The Australian cruise ship Coral Adventurer has been formally detained in the waters of Papua New Guinea after running aground on a reef last Saturday. The vessel remains stuck approximately 30 kilometres from the city of Lae, with all 80 passengers and 43 crew reported safe.
Ship Held Amid Safety Concerns
Authorities from both Papua New Guinea and Australia have launched parallel investigations into the incident. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) confirmed it has detained the vessel under the Navigation Act 2012.
AMSA stated the detention was due to a "reasonable suspicion that it is not seaworthy due to potential damage sustained during the grounding." The agency also cited failures in the ship's Safety Management System.
This action contradicts statements from the operator, Coral Expeditions, which has repeatedly told media that initial inspections showed no damage to the hull. The company said comprehensive checks would be conducted once the ship is refloated.
Passengers Repatriated as Refloating Efforts Continue
The cruise line cancelled the remainder of the voyage for its passengers on Monday. On Tuesday, the travellers were due to be flown back to Australia on a chartered flight to Cairns.
Further attempts to free the vessel from the reef were scheduled for Tuesday, with a tug boat dispatched to the scene on Sunday to assist in the operation.
Samson Kua, Papua New Guinea's acting police commissioner, confirmed formal detention orders have been issued. The ship must remain in PNG waters "until all formalities are cleared." Clearance to leave will be granted by the National Maritime Safety Authority once their investigation is complete.
Separate Investigation into Previous Passenger Death
This grounding incident is not the only scrutiny facing the Coral Adventurer. The ship was already under investigation for an unrelated event from a previous voyage in October.
In that case, passenger Suzanne Rees, an 80-year-old from Sydney, died after allegedly being left behind during an excursion on Lizard Island. She was found deceased after a subsequent search.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has also begun an investigation into the cause of the recent grounding. A spokesperson noted that while water ingress was not reported, the extent of any hull damage remains unknown. A preliminary report is expected within two months.
