The former Hurtigruten ship Hakon Jarl (1952/2,173gt), which has for many years operated as the hotel and night club Diamond Princess in Antwerp, appears to have been sold to Moroccan interests, and has moved to a shipyard in Sluiskil, Zeeland to be prepared for her journey south.
However, following inspection by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, it was ordered that the ship be returned to Antwerp following the discovery of large amounts of asbestos and allegations that the paperwork was not in order. It is likely to be some weeks before the ship is returned to Antwerp. Diamond Princess had already been forced to close and leave her berth by the Antwerp port authority as it wanted to use the space for a museum dock.
