Cruise Ship Hits Reef on First Trip After Passenger Left Behind
A cruise ship ran aground in Papua New Guinea just weeks after a passenger death sparked investigations, raising fresh safety concerns at sea.
A cruise ship has run aground in Papua New Guinea (PNG), on its first voyage since the death of an elderly passenger in late October.
The Coral Adventurer ship is currently under investigation following the death of 80-year-old Suzanne Rees, who died after being left behind on a remote Australian island.
A spokesperson for the ship said that on Saturday, the vessel "ran aground" near the city of Lae, approximately 30 km (18 miles) off the eastern coast of Papua New Guinea.
All passengers and crew members on board the cruise ship are reported safe, and initial inspections have revealed no damage to the hull. Further inspections will be conducted on Sunday.
A spokesperson for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said they had not received any emergency calls from the Coral Adventurer.
They also stated that they are monitoring the situation and will provide support to PNG authorities if needed.
No decision has been made regarding the current 12-day voyage, which was scheduled to end on December 30.
At the time of the incident, the ship had 80 passengers and 43 crew members on board. The 12-day voyage was scheduled to end on December 30.
The Coral Adventurer is currently the subject of a joint investigation by AMSA and Queensland Police following the death of 80-year-old passenger Suzanne Rees, whose body was found on on October 26.
Suzanne Rees was hiking on the island with fellow passengers but separated from the group to rest.
Software Services
 |
All-in-one casino solution ready to launch — talk to our experts now |
The ship departed without her and returned several hours later when the crew realized the woman was missing.
Her body was found the following day during a large-scale search operation.
At the time of Suzanne Rees's death, the ship was only two days into a 60-day voyage. The remainder of the cruise was cancelled, and all passengers received a full refund. Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield said the company was "deeply saddened by this incident" and had offered the Rees family its full support.
Fifield added that the cruise operator was "cooperating with Queensland Police and other authorities in their investigation." AMSA declined to comment on the status of the investigation, stating that it "does not comment on the findings of its investigations."
Thank you for reading this content.
Thank you for reading this content.
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
