Passengers and crew have been evacuated from the cruise ship Coral Adventurer after it ran aground on a reef, marking another distressing incident for the vessel on its first voyage since a passenger was tragically left behind and died on an island.
A Troubled Ship's Latest Misfortune
The Coral Adventurer struck a reef off the coast of Papua New Guinea on Saturday, December 28, 2025. The ship was carrying 80 passengers and 43 crew members at the time. According to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the vessel ran aground, though no distress call was issued.
A spokesperson for the operator, Coral Expeditions, confirmed that all individuals on board were safe. An initial inspection indicated no apparent damage to the hull. The incident occurred while the ship was en route to Madang Province and the Sepik River, where it encountered strong sea currents.
History of Tragedy on the Coral Adventurer
This grounding is the latest in a series of devastating events for the Coral Adventurer. The cruise had only recently resumed service following the death of 80-year-old passenger Suzanne Rees.
Rees was left behind on Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef during a previous voyage. She was reported missing after failing to appear for dinner on October 26 and was later found dead on the island. The £40,000-per-ticket, 60-day circumnavigation of Australia was subsequently cancelled by the cruise line.
Mark Fifield, CEO of Coral Expeditions, cited the "tragic passing of Suzanne Rees and previous mechanical issues" as the reason for ending that journey. The current voyage had departed from Cairns on December 18 and was scheduled to conclude on December 30.
Investigation and Future of the Voyage
The cruise operator has reported the latest incident to the relevant authorities. A spokesperson stated that "the incident has been reported to authorities and will undergo further official inspections of the hull and marine environment."
Marine medical expert Dr. Paul Luckin explained that the decision on whether the cruise can continue hinges on several factors. These include whether the ship can be easily refloated or if it is firmly lodged on the reef, with tidal currents also playing a critical role.
Dr. Luckin also speculated on potential causes for the accident in an interview with 7News. "One of the problems in waters like that is that there can be reefs that are uncharted, and with perfectly good navigation and perfectly good equipment, it is possible for a ship to hit an uncharted reef," he said. He added that reefs can change over time and noted the possibility, though purely speculative, of mechanical failure with navigation or propulsion systems.
As of now, no decision has been made regarding the continuation of the cruise following this latest setback for the ill-fated Coral Adventurer.
