Two cruise ships operated by a subsidiary of Bermudian-based Genting Hong Kong Limited have been placed under arrest in the Bahamas for alleged non-payment of bills.

The Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity were arrested on Friday evening in waters off Freeport.

The ships are operated by Miami-based Crystal Cruises.

Last month, joint provisional liquidators were appointed by the Supreme Court of Bermuda to assist in restructuring the indebtedness of Genting.

And on Friday, JPLs were appointed by the Supreme Court here to assist in restructuring the indebtedness of Dream Cruises Holding Company, also a subsidiary of Genting.

Dream Cruises operates a fleet of three cruise ships in Asia.

The Miami Herald reported that the Symphony and Serenity were seized after an arrest warrant was issued by a federal judge in Miami following claims made by Peninsula Petroleum Far East over unpaid fuel bills.

Yesterday, the Nassau Guardian reported that Acting Port Controller Lieutenant Commander Berne Wright said the two ships were arrested at about 9pm on Friday after authorities received a writ of summons from the Supreme Court of the Bahamas to seize the vessels.

Mr Wright told the Guardian that the ships are registered in the Bahamas.

According to the Guardian, Mr Wright said the vessels were seized through a joint effort between the Port Department, the Office of the Attorney-General and the Bahamas Maritime Authority.

The Guardian reported that Jobeth Coleby-Davis, the Minister of Transport and Housing, confirmed the seizure, and compared the collaboration between US and Bahamian authorities to extradition requests.

The newspaper said court documents list 13 invoices for fuel to Crystal Cruises and Star Cruises ships, with almost $3.4 million due to Peninsula Petroleum between August 11 and January 17.

Star Cruises, a Genting subsidiary, operates cruise ships in Asia.

Crystal Cruises announced last month that it was suspending ocean cruise voyages through April 29, adding: “Suspending operations will provide Crystal’s management team with an opportunity to evaluate the current state of business and examine various options moving forward.”

The Crystal Serenity is due to visit the island in May.