Holland Norway Lines, which requested a deferment of payment last week, is bankrupt. Administrator Hans Silvius of De Haan Advocaten has been appointed as trustee by the court.
The reason for filing for bankruptcy is that so far no serious candidate has come forward to take over Holland Norway Lines, after the company filed for suspension of payments last week. The employees of HNL in both Norway and the Netherlands were informed this morning by the management of HNL, the court says in a statement.
Holland Norway Lines says it ‘deeply regrets the bankruptcy and would like to express its sincere thanks to all involved for their support and understanding during this challenging period’. At the end of last week, the company informed customers in an email that there was still a chance that the crossings would be resumed.
Any restart
Silvius stated on Thursday that he was willing to talk to candidates for a possible restart. But that shouldn’t take too long. “I can’t sit with my hands crossed for very long until someone comes.”
According to him, people with a package trip (ticket for the trip plus accommodation) can turn to the Stichting Garantiegelden Reisgelden. Buyers of individual tickets have lost their money.
HNL has a considerable debt burden, according to Silvius. According to unconfirmed reports, this is about 10 million euros. The company, which employs nearly 400 people, started a ferry service to Kristiansand in southern Norway in April last year. Due to persistent problems in Eemshaven, where Holland Norway Lines did not have its own quay, the ferry first departed for Cuxhaven and then on to Emden. That did not help ticket sales. In addition, a number of sailings were cancelled.
Intervene
The Consumers’ Association reacts angrily to HNL’s conduct. According to the union, the ferry service does not offer stranded passengers any alternative or care, while they are entitled to it. The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate has been asked to intervene.
“Travellers are completely left to their own devices. The shipping company only advises stranded customers to arrange alternative transport themselves, but does not mention compensation. That is unacceptable. Holland Norway Lines does not comply with European passenger rules and that is why we ask the regulator to enforce it,” says director Sandra Molenaar of the Consumers’ Association.