A Queensland-based cruise ship, the Coral Adventurer, remains stranded on a reef off the coast of Papua New Guinea, leaving dozens of Australian and international passengers in limbo as recovery efforts continue.
Ship Grounding Details and Recovery Efforts
The Australian-registered vessel ran aground on a reef off the Finschaffen Coast, east of Lae, at approximately 5.25am local time on December 27. The incident occurred about 30 kilometres north of Port Moresby. The impact has left the ship with a noticeable six-degree tilt to its port (left) side.
According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), initial attempts to free the ship using its own engines proved unsuccessful. The ship's operators have since engaged a commercial towage provider to assist with the complex refloating operation, which is ongoing and heavily dependent on tidal conditions.
Water ingress has not been reported, though the full extent of any damage to the hull is not yet known. The ATSB has confirmed it is investigating the grounding but is not directly managing the recovery.
Passengers and Voyage Information
On board the Coral Adventurer are 123 people. This includes 80 passengers from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Israel, along with 43 crew members. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
The ship had departed Cairns on December 18 for a 'Frontier Lands' cruise, with its scheduled conclusion set for December 30 in Madang. The current situation has dramatically disrupted those travel plans.
Investigation and Troubled History
The ATSB has launched a formal investigation into the grounding. Investigators are gathering voyage data, tracking information, weather records, and crew and maintenance documents. They intend to board the vessel for interviews once it is safe to do so. A preliminary report is expected within two months, with a final report detailing findings and safety recommendations to follow.
This incident follows a tragic event involving the same vessel just months earlier. In October, 80-year-old Australian passenger Suzanne Rees died after being left behind on Lizard Island during a day excursion. The cruise line faced significant criticism after the ship departed without her, returning hours later. Rees was found deceased during searches the following day.
As recovery teams work against the clock and tides, the focus remains on safely refloating the Coral Adventurer and repatriating all passengers and crew.
