Evidently the French trawler was unwilling to relinquish towing this ship to port to a pair of faster sea-going tugs (MSNBC):

"Passengers aboard a disabled cruise ship will spend 10 to 12 hours longer at sea than was needed because a French vessel pulling the ship refused to give way to tugboats, a Seychelles government minister says.

Joel Morgan told The Associated Press that the cruise ship Costa Allegra likely would have arrived in the Seychelles' main port of Mahe on Wednesday night local time if the tugs had been allowed to take over.

The cruise ship instead is not set to arrive until midmorning Thursday. Morgan, the transport minister, said the Seychelles is not happy that the financial objectives of the French vessel was put ahead of the well-being and safety of the passengers."

I suppose the French trawler expects to collect a hefty towing fee.

So it goes.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble