The south-east Asia focused river cruise operator Pandaw Expeditions has been forced to close in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the political situation in Myanmar, the Singapore based company said in a statement.

Bookings for 2022 had been strong, but the company had not been able raise funds to keep its 17 ships in lay up and then refurbish them before bringing them back to service, presumable for the 2022/23 season, although this remained uncertain, it said.

Pandaw had been founded in 1995 by Paul Strachan, a Scotsman by origin.