A cruise ship has run aground off the eastern coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG) on its first voyage since the death of an elderly passenger in October, authorities confirmed. The vessel, the Coral Adventurer, suffered the incident on Saturday approximately 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the city of Lae.
A spokesperson for the cruise line reported that all 80 passengers and 43 crew members on board were safe. Initial inspections have not revealed any damage to the ship’s hull, with further assessments scheduled for Sunday. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) stated that it had not received a distress call from the vessel but is monitoring the situation and stands ready to assist PNG authorities if needed.
The Coral Adventurer is currently in the midst of a 12-day voyage scheduled to end on 30 December. No decisions have been made regarding whether the journey will continue.
This latest incident comes as the ship remains under scrutiny following the death of 80-year-old Suzanne Rees in late October. Ms Rees died on Lizard Island in Australia after being left behind by the vessel during a hiking excursion. According to reports, she had separated from a group of passengers for a rest and was not accounted for when the ship departed. The crew returned hours later upon realizing she was missing, and a search operation located her body the following day.
At the time of Ms Rees’s death, the Coral Adventurer was just two days into a 60-day cruise, and the remainder of the voyage was cancelled with full refunds issued to passengers. Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield expressed regret over the incident and reaffirmed the company’s support for Ms Rees’s family. “We are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are working closely with Queensland Police and other authorities to support their investigation,” he said.
Amsa and Queensland Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ms Rees’s death. The agency noted that it does not make the results of such investigations public.
The grounding in PNG adds to the scrutiny facing Coral Adventurer, which has faced increased attention over operational safety in recent months. While the latest incident did not result in injuries or apparent damage, it raises questions about navigation and safety protocols on the vessel.
Passengers and crew reportedly remained calm during the grounding, and operations on board are continuing as authorities assess the situation. The cruise line has not indicated whether future voyages will be affected by the incident.
The Coral Adventurer has been operating in the Pacific and Australian regions, offering expeditions to remote islands and coastal destinations. Its safety record and operational procedures are likely to come under review as investigations continue into both the recent grounding and the earlier passenger death.
