Australian Cruise Ship Detained In Papua New Guinea After Running Aground On Reef

An Australian-flagged cruise ship, Coral Adventurer, has been detained in Papua New Guinea (PNG) waters after running aground on a reef, leading to investigations by maritime authorities in both PNG and Australia.

The 93.4-metre vessel ran onto a reef near Dregerhafen Point, off PNG’s north coast, at about 5.25 am local time on Saturday.

The area lies around 30 kilometres off Lae, the country’s second-largest city, although some reports place the site about 90 kilometres from the city. At the time, the ship was carrying 80 passengers and 43 crew members.

No injuries were reported and there were no initial signs of water entering the vessel. However, the full extent of any damage is still unknown, as the ship remains stuck on the reef.

PNG’s acting police commissioner, Samson Kua, said the vessel has been formally detained and ordered to stay in PNG waters until all required checks are completed.

He said the National Maritime Safety Authority of Papua New Guinea is investigating the grounding and will issue clearance to the ship’s captain only after all formalities are cleared.

Australia’s Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has also detained the ship under the Navigation Act 2012. AMSA said it has concerns that the vessel may not be seaworthy because of possible damage caused during the grounding.

The authority also raised issues related to how the ship’s Safety Management System was implemented under the International Safety Management Code. AMSA said it is working closely with the ship’s operator, its classification society and PNG maritime authorities.

The ship’s operator, Coral Expeditions, has said initial inspections did not show any damage. The company said more detailed checks of the hull and the surrounding marine environment will be carried out once the vessel is refloated, which it described as standard practice after such incidents.

Attempts to refloat the Coral Adventurer using its own engines were unsuccessful. A tug was sent on Sunday to assist, and further refloating efforts were planned for Tuesday. The vessel has been reported to be leaning about six degrees to port.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has also opened an investigation into the grounding. The bureau has secured data from the ship’s voyage data recorder and is collecting information such as ship tracking data, weather conditions, and crew and maintenance records.

ATSB investigators plan to visit the vessel when possible. A preliminary report is expected in about two months, unless a serious safety issue is identified sooner.

Passengers were due to return to Australia on Tuesday on a chartered flight to Cairns, and Coral Expeditions confirmed the remainder of the cruise was cancelled on Monday.

PNG authorities are also checking the reef near Dregerhafen Point for possible environmental damage, following reports that the vessel encountered strong sea currents while travelling towards Madang Province and the Sepik River.

The Coral Adventurer is already under investigation over a separate, unrelated case. Australian authorities are examining the death of 80-year-old Sydney passenger Suzanne Rees, who was found dead on Lizard Island in October after allegedly being left behind during an excursion on the Great Barrier Reef.

Australian authorities said no distress call was received from the vessel but confirmed they are monitoring the situation and are ready to assist PNG authorities if needed.

Reference: The Guardian

Source: Maritime Shipping News