UPDATE: The cruise ship Coral Adventurer has been successfully refloated after running aground off the coast of Papua New Guinea, stranding 80 passengers and 43 crew for several days. The vessel, which hit a reef near the town of Lae early on Saturday, is now undergoing assessments to determine its seaworthiness.
Officials confirmed that initial attempts to rescue the ship failed, but it was refloated on Tuesday afternoon after a powerful tugboat arrived from Lae. A spokesperson for Coral Expeditions, the ship’s operator, stated, “I can confirm the ship was refloated yesterday afternoon. All passengers have been flown back to Cairns and are on their way home.”
Passengers were safely evacuated from the ship and transported by boat to Lae, where they caught chartered flights back to Cairns. The ship remains anchored near the grounding site, awaiting further inspections. Initial assessments by certified divers revealed no significant damage to the hull, although the full extent of the incident is still being evaluated.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) are currently investigating the grounding. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell emphasized that investigators will conduct interviews and gather evidence. “The extent of any damage to the ship’s hull is not known but water ingress is not reported,” he noted.
The grounding of the Coral Adventurer occurred just weeks after a separate incident on October 25, where 80-year-old passenger Suzanne Rees tragically died after being left behind on Lizard Island. This prior incident has raised significant concerns regarding crew safety protocols and operational procedures.
In light of the recent events, Coral Expeditions has expressed regret and offered affected passengers refunds or credits for future travel. “Coral Expeditions sincerely regrets the grounding of its vessel and apologizes to our passengers for the disruption they experienced,” the spokesperson added.
The investigations by ATSB and AMSA are ongoing, and authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure passenger safety and compliance with maritime regulations. The public will be keenly watching for updates on the ship’s status and the findings of these investigations.
