Double Disaster: Coral Adventurer Cruise Ship Grounding Incident 2025
The Coral Adventurer cruise ship has run aground in PNG on its first trip since a passenger died after being left on an island. Read about the safety investigation and the company's response.
The anchor was barely up when the hull hit the reef. In a jarring blow to its reputation, an Australian cruise ship currently under investigation for a passenger's death has run aground on its very first voyage back in service.
Coral Adventurer Cruise Ship Grounding Incident off PNG
On December 27, 2025, the Coral Adventurer suffered a grounding incident off the eastern coast of Papua New Guinea. The vessel was located approximately 30km from the city of Lae when it struck the seabed. Coral Expeditions confirmed that all 80 passengers and 43 crew members are safe, and no immediate damage to the hull has been detected.
While the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) didn't receive a formal distress call, they've been monitoring the situation closely. Further inspections are scheduled for December 28 to determine if the vessel can complete its 12-day journey, which was originally set to conclude on December 30.
The Shadow of the Lizard Island Tragedy
The grounding is particularly scrutinized because it follows the death of 80-year-old Suzanne Rees. On October 26, Ms. Rees was left behind on Lizard Island during a group hike. The ship departed without realizing she was missing, only returning hours later. Her body was discovered the following day.
CEO Mark Fifield expressed deep regret and stated the company is working with Queensland Police to support the ongoing under-way investigation. This new mishap in PNG raises significant questions about the cruise line's operational safety protocols during a period of intense regulatory scrutiny.
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