The Canada-based, polar travel company had leased the two Russian ships for eight years (Image: Christof Kemmann)
Cruise ship company One Ocean Expeditions (OOE) has had two of its vessels seized by Russia. The Canada-based, polar travel company had leased the two Russian ships for eight years. Cruise ships MV Akademik Ioffe and the MV Akademik Sergey Vavilov were loaned by Russia since 2011 and 2012 respectively. The two vessels were used by OOE for cruises to the Arctic and Antarctic.
One Ocean cruises ‘unexpectedly’ has TWO cruise ships seized by Russia - summer voyages in jeopardy
At the end of last month, however, the Russian government seized both ships.
The move came ahead of the Arctic season which starts in August.
Russia has claimed the MV Akademik Ioffe and the MV Akademik Sergey Vavilov were taken for to Kaliningrad for works as part of a "modernisation project,” reported Traveller.com.au.
However, OOE has denied that the two cruise ships needed work and has now launched legal action.
"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," OOE wrote in a letter to booking agents, said Traveller.
"The vessel owners unexpectedly decided to return the vessels to Kaliningrad, Russia, for purported repairs. This was not
