Who Has Bought the Cruise Ship Marco Polo?
The Marco Polo is one of the oldest cruise ships in existence. Built in 1965 and sailing until 2019, the ship has since been sold to a new owner. The new owner is the Global Maritime Group, a company based in Cyprus.
The Marco Polo was originally built for the Soviet Union-based shipping company, Vladivostok-based Far East Shipping Company (FESCO). FESCO operated the vessel for more than 30 years before selling it to Orient Line in 1996.
Orient Line operated the ship until 2008 when they sold it to Transocean Tours GmbH & Co KG, a German cruise line. Transocean Tours operated it until 2019 when they announced that they would no longer be operating cruises due to financial difficulties.
The sale of the vessel was conducted by German auction house BVA Auctions, who specialise in selling vessels and other assets. The Global Maritime Group emerged as the successful bidder after an intense bidding process. The final bid was reported to be around $3 million USD, with Global Maritime Group paying cash upfront at the end of May 2020.
Since taking ownership of the vessel, Global Maritime Group has stated its intention to refurbish and operate it as a luxury cruise liner once more. No firm plans have been announced yet but some reports suggest that it will be based out of its original home port in Cyprus and operate cruises around Europe from there.
The sale of Marco Polo marks an end to an era for cruise ships, with many fond memories being created aboard her over her lifetime. She may have changed hands a few times but she still remains one of the most iconic vessels in maritime history and will now get a chance at new beginnings under her new owner.
Conclusion
Global Maritime Group has purchased Marco Polo for approximately $3 million USD after an intense auction process conducted by BVA Auctions. They plan to refurbish and operate her as a luxury cruise liner once more out of its original home port in Cyprus, providing travelers with memories that will last a lifetime on board this iconic vessel.