The seizure of failed British cruise operator All Leisure Group’s sole vessel asset in Singapore could make life difficult for administrators seeking a quick wind-up of the company.

Gulf Petrochem was the first creditor to move against All Leisure Group (ALG) when it arrested the company’s 15,400-gt cruiseship Voyager (built 1990) last Friday.

The bunker supplier filed a $162,800 claim against the ship.

The arrest throws a spanner in the works of efforts by ALG administrator, accountancy firm Grant Thornton, to sell off the company’s assets in an orderly fashion.

It sold ALG cruise brand Hebridean Island Cruises and several land-based tour operations just prior to pulling the plug on the remaining Voyages of Discovery and Swan Hellenic Cruises brands on 3 January.

TradeWinds understands that efforts were being made to find a buyer for the ship.

Subsequent to ALG filing for administration, it entered SembCorp Marine’s Admiralty shipyard to carry out engine repairs prior to a potential sale.

Recent reports indicate that interested parties had inspected the ship with a view to purchase in December.

The arrest of the vessel now leaves the disposal of the Voyager in the hands of the High Court of Singapore unless ALG’s administrator can settle claims lodged against it by Gulf Petrochem and other creditors.

Court documents reveal that another bunker supplier, Shipoil Ltd, subsequently filed a caveat against the ship while SembCorp Marine has filed for leave to intervene in the case.

Cruise sources following the developments at ALG believe that the 550-passenger Voyager might be a tough ship to sell as it has a limited passenger capacity that is best suited to the adventure cruise market, but it is not well suited to expedition cruising as it does not feature an ice-strengthened hull.

ALG brand Swan Hellenic’s 12,900-gt cruiseship Minerva (built 1996) was long-term chartered from Artica Adventure & Cruise Shipping, a company closely connected to shipmanager V Ships.

These two companies have yet to comment on the ship's future.

Observers indicate that it would be easy for Artica to arrange a new charter or sale of the 428-passenger Minerva to an expedition cruise operator as the ship is capable of making polar voyages and would be in demand from players in the adventure cruise market.

The segment is one of the fastest growing in the cruise industry, its growth only restricted by a lack of available ships.