The expedition cruise vessel Coral Adventurer has run aground off the eastern coast of Papua New Guinea during her first voyage since the death of a passenger in late October. The incident occurred approximately 30 kilometres from the port city of Lae while the ship was operating a scheduled cruise in the region.
According to the operator, the vessel experienced a grounding on Saturday, December 27th. All 80 passengers and 43 crew members on board were reported to be safe, and preliminary checks indicated no apparent damage to the hull. Further inspections were planned for the following day. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority confirmed that it had not received a distress call from the ship and stated that it was monitoring developments and stood ready to assist Papua New Guinea authorities if required.
No immediate decision was taken regarding the continuation of the current 12-day voyage, which was due to conclude on December 30th.
The grounding comes while Coral Adventurer remains under investigation by Australian authorities in connection with the death of Suzanne Rees, aged 80. Ms Rees was found deceased on Lizard Island, off the coast of Queensland, on October 26th. At the time, the ship was operating an extended expedition itinerary.
During a shore excursion on the remote island, Ms Rees had been walking with other passengers but separated from the group to rest. The vessel departed the island without her and returned several hours later after her absence was identified. A large-scale search operation was subsequently launched, and her body was discovered the following day. The ship was only two days into a planned 60-day voyage when the incident occurred, and the remainder of the cruise was cancelled, with passengers receiving full refunds.
Coral Expeditions’ management has acknowledged the seriousness of the incident, expressing regret over the circumstances of Ms Rees’s death and confirming that the company has offered support to her family. The operator has also stated that it is cooperating fully with Queensland Police and maritime authorities as the investigation continues.
The grounding in Papua New Guinea adds to scrutiny of the vessel’s operations as regulatory and law enforcement agencies continue to examine events surrounding the earlier fatality.
For more Coral Adventurer incidents and accidents, see the ship's CruiseMinus page.