Island Escape Cruises' 32-passenger superyacht Island Escape was arrested in Broome (Kimberley, Western Australia) after a warrant was put out by the Bank of New Zealand and Export Finance Norway.
The vessel was on a bareboat charter from Seasons Shipping Co Ltd (Jongno-gu/Seoul, South Korea-based shipowner, 2020-founded, registered in Hong Kong China).
Island Escape sailed from New Zealand to Broome in May 2022 and was due to make a series of 12-night ‘Wild Kimberley Coast’ roundtrips from Broome WA, but canceled 3 voyages.
The vessel was arrested after failing to operate the scheduled Kimberley cruises by order of the Federal Court of Australia and the Court Marshall is currently in control of the superyacht.
Island Escape Cruises’ founder Peter Bissett resigned earlier this month. Sales coordinator Nikita Smith also left, leaving director Erik Helseth as CEO.
Due to the arrest, the NZ-based company is unable to resume trading the Island Escape business. This means that future voyages cannot go ahead and the company cannot pay any refunds.
Island Escape Cruises Ltd is a New Zealand-based small cruise brand company that currently operates only Island Escape (2021-built, IMO 9903994, Marshall Islands-flagged, LOA-length 54 m) which entered service in 2022 operating in the Kimberley since May.