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Post by Admin on Oct 23, 2015 5:55:43 GMT
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Post by Admin on Oct 23, 2015 6:36:02 GMT
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2015 4:59:01 GMT
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Post by Admin on May 5, 2018 4:56:57 GMT
One Ocean has recently added a new vessel to its stable. Joining the One Ocean Navigator (aka Akademik Ioffe) and One Ocean Voyager (aka Akademik Sergey Vavilov) is the RCGS Resolute (previously the Hanseatic). www.oneoceanexpeditions.com |
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Post by Admin on May 23, 2019 8:04:50 GMT
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Post by Admin on Oct 28, 2019 6:37:55 GMT
capebretonspectator.com/2019/08/21/ooe-rcgs-resolute-nunavut-arrest/AUGUST 21, 2019 BY MARY CAMPBELL Arresting Development? On 9 August 2019, the Nunavut sheriff’s office, acting on a statement of claim and warrant from the Federal Court in Halifax, “arrested” the Royal Canadian Geographic Society (RCGS) Resolute — a cruise ship operated by One Ocean Expeditions (OOE). The incident was made public on August 19, by CBC North reporter Angela Hill. RCGS Resolute in Aberdeen, Scotland. (Photo by Rab,Driver of P300NJB @grampian Continental, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.) Hill explained that the claim — for almost $100,000 — was filed in the Federal Court in Halifax by Atship Services Ltd, “Atlantic Canada’s leading ship agency,” which has offices in Halifax, Canso and Sydney. According to the CBC, the Nunavut sherriff’s office was contacted on August 8, filed the appropriate paperwork, then visited the RCGS Resolute on August 9. Thomas Peyton, acting manager of sheriffs for the Nunavut Court of Justice, told Hill they were ferried to the vessel by zodiac and met by the captain upon arrival: “We served him the documents that placed the vessel under arrest,” Peyton said. The arrest meant the ship couldn’t move until a further court order arrived. “It’s not like we can tie a rope to it and have the vessel actually not move. It’s under the understanding that the captain is aware of it, he contacts his superiors and the boat doesn’t move until further notice,” Peyton said. (The documents filed with the Federal Court note that the sherriff’s office served the statement of claim, the affidavit leading to the warrant and the warrant itself by “affixing a certified copy of each to the wheelhouse of the RCGS Resolute.”) The drama, such as it was, was short-lived: on that same day (August 9), according to Andrew Baumberg, Federal Court legal council in Vancouver: A consent was filed by the Plaintiff, following which a Release was issued by the Registry. Within a few hours of being “arrested,” the RCGS Resolute was free and as of 7:00 AM Wednesday morning, it was on its way to Ilulissat Icefjord in Greenland. The court documents don’t explain what happened, but presumably Atship was either paid or promised payment. Reading this story reminded me that this is not the first time OOE, the company founded by Westmount native Andrew Prossin (and that is supposedly looking to make Sydney its home port), has been accused of failing to pay its bills. Blame Russia Until this cruise season, the company had leased two vessels — the Akademik Ioffe (since 2011) and the Akademik Sergey Vavilov (since 2012) — from Russia’s P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanography at the Russian Academy of Sciences (IO RAS). The Wikimedia caption for this 2012 photo of the Akademik Sergey Vavilov in the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica describes it as an “ancient research vessel.” (Photo by LBM1948, CC BY-SA 4.0). What happened to end this arrangement is the subject of some dispute, so I’m going to lay out the facts as presented by each side and let you decide. In a press release dated 21 May 2019, OOE general manager Catherine Lawton said: In recent days OOE was informed that the owners of the loffe and Vavilov have suddenly and unexpectedly withdrawn the vessels from passenger service. Their decision comes as a complete surprise to OOE and is out of our control. The withdrawal of the vessels for the 2019-20 season is a breach of the owners’ contract with OOE and is now the subject of legal action. Media outlets (including the Spectator) went along with this version of events, albeit some more enthusiastically than others. The UK-based Express, for example, really got into the spirit of things writing: Cruise ships due to take passengers on once-in-a-lifetime trips to the Arctic have been seized by Russian authorities following a dispute between the Kremlin [emphasis mine] and a cruise ship operator. The owner of vessels — the P.P. Shirshov Institute or IO RAS — however, begged to differ and on 29 May 2019, issued its own statement: It is worth emphasizing that the IO RAS has no contractual relationships with and, consequently, not liable to the One Ocean Expeditions. Akademik Ioffe and Akademik Sergey Vavilov R/V are time-chartered by Terragelida Ship Management Ltd. till autumn 2019 under the direct chartering contract with IO RAS. Presently the vessels being at the disposal of Terragelida Ship Management Ltd. have been properly maintained and are available in Kaliningrad home port. Terragelida Ship Management Ltd. duly fulfils its commitments assumed within the framework of the contract with IO RAS. Around this time (and as a consequence of the story I’d written about OOE), I heard from a former employee of the cruise line. Adam Hammond explained he’d worked as an assistant expedition leader and safety officer on the Ioffe for a brief period in 2018. (He says he boarded the vessel in Gdansk, Poland on 6 June 2018 and set sail a week later for Sydney, N.S., arriving on 25 June 2018. Two days later, passengers were boarded in Louisbourg for the OOE’s 8-day, east coast golf tour. On 4 July 2018, Hammond says he was told to leave the ship.) Hammond’s version of events is that he was fired for raising concerns about passenger safety, crew qualifications and rubbish disposal. He filed an official complaint with Transport Canada outlining his concerns on 15 July 2018. The agency sent an officer to inspect the Akademik Ioffe while it was in Port Hawkesbury on 24 July 2018 but told Hammond in a letter (which I’ve seen) that: …no deficiencies were noted except one…under STCW for crew training. This was rectified prior to departure of the Port State Control Officer. Hammond suggested I get in touch with Ivan Budarin of Terragelida, whose email address he gave me and whom he seemed to know. (It quickly became apparent, after I did reach out to Budarin, that he and Hammond were in contact with one another.) I emailed Budarin, who is listed as the only director of Cyprus-based Terragelida, and he responded immediately. He began contradicting OOE’s version of events almost immediately, telling me that Terragelida had sent OOE a letter terminating its lease of Akademik Sergey Vavilov on 28 May 2019 (that is, six days after OOE announced that both vessels had been withdrawn from service). Furthermore, Budarin said that as of the time of writing (24 June 2019), the contract for the Ioffe was still in place. Budarin went on to state that the Vavilov had been withdrawn due to “significant breaches of contractual obligations by One Ocean Expedition .” In a subsequent email, he went into greater detail, stating that the breaches included “non-payment of hire debts for the Antarctic season, 2019 and default in supply of bunker fuel.”
Budarin claimed Terragelida’s losses amounted to millions of dollars.
By the time of this second email (6 July 2019), Budarin said Terragelida was about to terminate the contract for the Ioffe for the same reasons (failure to pay for its hire and bunker fuel.)
Cone of silence
I can find no record of OOE CEO Andrew Prossin answering questions about the situation.
A number of accounts (including the CBC’s) note that the reporter attempted to reach OOE for comment but was unsuccessful. I personally have emailed OOE’s media contact twice asking the company to respond to Budarin’s allegations, but as of press time, have received no response.
OOE’s version of events seems to come from two sources: the May 21 press release and a letter Prossin sent to booking agents in June, in which he claimed the ships’ owners had taken the vessels to Kaliningrad (their home port) for “modernization.” Wrote Prossin:
The owners’ refusal to provide the vessels is a breach of their contract with OOE. OOE has done everything in its power to compel the owners to abide by their contractual obligations.
The vessel owners unexpectedly decided to return the vessels to Kaliningrad, Russia, for purported repairs. This was not communicated to OOE in advance.
As such, legal action has been commenced by OOE, including the filing of an urgent application for arbitration proceedings. Unfortunately, it is now clear no matter what OOE does the vessels will not be provided for the upcoming 2019-20 cruising seasons, despite our contract.
Given that the legal proceedings initiated by OOE following the contract breach could lead to the arrest of the vessels should they leave Russia, OOE has undertaken to share a full account of what has transpired with our agents and partners.
Budarin disputes pretty much all of this (as do the ships’ owners, as noted above).
Budarin says the only arbitration application filed in the case was filed by Terragelida, which has turned to the London Maritime Arbitrators Association to ask that OOE be ordered to pay its debts.
Budarin gave me the names of the lawyers representing Terragelida and I contacted one of them to ask him to confirm he was indeed representing the company but he told me (very politely) that he couldn’t tell me anything because the essence of arbitration proceedings under English law is that they are “strictly confidential.” English arbitration awards are not even published unless the losing party gets permission to appeal.
The bottom line, then, is that OOE and Terragelida are basically free to claim whatever they want to claim about arbitration proceedings, there is no way for me to verify who is pursuing whom.
Late pay
The final example of OOE being slow to pay bills comes from the Glass Door website and must, of course, be taken with a grain of (sea) salt.
I know all the problems with anonymous employer review sites and recognize that it is possible that all eight of these reviews were posted by one person and that that one person never actually worked for OOE. Or that all eight were posted by disgruntled employees and don’t reflect the experience of most OOE staffers.
But here’s the thing: the eight reviews are uniformly positive about working for OOE. The pros they list include “Paid to go to Antarctica/Arctic learn from many experts as coworkers and special guests decent in house training” and “Ship life is great – enjoyable work in amazing locations, everyone is treated with respect and the food, pay, accommodation are all decent.”
And yet, five of the reviewers who were otherwise positive about OOE registered the same complaint: late pay.
In fact, the reviewer who, in May 2019, declared ship life “great” and pay “decent” also said this:
Contractors are only paid 50% up front and the remaining 50% months after completing a contract Invoices are NEVER paid on time Communication from head office regarding scheduling is poor Delayed pay and communication lead to staff frustration and turnover which leads to gaps in onboard staffing.
Obviously, I cannot verify the accuracy of the comment and I provide it with all the caveats noted above, but OOE could respond to these criticisms — the way, say, Cabot Links responds to comments on the Indeed job site — and yet, for whatever reason, it chooses not to.
Miscellany
There’s one other piece of information I discovered about the RCGS Resolute that doesn’t really fit into a story about overdue bills but which I think is worth including.
Whereas the Ioffe and the Vavilov sail under the Russian flag — that is, the flag of their home country — the ship bearing the name of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society is registered in Madeira, a jurisdiction the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITWF) has declared a Flag of Convenience (FOC).
The ITWF says that, for workers, sailing under a Flag of Convenience can mean:
very low wages
poor on-board conditions
inadequate food and clean drinking water
long periods of work without proper rest, leading to stress and fatigue
For vessel operators, “flagging out,” as it’s called, can allow them to take advantage of:
minimal regulation
cheap registration fees
low or no taxes
freedom to employ cheap labour from the global labour market
It’s certainly a common practice in the cruise industry, but it’s not a great look for the RCGS.
Final word
The Cape Breton Post didn’t pick up the story of the Resolute’s misadventure but the Chronicle Herald did on Wednesday in Peter Ziobrowski’s Shipping News column.
OOE’s woes are tacked onto Ziobrowski’s discussion of the “dirty underbelly” of the cruise industry — its record of polluting the oceans.
But that’s a subject for another day…
Featured image: RCGS Resolute off Percé, QC. Photo by Jeangagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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Post by Admin on Nov 1, 2019 9:48:27 GMT
www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/31/polar-tour-crew-canda-one-ocean-expeditionsCrew for troubled polar tour firm say they haven’t been paid in months Canada-based One Ocean Expeditions cancelled recent trip to Antarctica after it was unable to purchase sufficient fuel Leyland Cecco Thu 31 Oct 2019 21.30 AEDT Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email An adventure travel company that charges upwards of US$20,000 for a single trip to polar regions has failed to pay many of its contractors in nearly a year, leaving some unable to cover living expenses, according to current and former crew. Polar cruise boom harming the Arctic, explorer warns One Ocean Expeditions – which announced on 29 October plans to restructure amid financial difficulties – also cancelled a recent trip to Antarctica after it was unable to purchase sufficient fuel, abruptly returning guests to a port in Argentina before it reached the southernmost continent. “Unfortunately, the difficult reality is that in recent months, we have fallen short of these high expectations that we have set for ourselves as a leader in the expedition cruise industry,” the company announced on Facebook. While it struggles to refund passengers and booking companies, the troubled British Columbia-based company has failed pay its many contractors for months, according to ten current and former crew members interviewed by the Guardian. Many of the guides and workers aboard ships run by One Ocean, who come from all over the world, requested anonymity for fear they would be unable to find work in the industry if identified. Inuit fear they will be overwhelmed as ‘extinction tourism’ descends on Arctic Until recently, they have been hesitant to speak out about unpaid wages, worried that a bankruptcy could mean they are never compensated for their work. But the recently cancelled trip – and announcement the company is restructuring – has prompted worries the company could soon collapse without repaying its debts. “The people that have been hit the worst are the people that really invested themselves in the company and worked full seasons for them – and worst of all, the people who are couples, with both members of the couple dependent on the company for the income,” said Sam Edwards, who worked as a guide for two seasons in Antarctica. Founded in 2007, One Ocean Expeditions takes passengers on adventure trips to both the Arctic and Antarctica. Led by Andrew Prossin, the company advertises a commitment to passenger satisfaction and the environment. “In everything we do we focus on the people that matter the most – you, our guests, our energetic shipboard crew and staff, and our tireless ‘back office’ team that make the magic happen behind the scenes,” the company’s website says. Emails to the company and Prossin went unanswered, as did numerous calls to the company’s headquarters in Squamish, British Columbia. The company has received positive coverage in the past, with the Royal Canadian Geographic Society awarding Prossin the Lawrence J Burpee Medal, one of its highest honours, for his role in the discovery of the long-lost ships of the British polar explorer Sir John Franklin. Many who have worked with the company feel One Ocean’s public messaging is at odds with the current compensation and treatment. “There’s been absolutely no communication or apology from the owners who love to tout themselves as such a family business with that personalized touch,” one crew member claimed in an email. Under payment terms seen by the Guardian, contractors were to invoice for the preceding month worked. They would be paid 50% within that month’s payment period — and the rest would be compensated “on or around 60 days” later. Many staff alleged they were “stonewalled” when asking for pay. For an estimated 100 contractors – some of whom are owed tens of thousands – little to no payment has been received despite months of requesting compensation for the work. One contractor claims to have lost their home and their vehicle due to delayed payment by the company. While they praised the company for its early years, the current situation has left them broke. “Every week I ask when we’ll be paid. I was always told next week, next week,” the contractor said. In recent days, two members of senior management appear to have left the company, changing their employment status to “Consultant” on LinkedIn. Contractors claim to have not received any information from the company itself on the restructuring. Instead, they learned about the latest development from emails forwarded to them from travel agents and a post on the company’s Facebook page. One Ocean has faced a number of financial setbacks in recent months, beginning last August, when their ship, the Akademik Ioffe ran aground in the Canadian Arctic. Soon after, a dispute with Russian contractors culminated in the company losing the ability to hire two ships. Because of financial and logistical difficulties, the company has been forced to cancel a number of trips in recent months. But people who have worked with One Ocean say the company is quick to rebook passengers on future trips, rather than provide a refund – a practice that has led to numerous disgruntled customers venting their outrage on social media and travel review pages. On its most recent trip, which concluded on 24 October, One Ocean was forced to abandon its planned itinerary after it was unable to fuel the ship. Billed as a voyage to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antartica, the trip should have lasted 19 days and cost a minimum of $21,195. After delays mounted, the expedition leader told the estimated 140 guests – from the UK, South Africa, New Zealand, Mauritius, the US and Canada – that the ship would be returning to port in Argentina. Let’s not turn the Arctic into an adventure playground | Suzanne Goldenberg “There was a range of emotion in response to that – it was like the stages of grief. People were crying,” said passenger Julie Pearce. “One couple in their 80s had saved their whole life for this journey and saved $50,000 to make this happen. And they were in tears.” On a recent trip from Scotland to Iceland, all 25 of the crew suspected they were unlikely to get paid for the trip, one crew member said. “We all knew that we were basically doing this trip for free,” said the crew member. “But we obviously wanted the passengers to get the best possible experience. We wanted to smile and be happy for them.” Weeks ago, contractors took matters into their own hands, having a maritime lien placed on the ship the RCGS Resolute, the company’s main ship. Sheriffs in the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, prevented the ship from leaving port until outstanding bills were paid. The Resolute was eventually released after One Ocean paid outstanding invoices to its contractors. But those payments only covered salaries on the Resolute – not other ships contractors have worked on for One Ocean, including the two Russian ships from last year.
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Post by Admin on Nov 1, 2019 9:49:49 GMT
www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/21828-one-ocean-expeditions-restructuring-ship-stuck-in-buenos-aires.htmlOne Ocean Expeditions Restructuring; Ship Stuck in Buenos Aires October 30, 2019 RCGS Resolute One Ocean Expeditions has entered a restructuring period, citing an extremely challenging business situation due to the sudden withdrawal of two of the company’s three vessels earlier this year by Russian owners, according to Andrew Prossin, managing director. Sources told Cruise Industry News the company is looking at various options, including bringing in new partners. Among assets are a long-term charter agreement on an ice-class expedition vessel, a large number of forward bookings, brand names and trademarks, charter contracts as well as a large list of past, loyal guests. The unexpected withdrawal of the Russian research ships, which is playing out in legal arenas, left One Ocean with a single vessel in the RCGS Resolute, which it has on a long-term charter agreement. One Ocean said in a statement that the withdrawal of these ships “was an unexpected and destabilizing event, and the violation of our contract remains the subject of ongoing legal action.” The RCGS Resolute currently sits dockside in Buenos Aires ; its most recent departure did not go ahead and guests were left stranded in Argentina. The ship was reportedly chartered to a tour company specializing in bird watching, which had even proposed to pay a $230,000 fuel bill to save the cruise.
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Post by Admin on Nov 1, 2019 23:53:45 GMT
www.thechronicleherald.ca/business/local-business/shipping-news-one-ocean-expeditions-sales-in-to-troubled-waters-370614/One Ocean Expeditions' scientific cruise business is going through a painful restructuring. The main player in this business drama is based in Squamish, B.C. But One Ocean's troubles should be of interest here. Company CEO Andrew Prossin is originally from Cape Breton and he had plans to operate polar cruises from an operations centre in Sydney -- the commissioning ceremony for its RCGS Resolute was held in the Cape Breton port. The company’s most recent Antarctic voyage of the RCGS Resolute was cancelled after it had gotten underway. Soon after, I was contacted by Dorothy Poole, a Nova Scotian who was a passenger aboard the ship, who was able to provide a time line of events. Here's how Poole says it played out. Passengers arrived in Argentina and were waiting to board the vessel in Ushuaia, she said. The first sign of trouble was when passengers were told that the ship was delayed due to a medical emergency. An injured crew member required evacuation to hospital, which caused the ship to miss a refueling window. The ship was then scheduled to sail from Buenos Aires after taking on fuel. The RCGS Resolute sailed from Buenos Aries on Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m., although it apparently did not take on fuel. On Oct. 21 the passengers were told the ship would stop in Puerto Madryn for fuel the next morning. Shore activities were planned for the fuel stop; however, when the passengers returned to the ship they were informed that fuel did not arrive as planned but would arrive the next day. On Oct. 23 additional shore excursions were planned but upon their return to the ship the passengers were told only two tankers had fueled the ship, and two more were needed in order for the ship to safely proceed. Those two tankers also needed to be sourced. The next day, passengers were offered excursions for which they would have to pay cash. Then they were told not to leave the ship. At 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 24, passengers were informed that One Ocean Expeditions had canceled the cruise, citing the lack of fuel availability. The ship would be returning to Buenos Aires. The Resolute arrived in Buenos Aries the morning of Oct. 27 and the passengers disembarked. One Ocean offered a free trip to be taken within the next two years as compensation. Other tour operators, who had booked passage on the ship, offered their customers alternate tours through Brazil and Argentina. Poole said the passengers from the cancelled cruise are organizing and considering their actions. Many of them are out several thousand dollars each. She had much praise for her tour operator Rockjumper Birding Tours, who she said were misled by One Ocean and went out of their way to try to make the trip work. The RCGS Resolute remains in port in Buenos Aires. One Ocean is still advertising its next cruise, scheduled to depart from Ushuaia Nov. 6, the day the canceled cruise was scheduled to conclude. A request for comment from One Ocean has gone unanswered. On the company’s Facebook page, Prossin acknowledged in a statement the past few months have been “extremely challenging” for the company. He said the unexpected withdrawal of the two Russian ships from the company’s fleet was a destabilizing event. Although the company tried to weather the disruption, it has been forced to undergo a restructuring of its business. In September the Resolute was arrested in Halifax. The Federal Court in Halifax listed two cases against the ship which led to its arrest on Sept. 20. The first was from PF Collins Custom Brokers for services rendered and the second by Chris Guzzo et al for unpaid wages. The ship was cleared on the Sept. 24 after payment of the bills and wages. A former crew member, who did not want to be named, told me that more than 60 individuals are owed wages by One Ocean. The crew member told me she feels badly for the passengers. For many of the passengers the trip was a-once-in-a-lifetime experience, she said. Chris Guzzo, who was named in the court action, said he was owed more than US$11,000 by One Ocean. Eight former members of the RCGS Resolute were part of the action to get the ship arrested, although only those who had worked on the ship were able to be part of that action, leaving many of the others still waiting for payment, he said. Guzzo had worked for One Ocean since 2016. He told me the company was frequently late paying crew, and had an odd payment arrangement, where 50 per cent of the wage was paid at the end of the contract. Guzzo and the other crewmember I spoke with both said the allure of working in the polar regions was one of the reasons they overlooked One Ocean’s payment terms. They are still working as part of a ship’s crew although for other companies. This is not the first trouble for One Ocean Expeditions. RCGS Resolute was arrested while at anchor in Iqaluit, Nunavut on Aug. 9. Atship Services was owed $100,000 for supplies. That situation was quickly resolved. In May, One Ocean Expeditions suddenly lost the use of its two Russian ships—Akademik Ioffe and Akademik Sergey Vavilov. One Ocean stated at that time the ships were recalled suddenly and without warning in violation of the contract. They blamed political tensions between Russia and the West. The Russian State owned P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanography, which owns the vessels, simply stated it had no agreement with One Ocean Expeditions and that the Akademik Ioffe and Akademik Sergey Vavilov were time-chartered by Terragelida Ship Management Ltd. It turned out that Terragelida Ship Management canceled its contracts with One Ocean Expeditions due to One Ocean’s non-payment of charter and fuelling fees.
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Post by Admin on Nov 3, 2019 2:37:31 GMT
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Post by Admin on Nov 3, 2019 2:38:44 GMT
vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/daphne-bramham-polar-expedition-company-faces-possibly-insurmountable-challenges?fbclid=IwAR01qAw8QxDpMGeezfgQtTc3lfABdlf08C8KELtYtai2ebnT932ouFqvDvkDaphne Bramham: Polar expedition company faces possibly insurmountable challenges When the One Ocean Expeditions’ ship Akademik Ioffe went aground in the Arctic in August 2018, it set off a cascading array of problems that has resulted in shipboard staff, non-profit organizations and high-profile speakers not being paid and passengers stranded in Argentina. DAPHNE BRAMHAM Updated: November 1, 2019 When One Ocean Expeditions’ ship Akademik Ioffe went aground in the Arctic in August 2018, it set off a cascading array of problems that has resulted in shipboard staff, non-profit organizations and high-profile speakers not being paid and passengers stranded in Argentina. Passengers who paid a minimum of $13,195 US for the 15-day Antarctic trip with the Squamish-based adventure travel company that was to begin Monday have been notified that the sailing from Ushuaia in Argentina is cancelled. The company’s ship, RCGS Resolute, is tied up in Buenos Aires where passengers from a previous trip were dropped off before their expedition began due to OOE’s financial problems. In a brief interview Friday, managing director Andrew Prossin said he will be working hard over the weekend to try to find a buyer or an investor so that the company can take care of its obligations to passengers and contractors. “I’m working around the clock to effect a restructuring,” Prossin said. “The last 12 or 14 months haven’t been kind to us and we’ve been working to effect a recovery from the trials and tribulations that have brought us here. “We are trying hard to live up to our commitments.” But as the hours tick by, Prossin is realistic enough to know that as OOE’s problems become more widely known, finding a willing investor or buyer becomes more difficult. Even if he does find a buyer or backer, OOE has created its own trail of grief. Hundreds of shipboard staff — contractors, not employees — haven’t been paid for months. In September, eight former staff members and PF Collins Customs Brokers had the ship seized in Halifax. It was the only way that they were able to recoup the tens of thousands of dollars owed to them. Under Canadian law, the Federal Court can order ships held by police to protect financial interests that are involved. A month earlier, the Resolute was held at anchor off Iqaluit. OOE owed Halifax-based Atship Services $100,000 for provisioning the ship, arranging pilotage services, berthing, fuel and other services. The money was paid within a few hours and the vessel continued on its course. Kristy Schell disputes the idea that OOE’s payment problems are recent. When she went to work for OOE eight years ago, co-workers warned her that the company rarely paid on time. It took eight months for her to get her money — right about the time she planned to sue. Still, Schell went back in 2018. Like most of the onboard staff, she went for the adventure. She wanted to see Antarctica and penguins, and because the trip is so expensive, working onboard was the only way she would get there. Schell is still owed $3,200 in wages and expenses for the contract work she did on the Resolute’s inaugural voyage last October in Central America. One of Schell’s friends is owed $22,000. Another contractor I spoke to is owed $12,000 — unless she gets the money, she won’t be able to return to school in January. The B.C. native didn’t want her name used because the expedition travel business is a small, close-knit community and she doesn’t want to be blacklisted for speaking out about a former employer. Others have had to defer mortgage payments or give up their apartments because they can’t pay the rent. But it’s not just contractors who are on the hook. So is the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Its name is branded on One Ocean’s remaining ship, the RCGS Resolute, and it has done co-branded trips with OOE. Its explorers and researchers have also been given free passage by the company. RCGS CEO John Geiger wouldn’t say how much money is owed to the society. But he emphasized that it has no involvement in the expedition company’s business operations. “It’s a terrible situation and I feel very badly for those impacted personally,” Geiger said. “We’re very disturbed (that this has happened) and keep hoping they find a solution. The best eventuality for everyone would be to find an investor or buyer and restructure.” Vancouver-based Ocean Wise (formerly the Vancouver Aquarium) also has a stake in this. OOE staff and passengers collect water samples in both polar regions for its plastics research. The Vancouver Maritime Museum has an Arctic trip planned with OOE next spring and, in the past, has received sponsorship money from the company for its Arctic programs. Since One Ocean posted a notice on its Facebook page Tuesday that it was seeking to restructure “after an extremely challenging period of time for our company,” the company has gone silent. Staff in Squamish were laid off Friday and the office is locked. Voicemail boxes for senior staff are full. But even though a note on the company’s Facebook page says the page is not being monitored, negative comments are being taken down. It’s an understatement to say that One Ocean is facing extreme challenges. There were no injuries and the passengers and crew were all safely taken off when the Russian-flagged Akademik Ioffe went aground near Kugarruk, Nunavut on Aug. 24, 2018. But the ship was damaged and hundreds of passengers booked on the Ioffe for the remainder of the Arctic cruise season were promised refunds or offered the chance to rebook for 2019. There were investigations. Was it the fault of the Russian captain and crew or the OOE staff, who in consultation with the captain set the course into an uncharted bay where the ship snagged on a rock? More importantly, who would pay the costs? By last fall, Ioffe was repaired and back in service along with its sister-ship, Akademik Vavilov, and the RCGS Resolute, the company’s new ship that came into service in October. When the Antarctic season ended in May, the two Russian ships owned by the P.P Shirshov Institute of Oceanography and chartered to OOE by Cyprus-based Terragelida Ship Management were supposed to be go to Spain, where the OOE supplies and equipment were to be offloaded. Instead, they headed to their home port of Kaliningrad. Why this happened is the subject of two arbitrations that will be heard in London. Both OOE and Terragelida are claiming breach of contract — OOE for the loss of the ships and Terragelida for non-payment of debts including the cost of fuel. Regardless, it left OOE with only one ship and a fully booked Arctic cruise season for three ships. Australian retirees Di and David Dempsey were among those who had their Arctic trip cancelled. They were promised a refund within 90 days. By Aug. 23, they had not received a penny. Then, OOE promised that they would receive it by the second week in September. On Oct. 3, in response to their query, they got an email saying that 40 per cent of the clients had received refunds. It was slim consolation to the Dempseys. This week after reading about the restructuring, Di said in an email, “I am sure we have no hope of ever seeing our money now.” Disclosure: I have travelled twice as a guest of One Ocean Expeditions, once to the Arctic and once to Antarctica. My stories were published in The Vancouver Sun and other Postmedia papers as well as online. dbramham@postmedia.com Twitter: @bramham_daphne
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Post by Admin on Nov 7, 2019 9:25:35 GMT
en.mercopress.com/2019/11/06/iaato-has-suspended-one-ocean-expeditions-falklands-call-of-resolute-cruise-cancelledIAATO has suspended One Ocean Expeditions; Falklands' call of “Resolute” cruise cancelled Wednesday, November 6th 2019 - 12:50 UTC The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) has essentially suspended One Ocean Expeditions’ (OOE) membership in the group, according to a statement sent to members and obtained by Cruise Industry News. One Ocean’s future continues to raise a question mark as departures are cancelled and the RCGS Resolute continues to sit in Buenos Aires. “We have no desire to add to the difficulties, however, in accordance with IAATO bylaws and as a result of non-payment of dues and fees, as of November 1, One Ocean Expeditions is a member of IAATO ‘not in good standing,’” wrote IAATO’s Acting Executive Director Dr. Terry Shaller. “As per our bylaws, the company name has been removed from IAATO’s member directory online and OOE is no longer permitted to use the IAATO logo until such time as payment has been made.” IAATO said that OOE had been a respected member of the group for 11 years and “had made many valuable contributions to our mission of advocating and promoting safe and environmentally responsible Antarctic travel. We are saddened to have had to take this course of action.” Last week the Falkland Islands weekly, Penguin News published that One Ocean has cancelled its Falklands/Antarctic cruise, which was due in the Islands on October 22 with vessel Resolute. Managing Director Andrew Prossin has revealed the company “is now in a difficult period of restructuring.” One Ocean is the company that gifts a cruise to Falklands Conservation to auction at their annual Falklands Conservation Ball. Penguin News contacted Falklands Conservation CEO Esther Bertram if there was concern the cruise would not take place in the light of Mr. Prossin’s statement about the company. Ms Bertram said: “One Ocean Expeditions have been generous supporters of FC’s Conservation Ball for many years, and we have been incredibly grateful for this support. “We are aware of the current difficulties and cancellations that they are experiencing, and have been in contact with this year's auction winner to keep them informed of the situation as best we can.” Helen Havercroft on behalf of the Government of South Georgia also confirmed the cancellation but said the company still had permits for future trips. Agents Sulivan Shipping also confirmed the cancellation but declined to respond to a question regarding whether there were monies owned to the agents by One Ocean. The company has been plagued by problems recently and heavily criticized on internet sites for allegedly not paying employees on time or at all. One of the company's three ships was damaged last year after running aground. Then, two ships were recalled by their Russian owners this summer. One Ocean's remaining ship, RCGS Resolute, was arrested in Nunavut in May for US$ 100,000 owed to a Nova Scotia- based company and was arrested again in Halifax last month. Under maritime law, a ship can be arrested and stopped from leaving a port when a court action is pending against it. An arrest can happen for a variety of reasons, including if a ship has been involved in a collision or death, according to an article in CBC news. Last week One Ocean Expeditions posted a statement on its Facebook page. It did not address the ill-fated cruise or the staff payment issues, and instead asked for patience during a difficult period of ”restructuring.“ It said the withdrawal of two of its ships by the Russian company led to a series of ”complex circumstances“ and a violation of its contract, which the company is continuing to address. ”Unfortunately, the difficult reality is that in recent months we have fallen short of these high expectations we set for ourselves as a leader in the expedition cruise industry,” the statement said. With this most recent cancellation it is understood 140 guests were stranded in Argentina. It is believed no refunds have been offered so far.
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Post by Admin on Nov 8, 2019 4:37:00 GMT
Trip Advisor thread by affected passengers www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g1-i12337-k12938548-One_Ocean_Refund_for_Cancelled_2019_Voyages-Antarctic_Adventures.htmlAnd don't forget the Facebook group which now has over 400 people posting on it in less than a week www.facebook.com/groups/475631073297300Includes an important statement from the company dealing with the sublet of the Ioffe and Vavilov Terragelida Cyprus shared his first post. New member · 8 hrs Hello, My name is Ivan, I am the director of Terragelida Ship Management Limited. My colleague told me that here in this group victims of One Ocean can discuss the situation. Our company used to sublet the vessels PV «Akademik Ioffe» and PV «Akademik Sergey Vavilov» to One Ocean from 2016. Our contracts were valid until autumn 2019. We also suffered from OOE in the spring 2019, One Ocean debts to our company exceeded all reasonable limits and we were forced to withdraw vessels in May from operation of One Ocean and claim to the court. Even in our case it was fraud, Mr. Prossin irresponsibly sold tickets for the cruises for 2020 and 2021 years, understand well that contracts for the vessels were valid until autumn 2019. The situation with RCGS «Resolute» is explainable by the general irresponsible approach to business activity and was predictable, because One Ocean covered all current debts at the expense of revenue from tickets for future cruises. This pyramid will always crash sooner or later. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask. |
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Post by Admin on Nov 8, 2019 4:42:17 GMT
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Post by Admin on Nov 8, 2019 4:45:11 GMT
cruisepassenger.com.au/aussie-passengers-fear-they-may-lose-thousands-as-one-ocean-halts-operations/?fbclid=IwAR2psWEjuXf8nSxX8B4SZRJd2xgATXDv7FDtMMO3vEfozDmWiYyDV3t4J0IAUSSIE PASSENGERS FEAR THEY MAY LOSE THOUSANDS AS ONE OCEAN HALTS OPERATIONS ROSE JACOBS8 NOV 2019 NEWS0 COMMENTS 0 2Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Passengers booked with Canadian-owned One Ocean Expeditions fear they have lost tens of thousands of dollars in prepayments for holidays as the company shut down offices and stopped answering questions this week. Two of its vessels were withdrawn by their Russian owners earlier this year. The company’s Facebook page carries a statement from its managing director Andrew Prossin saying One Ocean Expeditions is in a “difficult period of restructuring” as it goes through an “extremely challenging period of time.” Passengers are feeling stranded without information “The withdrawal of these ships was an unexpected and destabilising event,” Mr Prossin wrote in a post on One Ocean Expeditions’ Facebook page. The two ships, Akademik Ioffe and Akademik Sergey Vavilov, were chartered by One Ocean Expeditions through a deal with Russia’s Academy of Sciences’ PP Shirshov Institute of Oceanology. The third ship this year has been pulled One Australian couple claims they have been owed $20,000 since May, and others who have paid deposits say they have no news of whether their cruises are going ahead or not. Bob Wickham was booked for the October 19th cruise. He was among 140 stranded in Argentina. “We’re still in Argentina because it was going to cost too much to change our flights home. As an Australian I doubt I would be entitled to Canadian consumer protection, and I didn’t pay by credit card,” he says on Facebook. Crew members also claim they have not been paid, and don’t know what is going on. According to One Ocean Expeditions, both ships were the victims of a “sudden withdrawal” by their Russian owners, which has resulted in ongoing legal action by One Ocean Expeditions. The withdrawal has left guests and travel advisors in the dark as sailings are cancelled, including one to Antarctica that left up to 140 guests stranded in Argentina last month, and another that was supposed to host a team of students from a West Vancouver Secondary School. The statement ends by saying: “We deeply regret the inconvenience caused to passengers and our long-standing partners and we remain focused on doing everything possible to move our company forward. “The last few days have been quite eventful but please be patient for a few days as we work to restructure our business. “We will be in touch as soon as possible regarding our future plans and operations.” Guests and advisors with sailings booked in the future have written on social media that the company still hasn’t informed them of the status of their sailings or whether or not they will be refunded for cancelled sailings. The comments section on One Ocean Expeditions’ Facebook page is filled with messages from worried passengers who aren’t sure if their trips are going ahead. Jo Almond writes: “Just wondering how many Australians are caught up in this. This is (was) our trip we have 4 people booked on it. BTW this will be our 3rd attempt to get on a boat after running aground last year and then loosing the Akademik Ioffe. Third time not so lucky. Certainly feel for the employees and suppliers, sounds like they have been mislead for sometime.” Deb Bartley says: “I am booked for the February trip. Have paid in full to find out 3 weeks later I could lose the lot. Travelling from Australia also.” Michelle Rea says: “Yes I was booked on the 6 NOV 2019 after OOE had cancelled our first trip due to the recall of their vessels.” Australian Angela Capri says: “My husband and I are booked on the 1st December cruise. We also rescheduled after our first attempt was cancelled due to the recall.” Another pre-booked passenger, Stewart Campbell has taken to social media: “We all understand that times have been difficult for One Ocean, however to continue the silence and non-communication about the refunds you owe to passengers, staff and countless other creditors is unacceptable! The damage you are doing to your brand is almost irreparable now. Until you repay everyone you owe money – in full – nobody can trust your company again. Please issue a clear and unequivocal statement, immediately, explaining when you will repay clients for the trips you have cancelled. That you have been taking clients’ money and supplier credit the past several months, knowing your own difficulties may well be construed by many as criminal.” Radio silence: Passengers are waiting for news about their refunds The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators, the organisation of more than 100 member companies that is “dedicated to facilitating appropriate, safe and environmentally sound private-sector travel to the Antarctic,” has reportedly suspended One Ocean Expeditions’ membership in the organisation after non-payment of its dues and fees on Nov. 1. One Ocean Expeditions had been a member of the Association for more than a decade. American resident Igor Bratnikov has paid for two tickets collectively valued at $43,500 for a trip to Antarctica in December. He said he’s worried he may lose the money spent on the trip. “It’s kind of a nightmare, because you just have no idea what is going on, because there’s just no information at all,” he said. “It makes me sick for this whole situation.” One Ocean hasn’t contacted him or his travel agency, he said. As of November 4, the company was still taking trip bookings on its website. One Ocean Staff member Michael James worked for the company as a line cook on an on-and-off basis from July 2017 to March 2019 and says that One Ocean still owes him about $6,500. Email exchanges between Mr James and the company show that company representatives have acknowledged Mr James hasn’t received his pay, but do not indicate when the money will come. “[I’m] devastated,” he said. “I have a lot going on right now. Squamish is not cheap to live in and I’m going to be out of work for the next couple months after a surgery, so I need this money.” Staff have been left high and dry without wages The head of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, or RCGS, says his organisation typically receives support from One Ocean, but the company’s restructuring has put a question mark on that relationship. “They have committed to sponsor events for which they have not been able to, at this point, follow through with payment,” said John Geiger, the CEO of the RCGS. He wouldn’t disclose the size of the payments due, but said, “We definitely are owed money and we’re hurting.” “This is a company that’s historically been a very good supporter of ours,” Mr Gegier added. “I can only say I’m very hopeful that they are able to get things back on track.” The society has a co-branding agreement with One Ocean that allows some trips to be called an RCGS co-branded voyage. One of the company’s ships, the RCGS Resolute, was given its namesake as a thank-you for the support the society has received from One Ocean, Geiger said. The society, however, does not own the ship nor have any responsibility in the operations of One Ocean, he said. Geiger said he hasn’t heard anything from the company beyond the public restructuring announcement posted online.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2019 4:37:45 GMT
TRANSLATIONS FROM ARGENTINE PAPERS (I have done these via Google Translate) elintransigente.com/sociedad/2019/11/02/un-crucero-que-iba-a-partir-con-rumbo-a-la-antartida-esta-varado-en-el-puerto-de-buenos-aires/?fbclid=IwAR2fAJjv5YLbBRO1ByNBivW25I4LlR871ASLzigYebH_PZhJwFSljMnoXDENOVIEMBRE 2, 2019 4:23 AM The travel company has not paid many of its contractors in almost a year. An adventure cruise, which had to leave for Antarctica, is stranded in the port of the City of Buenos Aires. "The travel company has not paid many of its contractors in almost a year, leaving some unable to cover living expenses," said part of the current and previous crew before the press. “The company charges more than 20 thousand dollars for a single trip to the polar regions. The San Marino lawyer specializing in maritime law, Francisco Venetucci, was in charge of carrying out the arrest of the RCGS RESOLUTE ship with the flag of Portugal belonging to the One Ocean Expeditions company, ”the SL24 site announced Friday. The ship, which was already ready to begin its expedition, had to depart in the last hours to the southernmost continent of the planet with a large number of tourists from various countries. In that sense, Venetucci represents oil companies that claim to collect debts from the One Ocean Expeditions firm. "Unfortunately, the difficult reality is that in recent months, we have lived up to these high expectations that we have established as leaders in the expedition cruise industry," the company said on its Facebook profile. The firm, based in British Columbia, did not pay payments to its contractors for months. This was highlighted by current and former crew members who spoke with different media. The company was founded in 2007 to transfer passengers on adventure trips to both the Arctic and Antarctica. One Ocean Expeditions is led by Andrew Prossin, according to the British newspaper The Guardian. www.infobae.com/sociedad/2019/11/01/un-viaje-de-20-mil-dolares-y-cientos-de-turistas-varados-la-historia-del-crucero-que-iba-a-la-antartida-y-aun-no-partio-de-buenos-aires/?fbclid=IwAR2zZG3Qojmx7dQSLHP-K3XJStZBKbdvyTlkLAtfhxuDbOJDZsJnhxPLYvwSOCIETY 1 de noviembre de 2019 A trip of 20 thousand dollars and hundreds of tourists stranded: the history of the cruise that went to Antarctica and still did not leave Buenos Aires The Portuguese flag ship is located in the port of Buenos Aires. An Argentine lawyer arrested him for a debt of the Canadian company with maritime fuel oil companies One Ocean Expeditions (OOE), a Canadian travel company that organizes various maritime itineraries around the world, arrived on the front page of the prestigious English newspaper The Guardian after news was released involving an Argentine lawyer and the port of Buenos Aires . On October 29, the company announced that it would begin to restructure its trips due to financial difficulties that it has been going through for more than a year. Two days later, the Portuguese flag RCGS RESOLUTE could not leave Buenos Aires to Antarctica due to a debt with the oil companies responsible for supplying this and other maritime fuel vessels. The arrest occurred this morning and was made by lawyer Francisco Venetucci, a maritime law specialist and representative of the affected companies. The cruise should have departed this morning to Ushuaia and then, from there, to Antarctica, where hundreds of tourists paid more than USD 20 thousand to live a week of adventure tourism. “Unfortunately, the difficult reality is that in recent months we have not lived up to these high expectations that we set ourselves as leaders in the expedition cruise industry. As a result of the breach of the contract that we suffered earlier this year, our company is now in a difficult period of restructuring, ”OOE said on Facebook. “I represent two companies and the debt has been increasing since January of this year. I know there were people who embarked in Buenos Aires and others in Ushuaia. The cruise was already disabled to make this trip, ”Venetucci told Infobae. Although the company charges the amount mentioned only for flights and expedition to polar destinations, Infobae was able to verify that its debts reach contractors, crew and various subsistence expenses for travel. Founded in 2007, the company made hundreds of adventure trips to both the Arctic and Antarctica. Directed by Andrew Prossin - he signed the communiqué on the social network -, he promised to reimburse passengers and reservation companies for which people bought the places. “In the waters of the Antarctic Peninsula, we spend our days off the ship landing on land in the company of our expert guides. By dividing into small special interest groups, we discover Antarctica and its remarkable wildlife through photography, zodiac excursions, hiking on land and for the more adventurous, camping and sea kayaking. Visits to historic cabins and operating research bases add another dimension to the trip, ”promises the sale of the trip on the official OOE website. The Guardian revealed, “Until recently, they had hesitated to talk about unpaid wages, worried that a bankruptcy could mean they would never be compensated for their work. But the recently canceled trip, and the announcement that the company is restructuring, has raised concerns that the company could soon collapse without paying its debts. ” According to the payment terms seen by The Guardian, contractors had to bill for the previous month worked. They would be paid 50% within the payment period of that month, and the rest would be compensated "in about 60 days." Many staff members claimed that their users, when they demanded payments, were blocked. It is estimated that there are more than 100 contractors, to whom they are owed tens of thousands of dollars and among which they have not received any payment or only a small part of what is owed. On a recent trip from Scotland to Iceland, the 25 crew members suspected that they were unlikely to be paid for the trip. A crew member told the English newspaper: “We all knew that we were basically doing this free trip. But obviously we wanted the passengers to get the best possible experience. We wanted to smile and be happy for them. " So far, the company based in British Columbia (Canada), talks with Naval Prefecture Argentina so that the cruise is in Buenos Aires with the aim of solving this problem in the next few hours, avoiding refunds and allowing tourists to travel. sl24.com.ar/abogado-sanlorencino-encargado-de-detener-un-crucero-internacional-colmado-de-turistas/?fbclid=IwAR2EKtTAOa5RuKYS3AvzDF7o6xxolW9nwFvaip15aUfVDbmA_1tU6GFvtNUHUNDREDS OF VARADO TOURISTS 1 de noviembre de 2019 - 13:40 San Lorenzo lawyer responsible for stopping an international cruise packed with tourists The ship is located in the port of Buenos Aires where it was to be supplied prior to sailing to Antarctica with a stopover in Ushuaia. The company that sells adventure expeditions is Canadian. An adventure travel company that charges more than US $ 20,000 for a single trip to the polar regions has not paid many of its contractors in almost a year, leaving some unable to cover subsistence expenses, according to the current crew and earlier, today it touches the port of Buenos Aires to Antarctica. The San Marino lawyer specializing in maritime law, Francisco Venetucci, is currently in the port of Buenos Aires carrying out the arrest of the RCGS RESOLUTE ship with the flag of Portugal belonging to the company One Ocean Expeditions. On the ship prepared to begin its expedition to Antarctica there are hundreds of tourists from different stranded world countries. The local lawyer represents maritime fuel oil companies that claim to collect debts with the company. "Unfortunately, the difficult reality is that in recent months, we have lived up to these high expectations that we have established as leaders in the expedition cruise industry," the company announced on Facebook. While struggling to reimburse passengers and reservation companies, the troubled British Columbia-based company has not paid its contractors for months, according to ten current and previous crew members interviewed by The Guardian. The company was founded in 2007 to take passengers on adventure trips to both the Arctic and Antarctica. Directed by Andrew Prossin, the company announces a commitment to passenger satisfaction and the environment. |
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2019 11:36:16 GMT
www.traveller.com.au/one-ocean-expeditions-cruises-cancelled-leaving-passengers-staff-out-of-pocket-h1jhnaOne Ocean Expeditions cruises cancelled leaving passengers, staff out of pocket By Michael Fowler Australian Michelle Rea was meant to be in Argentina on Thursday, preparing to board a cruise ship from Ushuaia to Antarctica on a photography tour. This was her second attempt to visit Antarctica and South Georgia Island with Canadian cruise company One Ocean Expeditions (OOE). OOE cancelled her previous booking earlier this year amid what the company calls a "restructuring" of the business sparked by the Russian government's seizing of two ships, leased by the company, in May. The Gold Coast resident was left "bitterly disappointed" when it happened again this week. "I was booked on a trip leaving the 6th of November. I should be in the air right now," she said. "This was the second time they cancelled as myself and three friends were also booked on an earlier trip that was cancelled due to the vessels being recalled by their owners. We have not been reimbursed for costs associated with those changes as promised." Ms Rea is one of hundreds of cruise passengers - including dozens of Australians - who have been unable to take their dream trips and left out of pocket by the embattled OOE. With the company also facing allegations from former employees and contractors of unpaid wages, OOE is attempting to quell fears that hundreds more passengers are set to be disappointed in the Antarctica cruise season from November to early April. Managing director Andrew Prossin told Traveller that OOE is "working diligently around the clock at restructuring" in the form of new financing. "That's going quite well with several potential parties. We're hopeful we can resolve the issues at hand and get a good plan to move forward within just days," he said. OOE's first cancellation this season was a 19-day bird-watching Antarctica cruise for 140 passengers at the end of October. This week Mr Prossin emailed those booked for a 6 November trip, including Ms Rea, to announce the cancellation. The letter offered customers a replacement trip on any voyage in the next 24 months but did not mention a refund. OOE's struggles come after a turbulent 15 months that started when one of its ships, Russian-owned MV Akademik Ioffe, ran aground in the Arctic. In May this year, the Ioffe and its sister ship MV Akademik Sergey Valivov - which formed two of OOE's three-ship fleet - were "suddenly and unexpectedly" reclaimed by the Russian government, according to OOE. The compnay is currently challenging the Kremlin's decision in court. OOE's remaining ship, RCGS Resolute, was then seized twice in Canada this year: by a shipping company in August and eight former employees in September, both demanding tens of thousands of dollars owed in wages and service fees. One Australian worker, who did not wish to be named, said he is owed around $US7000 ($10,100) after working on two Antarctica trips in the past year. "All the employees were contractors, meaning we were responsible for our own training, qualifications, visas. The company would cover airfares but in most case you would have to seek reimbursement, so many of us are out of pocket for those too," he said. He said he had "zero" hope of being paid the overdue amount by OOE. "I'm scheduled to work February to April, like my colleagues we just assume that's totally disappeared." OOE has continued to accept bookings in the meantime, with trips costing between $US10,000 and $US30,000 ($15,000 and $43,000). Resolute remained docked in Buenos Aires on Friday, but OOE said it was expecting no further cancellations this season. In the meantime Ms Rea said "my travel insurance does not cover me as the reason for cancellation was 'restructuring'". "I hold no faith in this company. It appears as if bad company practice has been going on for a long time," she said. "I have had only one piece of correspondence from them and they are not contactable. "I feel they took our booking under false pretences." "The amount of money I have lost is substantial but the disappointment of not seeing the amazing wildlife on South Georgia far outweighs that."
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Post by Admin on Nov 10, 2019 5:40:50 GMT
Post on the facebook page - likely by a fake account as it was created just a couple of hours before the post appeared on Sunday 10 Nov 2019. Pasting here in case the account disappears.
Gail Carmichael shared her first post.
New member · 51 mins · tag Advocacy
We are acquaintances of One Ocean staff and have been in contact with them over these past few weeks. Having read many of the entries on this website, many of which are assumptions, or subjective opinions, we have decided to present some of what we believe of the 'other side of the story'.
Firstly it is our understanding that the statements released so far by One Ocean Expeditions are correct. We do not believe that the owners are in the process of leaving the country with everyone's money as several on this site are suggesting. We believe they have been working around the clock over these past few weeks, to come up with a solution to finance the Resolute so that it may complete its Antarctic schedule this season. Confidentiality agreements may mean they are unable to discuss any of this publicly at this point (this would also be the case with regards to the ongoing legal case with regards to the Ioffe & Vavilov being removed from service). No one, other than the staff at One Ocean Expeditions and any potential investor/partner, will understand the logistics behind this being possible.
It is also our understanding the shortfall in One Ocean’s finances was not instigated by mis-appropriation of money as many seem to be suggesting, but by a series of unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances that started when the Ioffe ran aground in uncharted waters in the Arctic, in August 2018. The Ioffe was captained and crewed at the time, by staff provided by the shipping company/ship owners with which One Ocean had contracted both the Ioffe and Vavilov ships. The result meant the Ioffe had to be taken out of service for repairs and missed part of the 2018/19 Antarctic season. It is our understanding the contract between One Ocean Expeditions and the shipping company (that must have been in place at time of operation) had a clause for compensation to be paid to One Ocean Expeditions if the ships were not available for service. We believe that subsequent discussions around this compensation, soured the relationship. Shortly after, both the Ioffe and Vavilov failed to make a scheduled stop at a port in Spain (May 2019) and instead continued to a port in Portugal where One Ocean Expedition’s valuable equipment (zodiacs and kayaks etc) were dumped on the dock. The ships continued from there back to the 'safety' of Russian waters where they remain. One Ocean Expeditions launched legal action as soon as it was clear the ships wouldn’t be in place for the Arctic or Antarctica seasons and the contract not honoured.
The shipping company has made claims on this site that One Ocean Expeditions did not pay its bills and was out of contract. Questions have to be asked as to why, after more than 10 years of contract with One Ocean Expeditions, the shipping company (and the Russian ship owners) left it until a few weeks before a scheduled Arctic season to re-claim the ships. Perhaps it was just more 'convenient' for them to do this, rather than pay out any compensation due under the terms of the contract. Ultimately the legal proceedings will confirm which version of events is the truth. It could also cause some to question if the shipping company and ship owners stand to benefit from One Ocean Expeditions ceasing to exist and any legal challenge with it.
As a result of the withdrawal of both the Ioffe and Vavilov, One Ocean had a whole Arctic & Antarctic season of voyages they could no longer operate on those ships. Many fixed costs for these seasons would have to have been already paid or committed to.
Which brings us to the current Antarctic season. If One Ocean Expeditions had no intention of ever running these voyages, as many on this site are claiming, why would they have paid for the associated ship charter costs, filled the ship with provisions and sailed it south to Argentina?
We do believe that the One Ocean owners are committed to honouring their obligations to both their passengers and unpaid staff and are working to find a solution.
We struggle to see why many contributors to this page cannot see that the very best outcome for everyone is for One Ocean Expeditions to be given the chance to complete its restructuring and for their journeys to recommence.
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Post by Admin on Nov 12, 2019 4:15:31 GMT
www.penguin-news.com/index.php/2-uncategorised/153-troubles-for-falklands-conservation-s-cruise-benefactor-one-ocean?fbclid=IwAR31Rv8-5XpbzWcCcZAEOpIZBGIlLRb4IE57yBwBVDnhCMbXe6z1Lu2r8tECRUISE company One Ocean has cancelled its Falklands/Antarctic cruise, which was due in the Islands on October 22 with vessel Resolute. Managing Director Andrew Prossin has revealed the company “is now in a difficult period of restructuring.” One Ocean is the company that gifts a cruise to Falklands Conservation to auction at their annual Falklands Conservation Ball. Penguin News asked Falklands Conservation CEO Esther Bertram if there was concern the cruise would not take place in the light of Mr Prossin’s statement about the company. Ms Bertram said: “One Ocean Expeditions have been generous supporters of FC’s Conservation Ball for many years, and we have been incredibly grateful for this support. "We are aware of the current difficulties and cancellations that they are experiencing, and have been in contact with this year's auction winner to keep them informed of the situation as best we can.” Helen Havercroft on behalf of the Government of South Georgia also confirmed the cancellation but said the company still had permits for future trips. Agents Sulivan Shipping also confirmed the cancellation but declined to respond to a question regarding whether there were monies owned to the agents by One Ocean. The company has been plagued by problems recently and heavily criticized on internet sites for allegedly not paying employees on time or at all. One of the company's three ships was damaged last year after running aground. Then, two ships were recalled by their Russian owners this summer. One Ocean's remaining ship, RCGS Resolute, was arrested in Nunavut in May for $100,000 owed to a Nova Scotia-based company and was arrested again in Halifax last month. Under maritime law, a ship can be arrested and stopped from leaving a port when a court action is pending against it. An arrest can happen for a variety of reasons, including if a ship has been involved in a collision or death, according to an article in CBC news. On Tuesday, One Ocean Expeditions posted a statement on its Facebook page. It did not address the ill-fated cruise or the staff payment issues, and instead asked for patience during a difficult period of "restructuring." It said the withdrawal of two of its ships by the Russian company led to a series of "complex circumstances" and a violation of its contract, which the company is continuing to address. "Unfortunately, the difficult reality is that in recent months we have fallen short of these high expectations we set for ourselves as a leader in the expedition cruise industry," the statement said. With this most recent cancellation it is understood 140 guests were stranded in Argentina. It is believed no refunds have been offered so far. Reviews of One Ocean on a site called Glassdoor made such comments as, “they don’t pay on time – my pay was 10 months late. They never explained why.”
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Post by Admin on Nov 13, 2019 8:14:50 GMT
www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3037398/chinese-tourists-antarctica-tour-problems-highlight-marketChinese tourists’ Antarctica tour problems highlight market warming to off-the-beaten-path travel Some 120 wealthy Chinese tourists have had their Antarctica expeditions put on ice after a Canadian tour company said it was facing financial difficulties A significant number of rich Chinese are opting for more off-the-beaten-path travel experiences like the polar regions, Mount Everest and the Amazon rainforest He Huifeng He Huifeng Published: 1:00pm, 13 Nov, 2019 It was supposed to be a trip of a lifetime to one of the world’s most remote and pristine continents, but Kent Cai now faces the prospect of being thousands of dollars out of pocket with little to show for it. Cai is among at least 120 wealthy Chinese who have been left hanging after a Canadian tour company that charges more than US$14,000 for a single trip to Antarctica announced it had encountered financial difficulties last week. One Ocean Expeditions has not responded to calls and emails from customers amid reports that two of its three ships have been recalled by their Russian owners, at least one trip has been cancelled, and staff are owed thousands in unpaid wages. The company did not reply to a request for comment from the South China Morning Post. “Only four months of each year are available for tourists to go to Antarctic Peninsula, and just a few vessels can make land there. We just couldn’t wait to do the trip,” said Cai, a veteran traveller and entrepreneur from Zhejiang, one of China’s richest provinces. At least 10 friends have already gone to Antarctica in the past couple years. Most of them are successful entrepreneurs, so of course I have to experience it as soon as possible Kent Cai Cai and many other Chinese customers are furious and disappointed, but the incident has also highlighted the increasing appetite among affluent Chinese for off-the-beaten-path travel experiences – and the amount they are willing to pay for it. Spurred on in part by a desire to brag about their travels on social media, a significant number of rich Chinese tourists are eschewing the relative safety of Europe and the United States for more adventurous destinations, such as the polar regions, Mount Everest base camp and the Amazon rainforest. “This is kind of recognition of our self-worth and success, compared to our peers,” said Cai, who booked his Antarctic trip with six friends from the Yangtze River Delta and Chongqing province. All earn between 500,000 yuan (US$71,000) and 2 million yuan (US$285,000) a year running foreign trade companies, or working as senior executives in manufacturing or real estate. “At least 10 friends have already gone to Antarctica in the past couple years. Most of them are successful entrepreneurs, so we seven have to experience it as soon as possible.” Another Chinese customer of One Ocean Expeditions, who declined to give his name, said Antarctica was the final destination on his bucket list. “I have visited every country and territory in the world – I just have the South Pole to go,” he said, adding the trip’s $14,000 price tag was very reasonable. “I even prepared and printed a banner with a slogan to promote my business when I land in Antarctica. It will help show my character and my company’s position.” A total of 56,168 tourists visited Antarctica’s vast white ice sheets and glaciers during the 2018-2019 summer season, which runs from roughly late October to the end of March, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. More than 8,100 or about 15 per cent were from China, up some 3,000 from 2016-2017, making the country the second largest source of visitors behind America. This season’s figures were down about 100 on last year, but a massive leap from 10 years earlier when only 100 Chinese visited in total. In 2018, Chinese travellers spent an average of 23 days on Antarctic tours, which typically cost between 50,000 yuan (US$7,100) and 200,000 yuan (US$28,000) per trip, according to Ctrip, the country’s biggest online travel agency. Prices varied based on how travellers accessed the remote region; either by boat across the frigid waters of the Drake Passage from South America’s Cape Horn or by plane from Chile or Argentina. The surge in Chinese tourists, however, has not come without problems. Large parts of the continent are designated specially protected areas and are home to penguins, whales and seals, but the growing number of tourists from around the world has raised concerns about the environmental impact of mass tourism. In early 2018, the Chinese government ordered individuals and tour organisers to minimise their impact on the Antarctic environment, banning them from hunting animals, collecting geological samples or interfering with wildlife. Tourists were told to leave no solid waste behind, and offenders could be blacklisted from the area for up to three years. Similar guidelines were issued in 2016 for mainland Chinese tourists visiting the Tibet side of Mount Everest in a bid to crack down on graffiti in the scenic area. Visitor numbers to Antarctica are expected to increase by more than a third over the 2019-20 season, reaching around 59,000 passengers, thanks to the anticipated launch of nine new ice-strengthened passenger vessels, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. Industry insiders expect that the number of Chinese tourists visiting the Antarctic will stabilise in the next two or three years to about 8,200 each year Rita Chen, head of the Beijing-based Cruise Department of Lameitour, said her company helped more than 4,000 Chinese travellers book trips to Antarctica last year and she did not see overall numbers dropping significantly. “In the few years to 2018, the annual number of Chinese tourists travelling to the Antarctic rose sharply,” Chen said. “Last year there was subtle drop in numbers. [But] industry insiders expect that the number of Chinese tourists visiting the Antarctic will stabilise in the next two or three years to about 8,200 each year.” Cai said One Ocean Expeditions had not responded to his calls and emails, but he would not let the experience put him off visiting this tourist season. “No matter what the problem, we will all set out for the dream trip,” he said.
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Post by Admin on Nov 14, 2019 3:25:04 GMT
www.thechronicleherald.ca/business/regional-business/shipping-news-problems-at-one-ocean-run-deep-375651/SHIPPING NEWS: Problems at One Ocean run deep Premium content Peter Ziobrowski Published: 7 hours ago Updated: 6 hours ago 14 Nov 2019 HALIFAX, N.S. — A picture is beginning to emerge of the full extent of the issues being experienced by One Ocean Expeditions. The company had been looking to set up an operating base in Sydney, but that seems to be increasingly unlikely. Former staff members indicate that the financial trouble coincides with the announcement around RCGS Resolute. One Ocean announced the addition of the ship in July 2017. Before that, OOE was known to be late with payments but had a reputation as a good company, and everyone was getting what was owed. RCGS Resolute was recommissioned at a ceremony in Sydney in October 2018. One Ocean claimed the Russian-owned ships were suddenly recalled by the Russians. According to Ivan Budarin, with Terragelida Ship Management Ltd., the firm pulled the charters early due to non-payment. However, the charter contracts for the Akademik Sergey Vavilov and Akademik Ioffe were set to expire this year on July 18 and Sept. 1, respectively. One Ocean had been chartering the ships from Terragelida on one-year terms. The charters were renewable on the condition Terragelida still had access to the ships from the owner, the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanography, and there were no outstanding bills. One Ocean had asked for an annual renewal for the 2019-20 season on Nov. 30, 2018, but Terragelida was unable to renew because they had lost use of the ships as they were needed by their owners. One Ocean, which had sold tours on the vessels into 2021, suddenly found itself without ships, presumably assuming that one-year renewals would be possible indefinitely. One Ocean likely decided to end the charters early, at the end of the Antarctic season, as they would not have the vessels for the entire coming Arctic season, and attempted to save face by blaming the Russians. The history of late payments suggests future cruises were used to pay expenses of previous trips. Added with the costs to outfit the Resolute, the loss of those trips would severely interrupt the ability to pay outstanding bills. Former staff spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of being blacklisted by the expedition cruise industry. They brought up a number of concerns with how OOE operated. Hiring was based on a person's niceness rather than experience, they said. Some spoke of a "Whistler Mafia" among staff, made up of former resort workers who went on to run expeditions. After-hours alcohol use was said to be common, often to excess. The staff also claimed the company had a laissez-faire attitude to safety. Expedition Zodiacs were frequently in poor repair and lacked required survival equipment. Boat operators didn’t have proper Transport Canada qualifications to operate the vessels. On Resolute, Zodiacs and kayaks had to be lowered from the eighth deck, a task that could not really be done safely. On shore excursions, firearms carried as part of polar bear protection protocols were handled by inexperienced individuals. Zodiacs in polar regions can be quite hazardous. An American woman was killed and two others injured in a 2013 incident after an iceberg caved, producing a large wave that flipped the Zodiac. Last year, a polar bear was shot to protect a group of cruise passengers, garnering international outrage. Both incidents occurred in Svalbard, Norway. One Ocean, so far, has only released vague statements that they are restructuring. The latest, dated Nov. 7, stated they foresee no further cancellations. In other harbour news: The second Arctic offshore patrol ship, the future HMCS Margaret Brooke, was launched early Saturday. It was moved alongside Halifax Shipyard, where work will continue for the next year or so. Trials on the future HMCS Harry DeWolf are scheduled for this month. The first two mega blocks for ship No. 3, the future HMCS Max Bernays, should roll out of the hall in the coming days. The latest United States Navy littoral combat ship, USS Indianapolis, arrived Tuesday. It’s sailing from its builders in Wisconsin to Mayport, Florida. The ship was commissioned Oct. 26 in Burns Harbor, Indiana.
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Post by Admin on Nov 14, 2019 7:51:26 GMT
www.travelweek.ca/news/confusion-frustration-mount-against-one-ocean-expeditions/Confusion, frustration mount against One Ocean Expeditions Share submit to reddit Wednesday, November 6, 2019 Posted by Travelweek Group VANCOUVER — It’s radio silence from One Ocean Expeditions, and confusion and frustration are mounting. The B.C.-based expedition company, which specializes in cruise itineraries in Antarctica, Arctic and Canada’s East Coast, Greenland and Norway, lost two of its three ships earlier this year. Just recently there was a cancelled Antarctica cruise and, according to CBC reports, unpaid staff wages. On its Facebook page on Oct. 29, 2019 One Ocean Expeditions’ Managing Director Andrew Prossin posted this statement: “As many of you are well aware, the past few months have been an extremely challenging period of time for our company. The sudden withdrawal of two of our three vessels earlier this year by their Russian ship owners caused a series of complex circumstances that our team is continuing to address. “The withdrawal of these ships was an unexpected and destabilizing event, and the violation of our contract remains the subject of ongoing legal action. “While this process proceeds, we have worked hard to maintain operations and service at the standard of excellence for which we have been proud over many years. “Unfortunately the difficult reality is that in recent months we have fallen short of these high expectations we set for ourselves as a leader in the expedition cruise industry. As a result of the contract breach we suffered earlier this year, our company is now in a difficult period of restructuring.” More news: Stay at the new Barceló Maya Riviera with US$80 travel agent rates The statement ends by saying: “We deeply regret the inconvenience caused to passengers and our long-standing partners and we remain focused on doing everything possible to move our company forward. “The last few days have been quite eventful but please be patient for a few days as we work to restructure our business. “We will be in touch as soon as possible regarding our future plans and operations.” Apparently staying true to its word, One Ocean Expeditions is not responding to calls and emails, including one from Travelweek. The comments section on One Ocean Expeditions’ Facebook page is filled with messages from worried passengers who aren’t sure if their trips are going ahead. Says Stewart Campbell: “We all understand that times have been difficult for One Ocean, however to continue the silence and non-communication about the refunds you owe to passengers, staff and countless other creditors is unacceptable! The damage you are doing to your brand is almost irreparable now. Until you repay everyone you owe money – in full – nobody can trust your company again. Please issue a clear and unequivocal statement, immediately, explaining when you will repay clients for the trips you have cancelled. That you have been taking clients’ money and supplier credit the past several months, knowing your own difficulties may well be construed by many as criminal.” More news: AMResorts is coming into Aruba with new Secrets Baby Beach One Ocean Expeditions is not licensed with Consumer Protection B.C., “nor did they need to be,” says Consumer Protection B.C.’s Communications Coordinator, Amanda Parry. However Consumer Protection B.C. is aware of the situation, she adds. Says Parry: “I can tell you that we’ve received a handful of calls from impacted travelers about this issue. We have been encouraging those consumers to start by going back to their credit card provider to request a reversal of the charges. If people have insurance, we suggest they contact their insurance company to make a claim.” Consumer Protection B.C.’s site is consumerprotectionbc.ca. Parry adds: “If any impacted travellers booked their trip with One Ocean Expeditions through a licensed B.C. travel agency, they may be eligible to make a claim to the Travel Assurance Fund (TAF). Licensed travel agents may also be eligible to claim against the TAF.”
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Post by Admin on Nov 14, 2019 7:53:18 GMT
www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/21922-one-ocean-in-advanced-discussions-with-new-partner.html?fbclid=IwAR3KQfzCcpVoPUxZvCvPBIDaQfE7p_6YVvuw4a0yHfU4hUppdTGfSrqEKRMOne Ocean In 'Advanced Discussions' with New Partner November 14, 2019 One Ocean Expeditions may be nearing a restructuring of its expedition cruise brand, according to a statement. "Our recent efforts at restructuring our business have been going well and we are in advanced discussions with a qualified potential partner to rebuild our business," said Andrew Prossin, managing director, in a statement which also said the company's next departure set for Nov. 21 has been cancelled. The one-brand expedition cruise brand essentially suspended operations in October and entered a self-described restructuring period, citing an extremely challenging business situation due to the sudden withdrawal of two of the company’s three vessels earlier this year by Russian owners. The Nov. 21 sailing aboard the RCGS Resolute was set to sail 10 nights round trip from Ushuaia on the company's "Antarctica - Off the Beaten Track" itinerary. "Howe ever, some facets of the restructuring have created complications that will keep us from operating your voyage," the company told booked guests. "On completion of restructuring, we will be in touch regarding any compensation possibilities. In the meantime, we encourage you to contact your insurance provider."
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Post by Admin on Nov 15, 2019 12:26:16 GMT
www.robinesrock.com/blog/the-nature-of-disappointmentThe Nature of Disappointment 11/13/2019 0 Comments It’s been a tumultuous month in the world of bucket list experiences. The New York Times art critic ran a story about the sheer and utter disappointment of seeing the Mona Lisa, glassed away from the masses of crowds expecting something more...transcendent. Asked on national radio about my own experience with Leonardo’s masterpiece, I recalled seeing it many years ago, and feeling distinctly underwhelmed: “I thought there would be God rays and confetti, and angels would be singing with harps.” If I didn’t know it was regarded as the pinnacle of artistic expression, I would have walked past it, marvelling at plenty other works in the Louvre that would better match that description. The subject moved onto travel experiences that are disappointing. Each to their own, but there’s really only a few factors that will make an activity or destination disappointing: There are too many people and the crowd overwhelms the experience. It is too expensive and you feel jilted by the cost. The wildlife didn’t turn up because, you know, wildlife. The weather sucked, so you’re too busy focusing on how great it would be if the weather didn’t suck. You were robbed, fell ill, got hit by a bus, or were press-ganged into slavery aboard a Thai tuna fishing vessel. Picture All this to say: The experience did not live up to your expectations. The higher your expectations, the higher the chance that the destination or activity will disappoint you. Reality simply can’t compete with your imagination. And I can’t blame anyone for having an imagination stoked by the most perfect of all scenarios. On television shows, in travel articles, in books (ahem), you rarely see or hear about crowds, costs, and crap weather. The sky is mostly blue, and the animals always show up. It is very rare that everything comes together exactly as it does in the brochures, and yet the marketing of peak experience does no favours to your expectations. You’re being set up for disappointment, so better to have no or limited expectations to begin with. Picture Is that it? No wonder my head is steaming. One of the tools proposed to combat the scourge of overtourism is Responsible Marketing. This would require tour operators and destination marketing organizations to use real people in real situations, not models beneath a Photoshop sky. Imagine if casinos were restricted to responsible marketing? Instead of hot couples smiling as they win at the roulette table, you’d see leathered alcoholics flushing away next month’s rent. Any activity that depends on good weather is particularly vulnerable to unmet expectations. Nobody wants to visit a beach in a hailstorm, ski on a mountain without snow, or get rained on during a parade. My biggest disappointment is the northern lights – a dreamy bucket list experience that is particularly weather dependent. Ten times I should have seen a magical natural fireworks display in the sky, and ten times the sky was overcast, or the solar ions weren't firing, or the sky lit up the day before I arrived, and the day after I left. Ten times in the freezing northern winter, including trips to Whitehorse and Yellowknife during peak aurora-watching season. Eventually I did see the northern lights, but compared to all the alluring photographs and stories, witnessing a slight pulsating green fog in the frigid, early morning sky (few people know that the best time to see the lights is well after midnight) was a let down. At least I hadn’t flown in all the way from Japan, unlike the disappointed aurora-watchers around me. Picture The global bucket list took another hit this month with the chaos surrounding One Ocean Expeditions. I’ve worked with this Squamish-based company for several years, having visited Antarctica, crossed the Northwest Passage in the high Arctic and more recently taken my mom and daughter to remote islands in the Atlantic on their wonderful boats, guided by their wonderful crew. I’ve recommended the company at dozens of talks and in my books, and was shocked to hear they’ve been shipwrecked with financial difficulties. Passengers were left stranded shortly before an Antarctica sailing, most support staff have left the company, and information from the permanently closed head office to hundreds of out of pocket clients has been cryptic and scarce. The source of the issue appears to have been the damage that occurred to one of their Russian leased vessels in August 2018. There are competing claims as to who was responsible and should foot the bill, and as a result the Russians withdrew their ships from One Ocean’s service. This sent the company scampering to fill exist bookings on their single remaining ship, and in all likelihood broke the sea camel’s back. The company’s mysterious restructuring has been devastating for their amazing staff and crew, many of whom are owed tens of thousands of dollars in wages. It has been devastating for passengers around the world who have footed up to $14,000 per ticket, and have no travel insurance recourse to get their money back. It has been devastating for the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, who benefitted from One Ocean as a major sponsor, and it has been devastating for polar tourism. One Ocean did vital, generous and important work for the Arctic and Antarctica, supporting scientists, educators, communicators and students. I remember telling passengers that One Ocean did not just help us tick Antarctica off our bucket list, the company had helped us become ambassadors for a truly incredible, vulnerable and oft-misunderstood eco-system. Despite hope that a new financial partner will save the day, the damage to the brand and betrayal of trust of both clients and crew is, in all probability, fatal. Despite some wild rumours swirling around, I do believe One Ocean had a wonderful heart. Operating at the mercy of the roughest of natural elements, it just needed a better business brain. Here's hoping for smooth waters and easy sailing ahead for passengers, crew, company and the polar region itself. Picture
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Post by Admin on Nov 15, 2019 12:30:13 GMT
www.travelmarketreport.com/articles/One-Ocean-Expeditions-Cancels-Third-VoyageOne Ocean Expeditions Cancels Third Voyage by Daniel McCarthy / November 14, 2019 After announcing earlier this month that it was is in a “difficult period of restructuring” as it goes through an “extremely challenging period of time,” Canada’s One Ocean Expeditions has canceled a third Antarctica voyage, again leaving travelers and advisors out in the cold. The newly canceled voyage, a 10-night Punta Arenas itinerary, was scheduled to leave on Nov. 21, and was cancelled late notice, according to Polar Regions travel agency Swoop Antarctica. “We are gravely concerned that once again our customers have been left in a very difficult position by another cancellation by One Ocean Expeditions,” Swoop Antarctica’s Commercial Director Alex Mudd said. Swoop, which has already stopped selling all of One Ocean’s itineraries, said in a release that One Ocean was still in restructuring talks after the withdrawal of two of its ships by the ships’ Russian owners earlier this year and was hoping to finalize talks with a possible investor to save future voyages. “While we appreciate that this is a challenging time for One Ocean Expeditions, the cancellations make it very difficult to advise customers on whether future sailings will take place, let alone assist those who were due to fly out this week to board their 21st November sailing,” Mudd added. One Ocean has not responded to a request from TMR for comment and has not released updated statements since its Oct. 29 post on its Facebook page that caused the news “an unexpected and destabilizing event” for the company. Travel advisors are reportedly still in the dark as sailings have been canceled, including one to Antarctica that left up to 140 guests stranded in Argentina last month, according to the CBC, and another that was supposed to host a team of students from a West Vancouver Secondary School. The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators, the organization of more than 100 member companies that is “dedicated to facilitating appropriate, safe and environmentally sound private-sector travel to the Antarctic,” suspended One Ocean Expeditions’ membership in the organization late last month after non-payment of its dues and fees on Nov. 1. One Ocean Expeditions had been a member of the Association for more than a decade.
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Post by Admin on Nov 18, 2019 8:16:40 GMT
www.traveldailymedia.com/grave-concerns-one-ocean-expeditions-cancels-third-trip-polar-trip/“Grave concerns”: One Ocean Expeditions cancels third trip polar trip By Alastair Newport On Nov 15, 2019 Share Swoop Antarctica, British purveyors of tours to the Polar regions, has expressed its worries over the cancellation of a third successive voyage by One Ocean Expeditions. The move has left yet more One Ocean Expeditions customers, including a number of Swoop Antarctica’s, with precious little time to find alternative arrangements for what is a trip of a lifetime for many people. . Alex Mudd, Swoop Antarctica Commercial Director, said: The latest, short-notice cancellation is the third in a month and has left customers worried about future sailings. The ship was due to depart on 21st November from Punta Arenas, Chile. “Their cancellation of three voyages in a row reinforces our decision earlier this month to stop selling all future sailings immediately. While we appreciate that this is a challenging time for One Ocean Expeditions, the cancellations make it very difficult to advise customers on whether future sailings will take place, let alone assist those who were due to fly out this week to board their 21st November sailing. “Gravely concerned” “As well as contacting our existing customers, we have also been receiving calls from concerned travellers who were booked onto One Ocean Expeditions’ cruises in 2019 and 2020/21 by other agents. Our dedicated team have been assisting all customers with their future options as a result of this third disappointing cancellation by One Ocean Expeditions,” Mudd added. Earlier this month, Swoop Antarctica stopped selling all future voyages on One Ocean Expedition’s ship, the RCGS Resolute, after the operator suddenly cancelled its 6 November sailing from Ushuaia. Swoop Antarctica have urged passengers to contact their travel insurers to recover any money paid out for their now cancelled sailing. It has also negotiated favourable rates with other Antarctic operators for those people left stranded by One Ocean Expeditions, thanks to its strong relations and good standing within the industry.
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Post by Admin on Nov 22, 2019 6:52:45 GMT
www.infobae.com/sociedad/2019/11/19/sigue-varado-en-el-puerto-de-buenos-aires-el-crucero-canadiense-que-iba-a-la-antartida/?fbclid=IwAR1vL7awF293WAkSgZj63audj-SYqYrylP7RXMFwamdJruU17DiUpUk6kPgArticle translated in Google Translate: The Canadian cruise ship going to Antarctica is still stranded in the port of Buenos Aires "We need justice to order to move the ship out of the Port of Buenos Aires," AGP auditor Gonzalo Mórtola told Infobae. Por Fernando Morales 19 de noviembre de 2019 A rare situation has been experienced for several days in one of the docks of the Río de la Plata Terminal (TRP), one of the three concessionaires that operates the docks of the port of Buenos Aires and is responsible for the concession of the terminal of cruises “Benito Quinquela Martín”. On November 4, the Portuguese-flagged RCGS RESOLUTE passenger ship took moorings at the mixed dock (cargo and passengers) of terminal three, with 162 passengers and 98 crew members of different nationalities. Strictly speaking, I had first arrived at the metropolitan terminal on October 19, sailed without problems on the 20th and returned to the same terminal on the 4th of this month, after the ship tried unsuccessfully to refuel in Puerto Madryn given the Supplier refusal for accumulated debts. In these circumstances, the ship returned to the port of Buenos Aires and on November 4, two courts (Federal 6 of first instance in Civil and Commercial and Federal 1 of Ushuaia), made effective the embargo of the ship that by a accumulation of millionaires breaches generated by the firm One Ocean Expeditions, a company that is not the owner of the ship but the one in charge of the tourist operation of the boat. Within the world of shipping business, a “maritime adventure” (as it is called the time between a ship sailing until it returns to its usual seat port) is composed of different stages that are not necessarily at the head of a same responsible. In this particular case, the "Resolute" is owned by a shipping company that rents it to an operating firm which in turn hires a tourism business manager. From the Argentine Naval League they explained to Infobae that “this is the worst situation at the time of an embargo, since apparently the one that has stopped fulfilling its obligations is the tourist manager, but that part of the business is intangible, instead the ship and the values that are housed inside are fungible and therefore liable to embargo ”. Beyond the situation that the passengers had to go through when they had to disembark and pay for their return to their homes (plus the loss of money invested in the cruise), the worst is yet to come and is a matter of concern on the part of the national port authorities. “We need justice to force the ship to move out of the port, the unproductive use of a dock generates thousands of dollars a day of lost profits. We are about to start a promising cruise season and having a busy dock will cause delays and claims that will cost tens of millions of dollars in losses and claims at the end of the 2019/20 season. The port of Buenos Aires has experience in seizures of ships that eventually end up being abandoned by their owners and can be years. In the last four years, 27 ships of different sizes were removed from different sectors of the port. If we consider that this vessel has a draft (portion of the ship that is submerged) of 5 meters, it is totally feasible to move it to a non-commercial dock and in this way release this strategic dock, ”said Gonzalo Mórtola Interventor of the metropolitan port. The "Resolute" is a ship built in 1991. It has a length (length) of 124.8 meters and a beam (width) of 18 meters and complies with all regulations currently in force according to the IMO (International Maritime Organization) standards. High sources of the Argentine Naval Prefecture informed Infobae that the crew is in perfect health and that since the judicial measure does not affect the individual freedoms of the captain, his officers and the crew, they are free to circulate with the sole observance of the security regulations determined by the port security code (BPIP) Infobae consulted the authorities of the maritime agency Inchcape Shipping Services since the firm is the one that represents the ship's operator before Argentina, but excused himself from providing details. Infobae also learned that in defense of the interests of the “stranded” sailors against their will in the metropolitan port, the ITF (International Federation of Transport Workers) began to follow the issue warning that in case of detecting a worsening in conditions The crew’s evacuation and repatriation protocols will be activated, which would further hinder the possibilities of moving the ship to a less troubled place.
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Post by Admin on Nov 25, 2019 13:08:28 GMT
www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5370649Ship belonging to troubled B.C. expedition cruise company detained in Argentina Social Sharing Facebook Twitter Email Reddit LinkedIn RCGS Resolute ordered to stay in Argentina due to a 'significant debt,' port authority says Andrea Ross · CBC News · Posted: Nov 24, 2019 6:00 AM PT | Last Updated: November 25 One Ocean Expeditions occasionally docks its ship, the RCGS Resolute, next to the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion at the downtown Sydney marine terminal. (Tom Ayers/CBC) 8 comments A cruise ship belonging to Squamish, B.C.-based One Ocean Expeditions has been ordered by an Argentinian federal judge to stay in the port of Buenos Aires due to a "significant debt." The RCGS Resolute has been at the port since October when the company cancelled a trip to Antarctica at the last minute, stranding up to 140 passengers. Since then, two more Antarctic voyages have been cancelled and employees allege they're owed thousands in unpaid wages. Very little information has been provided for passengers of upcoming trips, some who paid up to $30,000 US. One Ocean Expeditions is being sued by another company for the "significant debt," said Cecilia Jones, a spokeswoman for the port of Buenos Aires. Jones could not identify the company that alleges it is owed money, nor disclose the amount. Troubled B.C. expedition cruise company owes thousands in wages, former employee says The ship cannot fuel up or leave the port until a judge rules on the case, she added. She could not say how long that may take. "If this situation does not change soon, it will affect the cruise season in its peak season, hence creating unnecessary expenses and logistical problems," Jones said in an email. She said the port of Beunos Aires has asked the judge handling the ship case to transfer the vessel to another place. 'I guess it all kind of culminated in Argentina' The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), a global union, also confirmed the ship has been ordered to stay at the port. Karl Risser, an inspector with the ITF, cited issues with unpaid crew, adding the union is "monitoring the situation." "Obviously [One Ocean Expeditions] is suffering some problems," Risser said. "There's this kind of line of casualties of crew that aren't getting paid and suppliers that are doing services that aren't getting paid. I guess it all kind of culminated in Argentina." The company has not responded to numerous requests for comment from CBC News. In a statement on social media last month, it asked for patience during a difficult period of "restructuring." Passengers left in dark about refunds with troubled B.C. expedition cruise company The ongoing situation is worrying for some passengers booked on upcoming cruises. Peter Kambo, from Vancouver, spent $17,000 for a trip to Antarctica scheduled to leaved on Dec. 1. He doesn't know if that trip is still happening. This week, Kambo received an email from the company that neither confirmed or denied a departure. B.C. high school's Antarctica trip in limbo with troubled cruise line "Although our efforts at restructuring our business have gone quite well to date, we have not quite made progress enough to confirm things just yet as we work with a very qualified potential partner," the statement said. "We do expect, and hope, to get back to you in just a few days with further information." The mixed messages are frustrating for Kambo, who is scheduled to fly to Santiago, Chile, next week to meet up with the tour. "It is smoke and mirrors," he said. "We just want some transparency. Am I going, am I not? I would like to know well in advance. "It puts us in a difficult in a difficult situation from a planning standpoint."
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Post by Admin on Nov 26, 2019 12:26:34 GMT
cruisepassenger.com.au/another-antarctica-cruise-is-axed-as-passengers-count-their-losses/PASSENGERS LOSE $40,000 AS ANOTHER ANTARCTICA CRUISE IS AXED ROSE JACOBS15 NOV 2019 NEWS2 COMMENTS 1 3Share on FacebookShare on Twitter For Aussie couple Angela and Sal Capri, their upcoming holiday to Antarctica in December was not only going to be a celebration for Sal’s 60th birthday, but also a bucket-list ‘once in a lifetime trip’. But when Angela joked to her husband last Tuesday night that they hadn’t received their emailed itinerary from Canadian Cruise Line One Ocean and she “hope(d) they haven’t gone belly-up!” She wasn’t far from the truth. One Ocean released emails to passengers directly affected by the news last night, informing them that their worst fears were confirmed and the November 21st trip was cancelled. And tellingly, they were told to talk to their insurance company about compensation – suggesting none would be forthcoming from the line itself. In a formal letter to passengers, One Ocean’s Andrew Prossin sates “We regret to inform you that we are unable to operate our Nov 21, 2019 voyage as planned. “Our recent efforts at restructuring our business have been going well and we are in advanced discussions now with a qualified potential partner to rebuild our business. However, some facets of the restructuring have created complications that will keep us from operating your voyage. Again, please accept our apologies. “On completion of our restructuring, we will be in touch regarding any compensation possibilities. In the meantime, we encourage you to contact your insurance provider,” Mr Prossin said. One Ocean Expedition ships in Antarctica Sadly, this information now confirms that the Capri’s have also almost certainly lost the $40,000 it cost them to book their trip. The Capri family’s story is just one of many from Australian passengers who are going to be left out of pocket if One Ocean can’t recover costs and repay their pre-paid guests. If One Ocean does claim bankruptcy, or insolvency, the Capri’s will still only be able to claim roughly $1,000 from their insurance company, under current insurance policies. The Cruise to Antarctica, departing Chile isn’t due to leave until the 19th of December, so for now, The Capri’s are weighing up their options. “We are also booked for a Christmas safari to Patagonia and we are due to go to Easter Island for New Years Eve, all as part of this one trip” Mrs Capri said. “So right now, we are living in limbo, waiting to see if the Cruise Line sends us any information. We have already lost $40,000 on this booking – so I don’t want to book another trip and say ‘we spent $80,000 getting to Antarctica’,” Mrs Capri added. “I’ve noticed on Facebook that the other Aussies who are also affected are starting to lose it. “I think the impact is going to be hard for everyone, but it’s going to be especially hard for some. Some people have taken loans to go on this trip.” One Ocean passenger comments Passengers despair after reading One Ocean statement Another Aussie, Adam Hammond, had been employed by One Ocean as a Safety Officer / Assistant Expedition Leader and recently resigned from his post. He claims he reported the company to a number of bodies. He alleged: “What I saw with respect to staff treatment, financing, lack of maintenance, safety, and lack of appropriate staff qualifications led me to leave the ship a month early and provide a formal report to both the US Coast Guard and Transport Canada.” Former staffer Adam Hammond speaks out Mr Hammond says he felt seriously concerned for the safety of passengers travelling with One Ocean. “I assured them (US Coast Guard and Transport Canada) that things would go wrong and only four weeks later one of their ships ran aground in the high Canadian Arctic. Had it not been for the pure luck of that occurring in broad daylight and in a perfectly calm sea state, many people might have died.” Mr Hammond says of One Ocean: “They were using their own staff as a bank. I was putting the fuel for the zodiac on my own credit card. “They’re known as a good introduction to the industry for staff. They don’t pay well or on time, but they don’t insist on qualifications. Mr Hammond also said: “Hundreds of people are anywhere from $60 to $100,000 out of pocket.” So far, The One Ocean Cruise Line has distributed a public announcement via social media stating that it is in a “difficult period of restructuring” as it goes through an “extremely challenging period of time.” According to Managing Director Andrew Prossin, the situation arose after two of its vessels were withdrawn by the ships’ Russian owners earlier this year “The withdrawal of these ships was an unexpected and destabilising event,” Mr Prossin wrote in a post on One Ocean Expeditions’ Facebook page. The two ships, Akademik Ioffe and Akademik Sergey Vavilov, were chartered by One Ocean Expeditions through a deal with Russia’s Academy of Sciences’ PP Shirshov Institute of Oceanology. One Ocean passengers are still waiting for news According to One Ocean Expeditions, both ships were the victims of a “sudden withdrawal” by their Russian owners, which has resulted in ongoing legal action by One Ocean Expeditions. The withdrawal has left guests and travel advisors in the dark as sailings were canceled, including one to Antarctica that left up to 140 guests stranded in Argentina last month, and another that was supposed to host a team of students from a West Vancouver Secondary School. Guests and advisors with sailings booked in the future have written on social media that the company still hasn’t informed them of the status of their sailings or whether or not they will be refunded for cancelled sailings. The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators, the organisation of more than 100 member companies that is “dedicated to facilitating appropriate, safe and environmentally sound private-sector travel to the Antarctic,” has reportedly suspended One Ocean Expeditions’ membership in the organisation after non-payment of its dues and fees on Nov. 1. One Ocean Expeditions had been a member of the Association for more than a decade. One Ocean Expeditions did not respond to comment as requested from Cruise Passenger Magazine.
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Post by Admin on Nov 28, 2019 5:45:21 GMT
28/11/19 A tip for Aussies and Kiwi's. If you booked through a travel agent ask them to check todays Travel Daily industry newsletter. Hurtigruten is offering to assist with compassionate fares. I understand from my friend in the industry this has been offered to all agents to contact Hurtigruten direct, but agents who do not subscribe to the newsletter may not be aware of it. Also posted on www.facebook.com/groups/422521538435789/ |
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