With unconfirmed reports from the UK on Friday saying that Golden Horizon, the world’s largest sailing ship had been arrested in Dover, England, Global Travel Media can confirm she is now back sailing. In addition, on Saturday, Craig Brown of Cruise Traveller, Tradewind Voyages’ Australia sales agents confirmed to Global Travel Media that he had been advised by Tradewind Voyages that the situation had been resolved and Golden Horizon was back sailing.
shipmonk.co.uk has also reported that Star Clippers, which originally ordered the ship as Flying Clipper from Croatian company Brodosplit and has been locked in a long financial dispute with the yard, that in a statement issued on July 15, Star Clippers said, “Earlier today, the English authorities have upon instruction of Star Clippers and with leave from the Admiralty Mashal arrested the vessel Golden Horizon in Dover”, adding, ‘Despite several payment demands, Croatian shipyard Brodosplit refused to voluntarily discharge its outstanding financial obligations to Star Clippers which made an arrest unavoidable”, and “Star Clippers has advised Brodosplit Group that upon proper payment of the debt owed to Star Clippers the ship will be released from arrest immediately.”
One report said the amount involved was around 7million euros, with on July 16, Star Clippers was quoted in the Croatian press as saying, “As soon as we received Brodosplit’s first outstanding debt payment, Star Clippers ordered [Golden Horizon] to be released immediately.”
A spokesperson for the ship’s operator Tradewind Voyages, based in Suffolk, assured shipmonk.co.uk, “There are no outstanding payments, everything has been settled,” adding, “The ship is continuing her voyages, as planned”.
A statement from Tradewind and Brododplit said, “We wish to thank you for your interest in our beautiful ship, the Golden Horizon, and confirm that we have continued our voyage from Dover today,” adding, “The schedule will continue, as planned.”
The statement also said, “In July 2019, Brodosplit Shipyard first offered a “buyers supply” payment, followed by several offers more, but each time it was declined”, and, “Finally, on the 14 July 2021, at the request of the ship owner, the Courts allowed the establishment of a Court Deposit to pay “buyers supply” after the mortgage was taken out”, adding, “This meant that a mortgage ceased to exist (the reported proceedings commenced a day after the opening of a Court Deposit)” and, “The payment was offered voluntarily, as evidenced by the opening of a Court Deposit.”
Tradewind and Brodosplit said that they were “pleased” that that “the UK authorities are not only efficient but also expeditious and professional and they completed the process quickly”, adding, “Therefore, we are delighted to be able to inform you that the Golden Horizon has continued its voyage today and will be able to sail free of mortgages, across all the planned seas of the world, wherever it is carried by the ‘trade winds’,” the joint statement read.
As of 8.00am Saturday morning according to Marine Tracker, Golden Horizon was sailing along the English Channel and to check her out click on the video below from shipmonk.co.uk
A report by John Alwyn-Jones, Cruise Editor Global Travel Media and Global Cruise News.
