Victory Casino Cruises Contests $791K Shipyard Bill in Court
The Port Canaveral operator says it disputes some of a nearly $791,000 bill from a South Carolina shipyard that has kept its only vessel under federal seizure.
Victory Casino Cruises has acknowledged that the extended dry dock of its only vessel, Victory I, is tied to a lawsuit alleging the company owes a South Carolina shipyard close to $791,000, according to Casino.org News.
The Port Canaveral operator describes the litigation as a "contractual dispute" rather than an admission of the debt.
Victory I last sailed on Sept. 28, and the company furloughed its entire staff shortly afterward. At the time, it attributed the move to an unexpected delay in planned maintenance.
It later emerged that Detyens Shipyards, based in North Charleston, South Carolina, had obtained a federal seizure warrant for the vessel. In a maritime complaint filed in the federal district court in South Carolina, Detyens alleged Victory owes it $790,666 in unpaid bills.
A federal judge signed off on that seizure order, after which U.S. Marshals personnel boarded Victory I just after 10 a.m. on Oct. 28 to carry out the warrant. The resulting Warrant of Arrest in Rem is what keeps the vessel tied up at the shipyard while litigation continues.
The case summons reached Victory Casino Cruises on Oct. 16, triggering a 21-day window under federal rules to file a response, which falls due on Nov. 6. As of the latest court docket cited by Casino.org News, the company had not yet filed a formal reply.
The operator has instead addressed the matter publicly. In a Facebook post, it described itself as locked in a dispute over the shipyard's charges and said it was pushing to get the matter settled soon, while stressing that the case is a civil proceeding in admiralty court.
Victory Casino Cruises CEO Lester Bullock said, "We are disputing some of the charges from the shipyard," suggesting some of the billed items covered services or repairs that were not carried out.
The company's Facebook statement also pushed back on public reaction to the dispute, saying some comments "seem to take satisfaction in the challenges we are facing," and asked followers to "consider the human impact before sharing rumors or posting hurtful remarks."
The post added: "During this difficult time, there have been many rumors circulating about Victory, along with some hurtful and unnecessary comments. We understand that people have questions. However, it is deeply disheartening to see speculation presented as fact."
No excursions are currently scheduled, and the company is not accepting reservations. Victory Casino Cruises said it will continue to post updates on sailings via Facebook.
"While we do not have a confirmed return date to announce, please know that we are making every effort to move forward. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and support for Victory and the people who make it possible," the company said.