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Yorktown Remains in Limbo - Arrested by german bank KfW

The 138-passenger Yorktown was quietly arrested by German bank KfW in Florida last month. KfW is moving to foreclose on a loan it issued for the building of the Orion in 2003, but later financial dealings made the Yorktown, most recently sailed by Travel Dynamics, the collateral. Now, the ship is sitting outside of Jacksonville without much attention as the bank looks for quick sale to a new party. The 1988-built U.S. flagged ship may be a tough sell and value estimates are said to be in the low seven figures, according to once source. The market for U.S.-flagged, older, second-hand tonnage remains a limited one. Source : cruiseindustrynews

Administrativ enforcement action against V-Ships Leisure

The Coast Guard Sector Detroit initiated administrative enforcement action on Oct 23, 2012, against the operating company of the "Yorktown" and a licensed mariner following an investigation into the grounding that occurred this summer in the Detroit River. The passenger vessel had run aground in the Detroit River, north of Fighting Island, while transiting to Cleveland, Aug. 25, 2012. The incident did not result in damage to the vessel, pollution or injuries to the passengers or vessel crew. The Coast Guard investigation into the grounding concluded that the licensed mariner operating the "Yorktown" at the time of the grounding made serious errors in judgment due to his lack in waterway familiarization and understanding. The investigation concluded that the mariner’s First Class Pilot endorsement to his Coast Guard issued license was invalid for the waters where the grounding occurred, due to his failure to meet the regulatory currency of knowledge provisions. Coast Guard Sector Detroit is seeking to suspend the mariner’s Coast Guard license for negligent operations which resulted in the grounding of the vessel, and for serving as a pilot without a valid endorsement on his license. In addition, the operating company, V Ships Leisure USA, has been issued a $3,000 penalty for failure to have a properly certified pilot on board. The Sector Detroit reminded vessel operating companies of their responsibility for ensuring that the individuals manning their vessels meet the proper licensing requirements for the waterways where their vessels transit.

Cruise ship freed after 5,5, hours

The "Yorktown" with 120 peopleon board has been freed after running aground and becoming stranded in the Detroit River. The vessel ran aground about 8 p.m. south of Detroit, near Wyandotte. No injuries were reported and the ship wasn't taking on water. A tug was able to free the "Yorktown" about 1:30 a.m. on Aug 26. The tug pulled the ship back to the Rennaisance Center overnight where it was cleared it to head to Cleveland. Police investigations included drug and alcohol testing of the bridge crew. They also took a look at the engineering system to see if there was any mechanical failure. The passengers were in their cabins or at the restaurant to conduct dive operations to make sure the hull wasn’t damaged before it heads to Cleveland and then Quebec City. In the foremidday the Cleveland-bound ship was under way near Lorrain, Ohio. Report with video: http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/Yorktown-cruise-ship-runs-aground-on-Detroit-River/-/1719418/16269140/-/7je0b6z/-/index.html