Coral Adventurer Grounds on PNG Reef, Passengers Flown to Cairns

The expedition cruise ship Coral Adventurer ran aground on a reef off Papua New Guinea on Dec. 27, prompting refloating efforts, inspections and an early end to the voyage for passengers as authorities in Papua New Guinea and Australia opened investigations.

Grounding reported off Papua New Guinea’s eastern coast

Officials said the ship struck the reef about 30 kilometers from Lae, Papua New Guinea’s second-largest city, at around 5:25 a.m. local time on Saturday. Local authorities cited strong sea currents as a factor in the vessel being pushed onto the reef near Dreghafen Point.

Coral Expeditions confirmed a “grounding incident” and said initial checks did not identify damage. “All passengers and crew are safe. An initial inspection indicates no damage to the vessel,” a Coral Expeditions spokesperson said, adding that the incident was reported to authorities and that further inspections of the hull and the marine environment would follow as part of standard procedure.

Passengers flown back to Cairns after voyage ends early

Coral Adventurer was sailing a 12-day Christmas cruise that began Dec. 18 in Cairns, Australia, and was scheduled to conclude on Dec. 30. With the vessel still stuck and no immediate timeline confirmed for refloating, Coral Expeditions moved to end the sailing early and arrange charter flights back to Cairns.

There were 80 passengers onboard at the time of the grounding. The number of crew was reported as 43 by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), while Papua New Guinea officials said 44 crew were onboard. Authorities and the operator reported no injuries.

Detention notice issued as refloating attempts continue

Papua New Guinea authorities issued a detention notice preventing the vessel from leaving while checks and administrative processes are completed. Officials said the ship developed an approximately six-degree list to port after the grounding.

Acting Papua New Guinea Police Commissioner Samson Kua said formal detention orders were issued for the vessel to remain in Papua New Guinea waters “until all formalities are cleared,” adding that a clearance letter would be required before the ship could depart.

Attempts to refloat Coral Adventurer using the ship’s engines and tug assistance were unsuccessful, and further efforts were planned with additional towing support, including assistance dispatched from Lae. Early assessments cited by authorities indicated no flooding onboard and no immediate indications of pollution or spills, and a Papua New Guinea Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre officer boarded the ship as part of the response.

Investigations opened in Papua New Guinea and Australia

Papua New Guinea’s National Maritime Safety Authority is investigating the grounding, while Australian agencies are also involved as the vessel remains detained and its condition is assessed.

An AMSA spokesperson said the agency detained the vessel under Australia’s Navigation Act 2012. The spokesperson said the detention was “based on reasonable suspicion that it is not seaworthy due to potential damage sustained during the grounding,” and also referenced concerns that it may be “sub standard” due to “failures in the implementation of its Safety Management System under the International Safety Management Code.” AMSA said it was working with the operator, the vessel’s classification society and Papua New Guinea’s National Maritime Safety Authority, and told the BBC it did not receive a distress call from Coral Adventurer during the incident.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has opened a separate investigation into how the grounding occurred, saying the extent of any hull damage was not yet known, while noting that water ingress had not been reported. The ATSB said a preliminary report was expected in about two months unless an urgent safety issue is identified sooner.

Officials cite unusual routing in reef-heavy area

Local officials in Morobe Province said the ship was transiting through Morobe, Madang and Sepik provinces when it encountered strong currents. Morobe Provincial Governor Rainbo Paita said the vessel was using a route that local operators do not typically use and described the area as having very high reefs.

Incident comes after October passenger death investigation

The grounding occurred during Coral Adventurer’s first passenger voyage since an October incident in which an 80-year-old passenger, Suzanne Rees, died after being left behind during a shore visit to Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef. Rees had been hiking with other passengers, separated from the group to rest, and the ship departed before her absence was identified. The vessel returned after she was reported missing, and a major search operation located her body the following day.

Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield previously apologized following the death. “We are deeply sorry that this has occurred,” Fifield said, adding that the company was working with Queensland Police and other authorities and offering support to the Rees family. The remainder of that cruise was canceled and passengers were offered full refunds. AMSA told the BBC it does not typically make investigation results public.

What happens next for the ship

Coral Expeditions has not said whether upcoming voyages for Coral Adventurer will proceed as scheduled. The 5,536-gross-ton ship, which debuted in 2019 and was designed for remote itineraries across the South Pacific and Australia, remains subject to refloating efforts, follow-up hull and environmental inspections, and clearance requirements tied to the detention notice as investigations in Papua New Guinea and Australia continue.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where did Coral Adventurer run aground in Papua New Guinea?

The ship grounded on a reef off Papua New Guinea’s eastern coast near Lae, with officials placing the location about 30 kilometers from the city.

What does it mean that the ship was detained?

A detention notice means authorities are temporarily treating the ship as unseaworthy and it cannot depart until inspections and required processes are completed and clearance is granted.

Which agencies are investigating the grounding?

Papua New Guinea’s National Maritime Safety Authority is investigating, while Australia’s AMSA detained the vessel under Australian law and the ATSB has opened a separate safety investigation.

When will Coral Adventurer resume operations?

Coral Expeditions has not announced when the ship will resume operations. The vessel remains detained in Papua New Guinea while refloating efforts continue and authorities assess the ship’s condition and related requirements for clearance.