Passengers aboard the luxury cruise liner Coral Adventurer have returned with starkly differing tales of their ordeal, after the vessel ran aground on a reef off the coast of Papua New Guinea. The incident, which occurred last Saturday, has left some travellers vowing never to sail with the operator again, while others have shrugged it off as a minor disruption.
Chaos and Calm: Passenger Accounts Diverge
Speaking to the ABC upon her return via Cairns airport on Tuesday, passenger Ursula Daus described a scene of "chaos" and said she felt her life was in "danger" during the grounding. She stated emphatically that she would "never, ever again" travel with Coral Expeditions, the Cairns-based company that operates the ship.
In sharp contrast, fellow passenger Marilyn Walter played down the event, telling the ABC the grounding was "just a little jar, that's all." She added, "We had a wonderful time," highlighting the vastly different perceptions among those onboard. The ship was carrying 80 passengers and 43 crew at the time; fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Investigation and Aftermath of the Grounding
The Coral Adventurer grounded on Saturday off the east coast of Papua New Guinea, approximately 90km from the city of Lae. It was successfully refloated on Tuesday with tug assistance. However, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) subsequently detained the vessel over concerns it might be unseaworthy due to potential hull damage.
A spokesperson for Coral Expeditions said the ship is now at anchor and that initial inspections by divers "found no significant damage to the vessel’s hull." Further assessments are ongoing. The company has cancelled the voyage and repatriated all passengers and non-essential crew, offering refunds or future travel credits.
This incident follows a separate tragedy under investigation from the ship's previous voyage, where 80-year-old passenger Suzanne Rees from Sydney died after allegedly being left behind on Lizard Island during an excursion in October.
Ongoing Scrutiny and Company Response
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has launched an investigation into the grounding. A preliminary report is expected within two months, unless a critical safety issue is identified sooner. Coral Expeditions has expressed regret for the incident, stating: "Coral Expeditions sincerely regrets the grounding of its vessel and apologises to our passengers for the disruption they experienced."
The company confirmed it will assist local authorities with their investigations once the vessel travels to Cairns. The conflicting passenger accounts underscore the unpredictable nature of such maritime incidents and their varying impact on travellers.
