The Coral Adventurer cruise vessel experienced a grounding incident off the eastern coast of Papua New Guinea on Saturday, marking the latest setback for the embattled cruise operator. The incident occurred approximately 30 kilometers from the city of Lae, according to a company spokesperson.
All 80 passengers and 43 crew members aboard the ship were reported safe following the incident. Initial inspections conducted after the grounding revealed no apparent damage to the vessel’s hull, though more comprehensive assessments were scheduled for Sunday. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) confirmed it had not received any distress calls from the ship but stated it was monitoring the situation and stood ready to assist Papua New Guinea authorities if required.
This incident comes as the Coral Adventurer remains under joint investigation by AMSA and Queensland Police following the tragic death of 80-year-old passenger Suzanne Rees in late October. Ms. Rees was left behind during a hiking excursion on Lizard Island, a remote Australian landmass, and was found deceased the following day after a major search operation. The vessel had departed without her and only returned hours later when crew members realized she was missing.
The current 12-day voyage, scheduled to conclude on December 30th, now faces uncertainty as officials assess the situation. This represents the second major disruption for the Coral Adventurer in recent months, following the cancellation of its previous 60-day expedition after Ms. Rees’s death. On that occasion, the cruise operator provided full refunds to all passengers.
Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield had previously expressed the company’s profound regret over the October incident, stating the organization was “deeply sorry that this has occurred” and had offered full support to the Rees family. The company continues to collaborate with investigating authorities, though AMSA maintains its policy of not publicly disclosing investigation outcomes.