New Caledonia’s maritime rescue services executed 4 consecutive medical evacuations from RCI-Royal Caribbean’s ship Quantum of the Seas within a 24-hour period, marking an atypical operational sequence, especially for the region.
The incidents occurred as the vessel transited between Vanuatu and Brisbane QLD during a 7-night South Pacific voyage departing on February 28th.
On March 5th, the New Caledonia Operational Surveillance and Rescue Center (COSS-NC) coordinated the first evacuation following a telemedical consultation confirming a passenger required urgent hospitalization. The ship altered course to Noumea, where two Australian nationals were evacuated post-midnight.
As Quantum OTS resumed its itinerary, 2 additional non-correlated medical emergencies arose on March 6th, necessitating the evacuation of 2 NZ nationals via New Caledonian rescue teams. All patients were stabilized aboard prior to transfer and transported to shore-based medical facilities.
This series of evacuations follows a similar pattern on February 18th, when 3 Australian passengers were medically disembarked from the same vessel. Quantum OTS concluded its voyage as scheduled, returning to Brisbane on March 7th.
The incidents underscore the operational demands of managing medical emergencies in remote maritime zones, with New Caledonian authorities emphasizing adherence to standardized protocols for passenger safety. No further disruptions to the vessel’s itinerary were reported.
For more Quantum of the Seas incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.