Casino cruise ship in dire straits

A casino cruise ship operated by Arising International Holdings Ltd may now be facing bankruptcy following a wage dispute with 46 crew members, who claim that they are suffering from irregular supply of water, food and energy.
Mr Wong, who identified himself as a representative of the company which owns the ship, the New Imperial Star, told the South China Morning Post (SCMP) that bankruptcy is a real possibility, although it remains a worst-case scenario.
“Our investors are devastated and suffering a great loss,” he said. “We really don’t want to see [bankruptcy] happen because, by that stage, the ship will have to be sold very cheaply.” Wong added that he has spent HKD20 million to ensure the ship passes a safety inspection which thus far it has not been able to achieve.
According to the SCMP, the ship has been hit – like many in the casino cruise industry – by a drastic drop in the number of mainland tourists and by Beijing’s anti-corruption campaign and crackdown on gaming.
Wong said that in the past the daily turnover of the ship could reach as much as HKD10 million, with a daily attendance of more than 400 passengers, however last year’s income may have been reduced by as much as 90 percent.
The crew told the SCMP that they are planning to apply for legal aid next week to take their employer to a local court in the hope of recovering more than five months’ worth of unpaid work.
Sixty-three-year-old shipmaster Valeriy Lyzhyn said, “I feel hopeless […] my greatest concern is about wages, food and repatriation of the crew members.”