MS Palm Beach Princess
Curiosity Continues
By Mike Groves
It would appear that the saga of the Palm Beach Princess will simply not go away? Now I am the first to admit that ‘this article’ is not exactly rolling hot off the press however I opted to sit back a while and see what was going to happen next as this story appears to be changing on an hourly basis!
As you will recall previously on the 12/02/2009 the owners of the MS Palm Beach Princess first dismissed their own Captain, Avdic Hamid and which resulted in the crew suffering a serious sense of humor failure and opting to go out on strike! The crew stated this was because of a poor working conditions and a newly enforced 25% pay cut to boot, while the company made absolutely no mention of this, preferring to keep to the party line that the strike was being orchestrated by the disgruntled and newly dismissed Captain, Avdic Hamid?
They did however state that the ship would most certainly not be sailing that evening on their Twitter page –
‘Please be advised that Palm Beach Princess Casino will not be sailing this evening.’
6:29 PM Dec 2nd, 2009 from web
It would appear that all was well between the company and the crew by 12/03/2009 because the company posted two posts on their Twitter page –
‘Yeah! Palm Beach Princess will resume her regular sailing schedule on Thursday morning. See you onboard!’ 2:43 AM Dec 3rd, 2009 from web
Palm Beach Princess Casino has resumed our normal sailing schedule. Ship departs tonight at 6:30 PM. 9:58 PM Dec 3rd, 2009 from web
So all was well again…but hold on a minute – just prior to posting my previous article I then learn that the MS Palm Beach Princess had fallen fouwl of the United States Coast Guard [USCG] who took it upon themselves; quite rightly, to revoke the vessels passenger carrying certificate that allows it in and out of U.S. ports. This occurred on the 12/08/2009. The Coast Guard stated they had done this because the MS Palm Beach Princess operators had failed make repairs to one of its main propulsion engines.
Back to their Twitter page –
‘Please be advised that Palm Beach Princess Casino will not be sailing this morning. Check back at 3:00 PM about tonight's cruise.’ 2:51 PM Dec 8th, 2009 from web
And there it remained, with virtually the same posting every day with the exception of one that was posted on 12/17/09 saying they were unable to sail due to inclement weather?
‘Please be advised that Palm Beach Princess Casino will not be sailing this evening due to inclement weather.’ 4:57 PM Dec 17th, 2009 from web
These Twitter postings remained constant until the 12/21/09, so I have no idea why they said they could not sail due to inclement weather because it appears they were not in a position to sail anyway? While all this was going on, the company declared bankruptcy on Christmas Eve! According to reports filed with U.S. Bankruptcy Court it was now apparent the operators of the MS Palm Beach Princess were heavily in debit.
Only some twenty days before the entire crew of the MS Palm Beach Princess took strike action, so it would appear to me, that a 25% pay cut fits perfectly with a company in deep financial problems and just days away from filing for bankruptcy?
The cruise ship’s operators estimated its assets were less than $50,000 while their liabilities remained well in excess of $1.3 million. The bankruptcy court petition actually lists $1 million to $10 million in liabilities according to some reports. The papers also showed the operators owed the Port $129,463 and they had already missed a previous deadline to pay the Port $52,000.
One spokesperson for the Port stated – ‘In ordinary times, the failure could result in the cancellation of its contract, said Paul Zielinski, chief financial operator for the port. However, he said, since its parent company, Ocean Development 1 LLC, last week filed for bankruptcy protection, it is unclear what action, if any, the port can take.’ Still the port took no chances and seized $140,000 of the ship's $250,000 security deposit and can keep the remaining $110,000 if required.
Other creditors include $31,552 to The Palm Beach Post, $51,685 to Sysco of Southeast Florida, $60,000 to Palmdale Oil Co, $75,130 to Cheney Brothers, $119,000 to Seabulk Towing, $163,148 to Eagle Marine and the International Game Technology Solution Center, which provides gambling machines and where they owe them a whopping $188,152!
The company also reported that it owes the U.S. Customs and Border Protection $63,771.
Reading between the lines and in fairness all the various interviews, statements and counter statements, I feel the crew are getting a very raw deal indeed. I would even go so far as to say they are being treated in a disgraceful manner. There is no smoke without fire at the end of the day and I find it deplorable if just one of the allegations was found to be true – such as dumping them in a foreign country as many expressed concern would happen, ‘the ship planned to sail to the Bahamas and dump them without money or with no way to get home.’
Although the company denied this Miami attorney Ross Toyne wasn’t so confidant to just take their word for it and asked Judge Erik Kimball to make sure the operators paid crewmembers the $180,000 he claims they are owed.
It is also well known that the Panamanian-flagged ship travels to the Bahamas monthly in order to allow its workers to renew their visas, however Toyne said, instead of the Bahamas, it appears the company plans to take the ship to the Dominican Republic. Such a move would be far worse for the workers because "in the Bahamas there is at least some semblance of justice." But, he said, it would be better for the owners because companies are available to turn the roughly 50-year-old ship into scrap. Company officials scoffed at the claims.
I decided to delve further and found numerous posts on www.thepalmbeachpost.com.news and which I have to say were not particularly polite towards a few individuals inside the company, General Manager Greg Karan being one of them
(9:48 PM, 12/29/2009)
"So as we sit and await our fate...Karran is busy trying to get the sun cruz ship(s) for Krilich. Hmmmmm wonder how the promise of us foreign workers remaining to work is going to happen with American flag ship(s)......Could they be lying to us!!!!!!!
And we thought Mauro was dumb!
If these criminals get this ship sailing under bankruptcy protection for a short while, they will, they'll abuse the staff, make money as they will not have to pay a lot of bills, and close down. BEWARE!!!!!!!!"
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MS Palm Beach Princess
Curiosity Continues
By Mike Groves QGM
Cruise Bruise Security And Safety Advisor
January 10, 2010
