Incident Overview
An Australian cruise ship has been detained by maritime safety officials after it ran aground in Papua New Guinea.
The Coral Adventurer, operated by Coral Expeditions, ran aground off the eastern coast of Papua New Guinea at approximately 6:57 a.m. local time on Saturday, according to the Papua New Guinea National Maritime Safety Authority.
There were 124 individuals on board, including 44 crew members and 80 passengers, all of whom were reported uninjured during the incident.
The vessel came to rest on a coral reef, tilting about 6 degrees to the port side. Fortunately, the hull remained intact, and maritime officials confirmed that no pollutants were released into the reef.
A passenger named Regina Beliavskiene recounted that there was an announcement from the captain indicating that they had hit the ground and were stuck. Despite being stranded, passengers could still go ashore for day excursions during this time.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority detained the ship on Monday due to concerns over its ability to sail safely. Passengers were evacuated back to Australia on Tuesday via another boat followed by a chartered flight to Cairns. A tugboat was also dispatched to assist in floating the Coral Adventurer.
A spokesperson for Coral Expeditions stated, “Acknowledging that we have not been able to deliver the exceptional experience expected by our guests on this occasion, we have decided to end the tour. All passengers will be flown out on a charter flight.”
Australian officials are collaborating with their counterparts in Papua New Guinea and Coral Expeditions regarding suspicions that the Coral Adventurer may be sub-standard due to failures in its safety management system as outlined under international regulations.
The ship is currently anchored near its grounding site while investigations are conducted and assessments are made regarding its condition.
This grounding incident follows a tragic event earlier this year involving an 80-year-old passenger named Suzanne Rees who was accidentally left behind during an excursion and later found deceased after being abandoned on a small island in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
