Coral Adventurer Cruise Ship Detained Off Papua New Guinea Following Grounding
The Coral Adventurer cruise ship ran aground off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea, approximately 30 kilometers from Lae. Onboard were 80 passengers and 43 crew members. No injuries have been reported from the incident.
The vessel has been formally detained in Papua New Guinea waters over concerns about its seaworthiness, potentially due to damage sustained during the grounding. Orders for detention were issued as authorities continue their investigations.
The Papua New Guinea National Maritime Safety Authority and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) are jointly investigating the incident, with the ATSB expecting to release a preliminary report in about two months. Although no water ingress has been reported, the extent of hull damage remains unknown.
Additionally, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has detained the Coral Adventurer under the Navigation Act 2012 for suspected issues with seaworthiness and failures in the vessel's Safety Management System. AMSA is collaborating with the vessel's operator, Classification Society, and the Papua New Guinea authority to address these concerns.
A tugboat was dispatched on Sunday to assist in refloating the vessel, with further attempts planned on Tuesday. Passengers are scheduled to return to Cairns on a chartered flight later that day.
According to Coral Expeditions, initial inspections suggest there is no damage to the vessel. Comprehensive inspections of the hull and marine environment will be conducted after the ship is refloated, consistent with standard procedures for grounded vessels.
The Coral Adventurer is also under investigation for a separate incident in October, when a passenger named Suzanne Rees died after allegedly being left behind during an excursion at Lizard Island.
