Mormon ‘Sea Trek’ Hits Stormy Financial Waters

Last year’s transatlantic re-creation of a Mormon migration from Northern Europe to Utah has turned into a financial nightmare for organizers, with three Norwegian ships demanding $530,000 in unpaid bills.

Bill and DeAnn Sadleir of Salt Lake City organized the 59-day voyage, known as Sea Trek 2001, from Denmark to New York City, to commemorate the 85,000 Mormon converts who left Europe. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the Sadleirs were not able to sell all the spaces on the ships and so far have not paid three Norwegian ships the $530,000 owed to them. In addition, the couple owe about $43,000 to a Russian ship.