The bankrupt small-ship cruise operator Haimark Line Limited has canceled all future cruises, according to the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission.
Haimark entered the U.S. market only last year, initially offering itineraries along the Eastern seaboard and the Great Lakes. The company filed for bankruptcy in November 2015 and operates a single vessel, the 210-passenger Saint Laurent, which is owned by the bulk carrier operator Clipper Group.
Weeks after the Saint Laurent made its first voyage for Haimark, the ship crashed into a lock while navigating the St. Lawrence Seaway and was out of service for a month.
In July, the company announced that it would offer cruses to Cuba aboard the Saint Laurent, which did not materialize. In filing for bankruptcy last year, Haimark cited unresolved insurance issues related to the lock accident as the cause.
The Maritime Commission notice advised passengers that Haimark maintains an escrow account for refunding fares and deposits for cruises that were to depart from a U.S. port. The agency said that the escrow agent would automatically process refunds and send payments to eligible passengers who paid deposits or fares for cruises on the Saint Laurent.
An affiliated company that operates river cruises in Asia, Haimark Ltd., is unaffected by the cancellations.
For more information, visit the Federal Maritime Commission website.
