The RCGS Resolute, a 1991-built expedition cruiseship with a storied past, has been sold at auction in Curacao for reportedly less than $1m.
Eva Michelle Pennings, a lawyer representing Bahamian-registered seller Bunnys Adventures & Cruise Shipping, has confirmed that the 184-berth vessel was offloaded Monday. She would not say for how much it was sold or disclose the seller.
"We had a taker, but other than that, I can't share any other details," she told TradeWinds.
The ship was sold for $600,000 "according to a source familiar with the auction result", Cruise Industry News has reported.
The ship has a market value of $12.3m and a demolition value of $1.26m, according to online ship valuation tracker Vessels Value.
The sale marks the end of a long battle waged by Bunnys since the ship's November arrest in Buenos Aires, Argentina after Canadian charterer One Ocean Expeditions collapsed.
Bunnys had to pay off $3.93m in One Ocean debt to have the ship released from arrest.
During a positioning voyage to Curacao from Buenos Aires, the Resolute had a hostile encounter with Venezuelan warship Naiguata (built 2009) that led to the latter vessel's sinking.
Venezuela's Ministry of Defense threatened legal action on the grounds of a hit-and-run incident but Bunnys hit back with claims of hostile actions in international waters.
Arctica Adventure also lodged claims against the ship for $3.93m and €4.72m ($5.32m) while it was in the Netherlands Antilles port.
