EXHIBIT 99


                                                              SEA CONTAINERS LTD
                                                                     NEW RELEASE

SEA CONTAINERS DELAYS FILING OF 2005 FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT

Hamilton, Bermuda, May 1, 2006. Sea Containers Ltd. (NYSE: SCRA and SCRB,
www.seacontainers.com) today announced that, consistent with statements in its
news release of March 24, 2006, it has continued to (i) progress the proposed
sale of the Silja ferry business and other ferry assets, (ii) discuss
appropriate amendments and waivers of covenants with its bank groups, and (iii)
work on completing its 2005 annual report on Form 10-K. However, the Company is
not yet in a position to file its annual report because it has not completed the
2005 Form 10-K and its internal processes with respect to applicable
certifications. The Company anticipates, upon completion of these processes, it
will receive an unqualified audit report on the 2005 consolidated financial
statements from its independent auditors, which the Company expects will include
an explanatory paragraph raising substantial doubt about Sea Containers' ability
to continue as a going concern related to the uncertainties described in this
news release.

In addition, Sea Containers received on April 28 the decision in the arbitration
regarding its dispute with GE Capital relating to GE SeaCo and is evaluating the
consequences of the decision for the Company, which will make a further
announcement shortly.

Sea Containers has incurred operating losses in the years ended December 31,
2005 and 2004 and anticipates operating losses through at least 2006. The 2005
losses included significant impairment charges taken in the fourth quarter.
These impairment charges impacted the Company's net worth. At December 31, 2005,
Sea Containers was not in compliance with certain financial covenants and other
requirements in various credit facilities.

The Company's failure to comply with these financial covenants and other
requirements constitutes an event of default under some of its credit
facilities. Sea Containers is currently in discussions with affected lenders
regarding waivers or amendments of the events of default, as well as prospective
waivers or amendments in respect of certain credit facilities. No lender has
taken any action to exercise remedies in respect of any events of default.

The Company's liquidity going forward will depend upon, among other things, (i)
its ability to eliminate operating losses and generate sustainable positive cash
flow, (ii) the results of its efforts to sell the ferry business and assets, and
(iii) the uses of remaining net cash proceeds from asset sales in light of its
obligations under the public note indentures. Sea Containers management is
preparing a business plan that will be used to develop its view of the
appropriate level of debt capacity and the appropriate range of values of the
Company.

In turn, the foregoing will inform the Company's approach with respect to the
stakeholders in any restructuring. At this time, no assurance can be given as to
the results of any restructuring including the impact upon creditors and equity
holders. Sea Containers is considering a range of strategic and financial
alternatives. The Company is working, and will continue to work, to maximize the
value of the Company for the benefit of its stakeholders and intends to engage
the public note holders and other stakeholders.

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This news release contains, in addition to historical information,
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These include
statements regarding the proposed sale of the Silja business and other ferry
assets, bank waivers and amendments, sustainable cash flow, cost reductions and
similar matters that are not historical facts. These statements are based on
management's current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties
and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
described in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause a difference
include, but are not limited to, those mentioned in the news release, unknown
effects on the transport markets in which the company operates of terrorist
activity and any police or military response, varying customer demand and
competitive considerations, inability to sustain price increases or to reduce
costs, fluctuations in interest rates and currency values, variable fuel prices,
uncertainty of negotiating and completing proposed sale, chartering or disposal
transactions on acceptable terms, realization of asset sales proceeds less than
related mortgage debt, inadequate sources of capital and unacceptability of
proposed finance terms and inability to reduce debt, inability to reach
agreement on necessary waivers or amendments of bank lending covenants resulting
in bank loan agreement defaults, inability to comply with public note covenants
resulting in public note indenture defaults, possible rating agency downgrades
of the company and its debt securities, global, regional and industry economic
conditions, shifting patterns and levels of regional passenger travel,
seasonality and adverse weather conditions, possible lay-up of ships that cannot
be sold, chartered out or redeployed and incurrence of lay-up costs, potential
incurrence of disposal losses, restructuring charges and asset impairments
greater than currently estimated, and legislative, regulatory and political
developments. Further information regarding these and other factors is included
in the filings by the company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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For further information:

Lisa Barnard
Director of Communications, Sea Containers group of companies
Tel: +44 207 805 5550
Email: lisa.barnard@seacontainers.com

Investor Relations enquiries:
William W. Galvin III, The Galvin Partnership
Tel: +1 (203) 618 9800
Email: wwg@galvinpartners.com