Coral Adventurer Cruise Ship Stranded After Previous Passenger Death

Cruise Ship's Latest Misfortune: Grounded on PNG Reef

The Coral Adventurer, an Australian expedition cruise ship already under investigation for the death of a passenger left behind on an island in October, has now run aground on a coral reef off Papua New Guinea's coast. The vessel, operated by Coral Expeditions, became stranded near Finschhafen, approximately 90 kilometers from Lae, in the early hours of December 28, 2025.

According to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), the ship was carrying 80 passengers and 43 crew members when it struck the reef around 5:30 AM local time. 'We were woken by a loud bang and the ship shuddering,' reported German tourist Ursula Daus, who was aboard the vessel. 'It was terrifying - we thought we might be sinking.'

Failed Rescue Attempts and Passenger Evacuation

Initial attempts to free the vessel using its own engines proved unsuccessful. A tugboat was dispatched but also failed to dislodge the 93-meter ship from the reef. The Coral Adventurer remains tilted approximately six degrees to port, though authorities confirm no hull damage or environmental pollution has occurred.

All passengers have been safely evacuated via boat transfer to Lae, where they boarded charter flights back to Cairns, Australia. 'The evacuation was chaotic but ultimately successful,' said Papua New Guinea's National Maritime Safety Authority spokesperson. 'Thankfully, no injuries were reported among passengers or crew.'

Investigations and Seaworthiness Concerns

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has launched a safety investigation into the grounding incident. Meanwhile, AMSA has detained the vessel over concerns about its seaworthiness, citing suspicions that the ship may not be fit for sailing due to potential damage from the grounding.

'We have detained the Coral Adventurer on suspicion it is not seaworthy,' stated an AMSA representative. 'There appear to be failures in the vessel's Safety Management System that require thorough investigation.'

Previous Tragedy: The Suzanne Rees Incident

This latest incident follows a separate tragedy involving the same vessel. In October 2025, 80-year-old passenger Suzanne Rees was left behind on Lizard Island during a shore excursion and was later found dead. Her daughter, Katherine Rees, described the incident as 'a failure of care and common sense.'

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating both incidents, raising serious questions about Coral Expeditions' safety protocols. The cruise company had recently cancelled a 60-day voyage due to mechanical issues, adding to its operational challenges.

Industry Implications and Future Outlook

Tourism experts express concern about the cumulative impact of these incidents on Australia's cruise industry. 'This represents a significant blow to confidence in expedition cruising,' noted David Beirman, tourism expert at University of Technology Sydney. 'When multiple serious incidents occur with the same operator in quick succession, it suggests systemic issues that need addressing.'

Coral Expeditions maintains that initial inspections show no damage to the grounded vessel and is cooperating fully with authorities. The company faces mounting pressure to review its safety procedures as investigations continue into both the grounding and the previous passenger death.

For more information on the Suzanne Rees incident, see the Wikipedia entry. Additional details on the grounding investigation can be found through the ABC News report.