Fresh Crisis Strikes Coral Adventurer After Elderly Passenger Left Behind on Aussie Island

Published on December 28, 2025

By: Tuhin Sarkar

A new crisis has rocked the Coral Adventurer, a cruise ship that was already under scrutiny for the tragic death of an elderly Australian passenger. The ship, operated by Cairns-based Coral Expeditions, has now run aground off the coast of Papua New Guinea, sparking fresh concerns about the safety and management of the vessel. The incident occurred early on Saturday morning, about 30 kilometers off the coast of Lae, near the capital Port Moresby. Around 123 people were onboard, including 80 passengers and 43 crew members. While the Australian Maritime Safety Authority confirmed that everyone is safe, this latest event adds to the growing controversy surrounding the ship, which is still reeling from the fallout of an earlier incident.

The Coral Adventurer struck a reef at approximately 6 AM, resulting in a tense and nerve-wracking situation for all onboard. Despite the immediate rescue response and confirmation that no serious damage was reported, this incident raises serious questions about the safety standards of Coral Expeditions and the ship’s ability to manage critical situations. The cruise, which had departed Cairns on December 18, was scheduled to conclude on December 30. However, it now faces delays and renewed scrutiny, with passengers and their families eager for answers.

The Shadow of Tragedy: A Deadly History for Coral Expeditions

The latest crisis is not the first time Coral Expeditions has been involved in controversy. Just two months ago, the same vessel, the Coral Adventurer, was at the centre of an appalling incident that led to the death of Suzanne Rees, an 80-year-old woman from New South Wales. Ms Rees tragically died after being accidentally left behind on Lizard Island during a stopover. She had been hiking with a group to the summit of the island’s highest peak but became tired and chose to return to the ship. She was later found dead on the island after a disastrous five-hour delay in launching a search for her.

The incident raised serious questions about the vessel’s management, particularly the failure to act quickly when Ms Rees did not return to the ship as planned. Her grieving family, including her daughter Katherine Rees, has demanded accountability. “From the little we have been told, it seems that there was a failure of care and common sense,” said Katherine Rees, reflecting the anguish and frustration felt by the family. The unanswered questions about the cruise line’s response and handling of the situation have made this tragedy even harder to bear for Ms Rees’ loved ones.

A Culture of Safety Oversights: Passengers Left Vulnerable in Critical Moments

The Coral Adventurer’s recent grounding off the coast of Papua New Guinea casts a shadow over the cruise line’s track record in managing safety and providing care for its passengers. The shocking delay in the search for Suzanne Rees two months ago indicates a broader issue within the company regarding safety protocols and passenger welfare. As the ship continues its journey, passengers onboard are likely to feel a sense of unease, knowing that the same vessel has now been involved in two high-profile safety incidents in quick succession.

Coral Expeditions, the company behind the Coral Adventurer, has a responsibility to uphold the highest safety standards, particularly when handling older passengers or those with special needs. The tragic incident involving Ms Rees highlights a serious lapse in this duty of care, and now, the new crisis involving the grounding of the ship further complicates their reputation. As passengers continue to question the safety measures in place, Coral Expeditions must be prepared to answer tough questions about how these incidents were allowed to happen and what measures will be put in place to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

The Ongoing Crisis: Coral Adventurer Strands Passengers Again

As if the fallout from the death of Suzanne Rees wasn’t enough, the Coral Adventurer has found itself in the spotlight once more. The ship ran aground off the coast of Lae, Papua New Guinea, on Saturday morning, with passengers left stranded and facing further uncertainty. Though the Australian Maritime Safety Authority has confirmed that all passengers and crew are safe, the situation has sparked renewed controversy for Coral Expeditions. The cruise line’s spokesman stated that the incident has been reported to authorities and that an initial inspection found no significant damage to the ship. However, the situation remains concerning as passengers are left awaiting the official inspections of the vessel’s hull and the surrounding marine environment.

With passengers unable to disembark and the ship’s scheduled voyage now delayed, Coral Expeditions is once again facing the consequences of mismanagement and a perceived lack of preparedness. This latest event will no doubt fuel public concerns about the cruise line’s ability to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its passengers, especially when things go wrong.

Questions of Accountability: How Did This Happen Again?

As the Coral Adventurer continues to sail through yet another crisis, passengers, families, and the public are demanding answers. How could a ship already involved in a highly publicized tragedy just two months ago find itself in another safety-related disaster? The grounding of the Coral Adventurer raises important questions about the cruise line’s management and preparedness, especially after the serious lapses in care surrounding the tragic death of Suzanne Rees.

Cruise operators are tasked with ensuring the safety of hundreds of passengers, especially when navigating through remote areas like Papua New Guinea, where help may not be immediately available. The public will be watching closely to see how Coral Expeditions handles this latest situation and whether it can demonstrate that lessons have been learned from past mistakes. The company must take immediate steps to assure passengers and their families that their safety will be the top priority moving forward.

A Wake-Up Call for the Cruise Industry: What Needs to Change?

The incidents surrounding the Coral Adventurer serve as a stark reminder of the challenges the cruise industry faces in terms of safety and crisis management. For passengers considering a cruise in the future, the recent controversies surrounding Coral Expeditions may serve as a cautionary tale about the risks of cruising with companies that fail to prioritize passenger welfare. The cruise industry as a whole must take these incidents seriously and ensure that safety measures are consistently reviewed and improved. No passenger should ever have to fear for their life on a cruise, and the Coral Adventurer’s repeated issues are a wake-up call for the industry as a whole.

Conclusion: A Reputation at Risk for Coral Expeditions

Coral Expeditions has now faced two major incidents involving the Coral Adventurer in a matter of months. The tragedy that left Suzanne Rees stranded and the recent grounding of the ship off Papua New Guinea are deeply concerning for the company’s reputation. With passengers already facing uncertainty and frustration, Coral Expeditions must act quickly to ensure that all future voyages are safe and well-managed. As the cruise industry grapples with these concerns, passengers are left to question whether their safety is being taken seriously enough.

DailyMail