Australian cruise ship the Coral Adventurer has run aground off the coast of Papua New Guinea with more than 120 people aboard, two months after the death of a passenger allegedly left behind on a Great Barrier Reef island.<\/p>\n
The ship ran aground early on Saturday morning about 30 kilometres from PNG’s second-largest city, Lae, in Morobe Province, however the vessel’s operator says its 80 passengers and 43 crew members were not injured.<\/p>\n
“All passengers and crew are safe,” a spokesperson for Coral Expeditions said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“An initial inspection indicates no damage to the vessel.<\/p>\n
“The incident has been reported to authorities and will undergo further official inspections to the hull and marine environment as a standard procedure.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Coral Expeditions says all passengers and crew are safe after its ship ran aground off the coast of PNG. (ABC News: Conor Byrne)<\/p>\n
It is understood local authorities are inspecting the vessel and working with Coral Expeditions to refloat it.<\/p>\n
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said it did not receive a distress call from the Coral Adventurer but was aware it had run aground.<\/p>\n
“AMSA is currently monitoring the situation and is ready to support PNG authorities if requested,” a spokesperson said in a written statement.<\/p>\n
PNG’s national broadcaster NBC reported on Sunday<\/a> that police in Morobe confirmed the Coral Adventurer was grounded en route to Madang Province and the Sepik River after it encountered strong sea currents.<\/p>\n Authorities will inspect for damage to coral reefs at Dreghafen Point, where the ship ran aground, according to NBC.<\/p>\n Ship on regulator’s radar after 80yo’s death<\/p>\n