A LUXURY cruise ship has run aground off the coast of Papua New Guinea, reigniting controversy for its operator just weeks after a passenger was left behind and died during a stopover.
The Coral Adventurer struck a reef around 6am on Saturday, approximately 30 kilometres off Papua New Guinea’s eastern coast.
The ship was carrying up to 80 passengers and 43 crew members at the time.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said it did not receive a distress call but was aware the vessel had run aground.
No injuries have been reported and both passengers and crew have since been evacuated, although it remains unclear whether they have been taken ashore.
A spokesperson for the vessel’s operator – Coral Expeditions – said all passengers and crew were safe and that an initial inspection showed no damage to the vessel.
“The incident has been reported to authorities and will undergo further official inspections of the hull and marine environment,” the spokesperson said.
The voyage departed Cairns on December 18 and was scheduled to conclude on December 30.
No decision has yet been made on whether the cruise will continue.
The ship was believed to be en route to Madang Province and the Sepik River when it encountered strong sea currents.
Marine medical expert Dr Paul Luckin said the ship’s ability to be refloated would depend on how firmly it was lodged on the reef and whether high tide conditions on Sunday are sufficient.
An officer from the Papua New Guinea Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre has also boarded the vessel to assist efforts to dislodge it.
The grounding has sparked renewed scrutiny of Coral Expeditions, two months after one of its voyages ended in tragedy.
In October, 80-year-old Suzanne Rees was left behind on Lizard Island during a stopover while touring Australia.
A keen walker, Ms Rees had been hiking with a group to summit of the Great Barrier Reef but turned back after becoming fatigued.
She became lost on the return journey while the remaining passengers re-boarded the luxury vessel.
The ship departed without her and only returned several hours later after crew realised she was missing.
A major search operation found her lifeless body the following day.
The vessel was just two days into a 60-day voyage at the time.
The cruise was subsequently cancelled and all passengers were offered a full refund.
Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield said the company was “deeply sorry that this had occurred” and had offered full support to Ms Rees’ family.
The incident raised serious questions about passenger safety procedures, including why it took up to five hours for a search to begin.
Commercial vessel operators are required to have systems in place – such as headcounts – to ensure no passengers are left behind.
Ms Rees’ daughter, Katherine, said: “From the little we have been told, it seems there was a failure of care and common sense.”
The Coral Adventurer is now the subject of a joint investigation by AMSA and Queensland Police.
Dr Luckin said this latest incident, while uncommon, is not unheard of.
“In waters like these, reefs can be uncharted,” he said.
“Even with good navigation and equipment, it’s possible for a ship to strike an unknown reef. Reefs also change over time.”
He added that mechanical or navigation system failure was another possibility, though he stressed this was purely speculative.
