The UK society told TradeWinds in a statement that it never provided final certification of the 214-berth Pearl Mist (built 2014). It also rejected Pearl Seas’ claims that LR North America (LRNA) engaged in fraud and misrepresentation during construction of the newbuilding and the arbitration battle that followed.

“LRNA has made it clear that it does not believe it misrepresented anything about the status of the vessel, to which it had limited access during the construction process — a process that was hamstrung by the dispute that arose between shipowner and shipbuilder before the vessel was completed,” the class society said.

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