The Australian cruise ship Coral Adventurer has been formally detained in the waters of Papua New Guinea after running aground on a reef last Saturday. The vessel, carrying 80 passengers and 43 crew, remains stuck approximately 30 kilometres from the city of Lae.
Ship Held Amid Seaworthiness Concerns
Authorities have moved swiftly to restrict the ship's movement. Samson Kua, Papua New Guinea's acting police commissioner, confirmed that formal detention orders were issued to ensure the vessel stays within PNG waters until investigations are complete.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) stated it detained the ship under the Navigation Act 2012. It cited a reasonable suspicion that the vessel is unseaworthy due to potential damage from the grounding and identified failures in its Safety Management System.
This action contrasts with statements from the operator, Coral Expeditions, which has repeatedly told media that initial inspections showed no damage to the hull. The company said comprehensive inspections will follow once the ship is refloated.
Ongoing Efforts and Parallel Probes
Efforts to free the Coral Adventurer are ongoing, with a tugboat dispatched to assist. All passengers were reported safe and were due to be flown back to Cairns, Australia on a chartered flight on Tuesday after the remainder of their tour was cancelled.
Separately, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has begun an investigation into how the grounding occurred. A preliminary report is expected in about two months, barring the discovery of a critical safety issue.
Complicating matters, the Coral Adventurer was already under investigation for a tragic, unrelated incident from a previous voyage. In October, passenger Suzanne Rees, 80, from Sydney, died after allegedly being left behind on an excursion to Lizard Island.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Next Steps
The ship's release is contingent on clearance from the National Maritime Safety Authority of PNG, which is leading the grounding probe. AMSA confirmed it is working closely with PNG authorities, the operator, and the vessel's Classification Society.
This incident places Coral Expeditions under significant scrutiny, facing concurrent investigations into both operational safety and a prior passenger welfare tragedy. The maritime industry will watch closely as the facts behind the Papua New Guinea grounding become clearer in the coming weeks.
