Cruise Talk: Delphin Voyager Renamed Hainan Empress

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»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Ships » Delphin Voyager Renamed Hainan Empress

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Topic: Delphin Voyager Renamed Hainan Empress

dougnewman
First Class Passenger
Member # 11349

posted 02-02-2011 12:54 AM

It appears that DELPHIN VOYAGER (ex ORIENT VENUS, CRUISE ONE), whose charterer went bankrupt last year, may have a new one, or possibly a new owner. She has been renamed HAINAN EMPRESS and according to Equasis her registered owner is now Hainan Cruise Enterprises SA, c/o Enterprises Shipping & Trading SA, Athens (her existing owner) while her manager is Proton Capital Group HK Ltd of Hong Kong. Given that location and the name of the ship I assume the new charter/owner (?) is Chinese. Proton Capital Group does not appear to own or manage any other ships. Meanwhile, BV lists her owner as First Cruise One Corp. BV does not list addresses of companies on its web site but I believe this is another company associated with her existing Greek owners.

Anyone know more about this?

Posts: 2072 | From: Long Island, NY, USA | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 02-02-2011 03:00 AM

Thanks Doug. She left Piraeus 21 Dec and passed through Suez 24 Dec with rumour she was off to China. So she has gone there. First Cruise One Corp was the company set up by the Greek owners [The Resti Group] when she was purchased from Japan and named CRUISE ONE.

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 02-02-2011 03:15 AM

Reading here, Raoul has kept ahead of her movements.

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Maru
First Class Passenger
Member # 3500

posted 02-02-2011 08:45 AM

New appearance
web page
web page
web page

Posts: 256 | From: Japan(Tokyo) | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

adriana & norway lover
First Class Passenger
Member # 7184

posted 02-02-2011 09:57 AM

Do you know if her new operator has a website ?

Posts: 199 | From: Caen, France | Registered: Aug 2006 | IP: Logged

ahrpd
First Class Passenger
Member # 6229

posted 02-04-2011 06:01 AM

See this from Seatrade Insider:

"What is being reported elsewhere as a possible new Chinese cruise line is actually just a two-week charter for the Chinese New Year, sources told Seatrade Insider.
It has been reported that Delphin Voyager, idled as Delphin Kreuzfahrten undergoes bankruptcy proceedings, is en route to China to sail as Hainan Empress for Hainan Cruise Enterprises.

But sources in Europe told Seatrade Insider the ship will operate just for sailings around the Chinese New Year, between Hong Kong and Sanya, Hainan, that were intended to begin yesterday.

Positions for experienced, qualified crew to deal with ‘the finest VIPs and dignitaries’ aboard the ship for a one-month period, Jan. 28 to Feb. 21, were being advertised earlier, with Mandarin and English language skills seen as a plus.

Delphin Voyager was arrested and taken into Piraeus last October which led to Hansa’s Delphin Cruises and associates filing for bankruptcy. The 21,884gt ship is owned by the Restis Group who took legal action against the charterer, Germany's Hansa Group, claiming 'a string of broken promises' which Greek sources said included non-payment of charter hire.

At the time Bremen-based Hansa said it had filed for bankruptcy due to 'long-standing contractual disputes' with the Greek owner and 'problems with the [charter] contract since the beginning of the relationship'.

In response, Restis Group called the German operator's statements misleading.

'As Restis is the owner of Delphin Voyager (supposed to be on a seven year charter to Delphin) it would have been able to withdraw the arrest order freeing the vessel to sail to Asia for this Chinese New Year charter business,' a broker told Seatrade.

Unconfirmed speculation in Europe has the ship coming back for a potential charter by Spanish operator Happy Cruises, which already charters Gemini and Ocean Pearl. And Hansa Kreuzfahrten, during its insolvency proceedings, has indicated it aspires to be able to resume operations with Delphin in May."

Tony

Posts: 948 | From: gibraltar | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

Cunardcoll
First Class Passenger
Member # 1226

posted 02-04-2011 08:31 AM

Could this be a daughter company of Hainan Airlines, I have some experience in working with them ??

Posts: 947 | From: Belgium | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Andy
First Class Passenger
Member # 3856

posted 02-04-2011 10:49 AM

I have been tracing for her for some time and today is Day 2 of the Chinese New Year, and she not visited Hong Kong at least.

By the way, there's a recruitment advertisement showing a vacancy for Beauty / Massage Therapists onboard for around a month until Feb 21:

http://hk.jobsdb.com/HK/EN/Search/JobAdSingleDetail?jobsIdList=100003000500116&sr=1

Posts: 581 | From: Hong Kong | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

Maru
First Class Passenger
Member # 3500

posted 02-06-2011 07:21 AM

inside view
web page

Posts: 256 | From: Japan(Tokyo) | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

dougnewman
First Class Passenger
Member # 11349

posted 02-06-2011 01:59 PM

Thanks guys for solving this mystery. An amazingly short charter.

She looks like a pleasant ship, I hope she finds permanent employment soon.

Posts: 2072 | From: Long Island, NY, USA | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged

r.fiebig
First Class Passenger
Member # 5240

posted 03-08-2011 05:43 AM

Hello everybody,

Spanish operator Happy Cruises (formerly Quail Cruises) has now confirmed that the former "Delphin Voyager" is to join their fleet in May. She will be renamed "Happy Dolfin".

Best,

Raoul

[ 03-08-2011: Message edited by: r.fiebig ]

Posts: 775 | From: Paderborn, Germany | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

Maru
First Class Passenger
Member # 3500

posted 03-08-2011 08:07 AM

Happy Dolphin
web page

Posts: 256 | From: Japan(Tokyo) | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

r.fiebig
First Class Passenger
Member # 5240

posted 03-08-2011 02:25 PM

Happy Cruises has now indeed confirmed the "Happy Dolphin" spelling, whereas a rendering from this morning showed the "Happy Dolfin" spelling.

Best,

Raoul

Posts: 775 | From: Paderborn, Germany | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

rd77
First Class Passenger
Member # 2117

posted 03-09-2011 03:08 AM

I might be wrong, but I think that is actually a bit of a step up from their current tonnage.

Posts: 1037 | From: The Hague, Netherlands | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 03-09-2011 11:09 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Maru:
Happy Dolphin
web page

Is there a connection between Happy Cruises/Quail Travel, Delphin Kreuzfahrten, and Delphin Seereisen/Hansa Kreuzfahrten? I noticed the logo for Happy Cruises is more or less the same as the ones used by Delphin.

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

r.fiebig
First Class Passenger
Member # 5240

posted 03-09-2011 12:17 PM

Waynaro,

no, that is just a coincidence.

Best,

Raoul

Posts: 775 | From: Paderborn, Germany | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

Iberiancruiser
Just Boarded
Member # 28760

posted 03-09-2011 02:48 PM

It has been announced three days ago. Happy Cruises will operated the ship from the 21st of May. The Gemini currently in Cuba will be deployed in two new routes "Treasures of Norways" (essentially Fjords) and Treasures of the Baltic" (the usual Baltic capitals routes) and the new ship will be making the Eastern Mediterrenean routes. Originally were going to be operated by Gemini, but as this is being sent to the north, it will be replaced by the Happy Voyager.

Posts: 2 | From: Santiago de Compostela/Spain | Registered: Oct 2009 | IP: Logged

Iberiancruiser
Just Boarded
Member # 28760

posted 03-09-2011 02:50 PM

If you´re able to understand Spanish there are references in many Spanish sites and blogs.

http://www.waveandwind.net/

Posts: 2 | From: Santiago de Compostela/Spain | Registered: Oct 2009 | IP: Logged

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