odyssey cruise ship impounded in Singapore

The Odyssey cruise ship, left stranded in Southeast Asia after its US-based operator ran out of money, has been impounded in Singapore, maritime officials said Monday.

Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority said the vessel had been placed under arrest under a court order after arriving on Sunday from Cambodia. It did not give further details.

The authority said the crew were reported to be well and that arrangements for their welfare were being managed by the vessel’s creditors. It said there were no passengers on board and the ship was anchored in Singapore port waters.

The Odyssey had been meant to take passengers on a continuous voyage around the world. It arrived in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, during a scheduled stop last month, but about 200 guests were told to disembark after operator Villa Vie Residences abruptly suspended operations two years after the ship set sail.

Villa Vie Residences cited “extraordinary increases” in fuel costs due to the US-Israel war with Iran as a reason for stopping operations. The company said per-cabin monthly fuel expenses had risen from an average of $1,800 to an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia.

The cruise had been marketed as an affordable voyage around the world in which passengers could buy or rent rooms for a holiday or for life. Some passengers said they sold everything they had to pay for the cruise.

Residents were given seven hours to pack and leave the 200-metre ship. The Odyssey carried 203 guests and 156 crew.