Court records show forever cruise arrested at Singapore port as CBS News reports lender takeover

Arrest recorded in Singapore

Court records obtained by CBS News show that the Odyssey has been arrested in Singapore. Helmsman LLC, a Singaporean law firm, is listed as the arresting solicitor, but it is not clear whom the firm represents.

A source familiar with the matter said the claimant is likely a fuel supplier. Villa Vie owes a supplier in the region approximately $500,000, although it remains unclear whether that supplier hired Helmsman LLC to seek the arrest.

A ship arrest is a legal process that can detain or seize a vessel following a legal claim. The records do not identify the claim behind this case.

Owner struggled with payments

Villa Vie Residences could not keep up with payments, and the ship is now being operated by its lender. The vessel had been stranded in Southeast Asia amid the owner’s financial problems.

The Odyssey’s journey began in October 2024. Its voyage came to a sudden end last month in Cambodia, where residents had only hours to leave the ship.

Difficult final weeks aboard

Accounts from multiple sources familiar with the ship’s final weeks describe efforts to find fuel while it was at a Singapore port. Crew members also rushed to obtain provisions after food shipments stopped.

The ship was temporarily detained in Hong Kong, according to those accounts. The circumstances surrounding the Singapore arrest and the identity of the party seeking it remain unclear.