ACL Buys American Queen, Three Others
American Cruise Lines has a bankruptcy court judge’s approval to buy the American Queen, American Empress, American Countess and American Duchess, according to a court filing.
A document titled “Notice of Successful Bidder With Respect to River Vessel Assets” filed April 2 and submitted by attorney John F. Higgins, who is listed as the proposed counsel to the debtors and debtors in possession, indicated that American Cruise Lines submitted the only qualified bid for the vessels.
The bid is for $6.3 million in cash, according to the court filing.
The amount includes:
• $2,150,000 for the American Queen and related furnishings and spares;
• $1,600,000 for the American Empress and relating furnishings and spares;
• $1,600,000 for the American Countess and related furnishings and spares;
• $200,000 for the American Duchess; and
• $750,000 for certain other related assets, including trademarks associated with American Queen Voyages, website domain names associated with American Queen Voyages and certain business records.
Judge Marvin Isgur approved the sale in a hearing April 4 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Houston, Texas, noting that upon completion of the purchase agreement, American Cruise Lines will be considered the “sole and rightful owner of the acquired assets.”
Court documents indicate that a previous auction originally scheduled for March 27 and then delayed to March 28 was canceled solely with respect to these river vessels as there was no competing qualified bidder.
Court filings did not indicate whether there was a buyer for American Queen Voyages’ two coastal ships, the Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager.
“American Cruise Lines is pleased to be the successful bidder for AQV’s river vessels,” a statement emailed from American Cruise Lines said. “We look forward to announcing additional details after this portion of the Hornblower Holdings bankruptcy process concludes.”
Hornblower Holdings LLC, parent company of American Queen Voyages, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings on February 21, a day after ceasing operations. The case is being tried in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s Southern District of Texas and is styled as case number 24-90061.
Caption for photo: The American Queen and three other vessels were purchased by American Cruise Lines. (WJ file photo)
