Coral Adventurer Grounded Off Papua New Guinea, Passengers Repatriated
The cruise ship Coral Adventurer ran aground on a reef off the east coast of Papua New Guinea on Saturday, approximately 90 kilometers from Lae. The vessel had 80 passengers and 43 crew aboard at the time, but there were no injuries reported.
The ship was refloated on Tuesday with assistance from a tug. Following this, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority detained the vessel due to concerns about potential unseaworthiness. Initial hull inspections found no significant damage, and divers continue to assess the ship's condition.
An Australian Transport Safety Bureau report is expected in about two months unless a critical safety issue arises, which would accelerate the timeline. Investigations are also ongoing locally.
Coral Expeditions cancelled the current voyage and repatriated passengers to Cairns, offering refunds for the affected leg of the journey or credits for future travel. The vessel remains at anchor as further inspections take place.
Passenger accounts of the incident were mixed. Ursula Daus described the situation as chaotic and indicated she would avoid future travel with the company. In contrast, Marilyn Walter reported that the grounding was minor and that they had a wonderful time.
This incident follows a prior voyage during which an 80-year-old passenger, Suzanne Rees, died after allegedly being left behind on Lizard Island in October; that investigation is ongoing. Coral Expeditions apologized for the disruption and stated that all passengers and non-essential crew had been repatriated, with staff cooperating fully with authorities to determine next steps.
