Cruise Ship Coral Adventurer Runs Aground in PNG Amid Ongoing Fatality Probe

Dhaka: The Australian cruise ship Coral Adventurer has run aground off the eastern coast of Papua New Guinea, just two months after a tragic passenger fatality led to a major investigation. The vessel, carrying 80 passengers and 43 crew members, struck a reef near Dreghafen Point, approximately 30 kilometers from the city of Lae, early Saturday morning.

This voyage was the ship’s first return to service since the death of 80-year-old Suzanne Rees, who was found dead on Australia’s Lizard Island in late October after being inadvertently left behind by the crew.

The ship’s operator, Coral Expeditions, confirmed that all 123 people on board are safe and that no injuries were reported. Initial hull inspections on Sunday have revealed no significant structural damage or signs of environmental leakage.

However, three officers from the Lae Water Police have remained on board as a safety precaution while the National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA) conducts a formal investigation into the cause of the grounding. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is also monitoring the situation, though no official distress call was issued by the ship’s captain.

This second incident in as many months has placed the Cairns-based cruise line under intense scrutiny. The company is already cooperating with Queensland Police and WorkSafe Queensland regarding the “failure of care” allegations surrounding Ms. Rees’s death.

While the current 12-day Papua New Guinea itinerary was scheduled to conclude on December 30, it remains unclear if the vessel will be cleared to continue its journey or if passengers will be disembarked early for return flights.