The cruise ship Coral Adventurer has been detained in Papua New Guinea after it ran aground on a reef near Dreghafen Point, approximately 15 nautical miles from Lae. The grounding occurred in an area known for its shallow coral ridge, which local navigators typically avoid. Strong currents likely contributed to the incident, and the site is marked on nautical charts with a warning indicating shallow waters.
Despite the ship listing slightly to port, authorities have reported no damage or pollution from the vessel. All 124 personnel onboard are safe, as confirmed by Papua New Guinea’s National Maritime Safety Authority. However, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has detained the ship due to concerns over its seaworthiness following the grounding. As an Australian-flagged vessel operating in foreign waters, Coral Adventurer falls under AMSA’s jurisdiction.
AMSA has also raised issues regarding the ship’s compliance with its Safety Management System under the International Safety Management Code. An initial attempt to refloat the vessel using its engines was unsuccessful, but further efforts are planned. The operator is also preparing contingency plans should these attempts fail.
