The Satoshi, the former Bitcoin cruise ship, has been sold to a new startup cruise company, according to several sources familiar with the situation in discussion with Cruise Industry News.
After the 1991-built ship was arrested in Panama late last year, it was recently released and arrived last week in Bar City, Montenegro, a port that was widely used for crew transfers and warm-up exercises during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the ship sailed as Pacific Dawn for Carnival Corporation’s P&O Australia, it was due to switch to Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) this year.
With the shutdown of CMV in 2020, the ship was sold to Ocean Builders who wanted to turn it into a ship Cryptocurrency Tech Hub off the coast of Panama with apartments on board up for auction.
Ocean Builders took the ship in November, hired a ship management company, paid for a dry dock, and even sailed to Panama, but abandoned the project citing insurance issues.
At this point the ship was sold for scrap and arrested in Panama at the same time.
Legal issues aside, the cruise ship could have a new life with a new cruise line that has yet to be disclosed and will enter service later this year.
The ship originally entered service as the Regal Princess in 1991 and was handed over to P&O Australia in 2007 for year-round service in the Australian market. She was built in Fincantieri and originally ordered by Sitmar Cruises.
