The Australian-flagged cruise ship Coral Adventurer ran aground on a reef near Dregerhafen Point, Papua New Guinea, early Saturday morning. The vessel, measuring 93.4 meters and carrying 123 individuals—80 passengers and 43 crew members—was reported to have grounded around 0525 local time. Fortunately, no injuries or water ingress have been reported; however, the extent of any damage remains undetermined as salvage operations are ongoing.
In response to seaworthiness concerns, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) detained the Coral Adventurer under the Navigation Act 2012, citing potential damage from the grounding and deficiencies in its Safety Management System. The AMSA is collaborating with the ship’s operator, classification society, and the Papua New Guinea National Maritime Safety Authority to address these issues. Meanwhile, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has initiated an investigation, quarantining data from the vessel’s voyage recorder and gathering further evidence.
Local authorities noted that the ship encountered strong sea currents en route to Madang Province, raising concerns over potential damage to the coral reefs in the surrounding area. This incident follows an AMSA investigation into a fatal incident aboard the Coral Adventurer two months prior, raising further scrutiny on the vessel’s operational safety. AMSA has stated that it did not receive a distress call but is poised to assist PNG authorities as needed.
