Passengers Airlifted From Coral Adventurer After Ship Grounds Off Papua New Guinea, Flights Scheduled For Swift Return To Australia

Published on December 30, 2025

Passengers have been successfully airlifted from the Coral Adventurer after the vessel ran aground off the coast of Papua New Guinea, leading to an urgent evacuation response. The ship’s grounding created a tense situation for those onboard, but swift action was taken to ensure their safety. Flights have been arranged to transport the passengers back to Australia without delay, prioritizing their return home and minimizing further disruption. The situation has been handled with efficiency, as authorities and the airline work to ensure a smooth and safe journey for all affected travelers.

The Australian-registered Coral Adventurer, which was carrying 80 passengers and 43 crew members, struck a reef off the Finschaffen Coast, located to the east of Lae in Papua New Guinea, early on Saturday morning. The incident occurred as the vessel navigated the waters of the South Pacific, a region known for its delicate marine ecosystems. Despite the severity of the collision, it was reported that no injuries were sustained by any of the passengers or crew aboard the ship.

As a direct result of the grounding, the cruise was cut short, with plans to fly the passengers out of Papua New Guinea on a chartered flight. The grounding of the ship led to significant disruptions, as the planned itinerary had to be abandoned, and the passengers were left with limited time to rebook their return travel.

This mishap with the Coral Adventurer comes only a few months after another unfortunate incident involving the same vessel. On October 25, the ship had been involved in a tragic situation in far north Queensland, at Lizard Island, when an elderly female passenger lost her life after allegedly being left behind by the crew. The incident raised serious concerns about the vessel’s operational procedures and its handling of passenger safety. The tragic event prompted a series of investigations to determine the exact causes and ensure that similar situations do not occur in the future.

Following the recent grounding in Papua New Guinea, an investigation has been launched to determine the causes behind the incident. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is leading the investigation, supported by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). Their primary goal is to establish the factors that led to the vessel’s grounding and to examine whether safety protocols were properly followed. Additionally, they will assess any environmental impacts of the incident, especially considering the region’s ecologically sensitive coral reefs.

The vessel’s operators, Coral Expeditions, which is owned by NRMA, have taken immediate steps to resolve the situation. A towage provider has been contracted to assist in refloating the ship, and efforts were ongoing as of Monday. The company is working closely with marine experts to ensure the vessel is safely extricated from the reef without causing further damage to the vessel or the surrounding marine environment.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has also been involved in ensuring the safety of the crew and passengers during this incident. They are assisting with the investigation and have been working to ensure that the necessary safety measures are followed. In addition, AMSA is reviewing the vessel’s compliance with maritime safety regulations and will work to ensure that the incident does not lead to any long-term damage to the local ecosystem.

The Coral Adventurer’s voyage data recorder has been secured as part of the investigation process. This piece of equipment will provide crucial insights into the circumstances leading up to the grounding. Investigators are currently collecting ship tracking data, weather conditions at the time of the incident, as well as the records of the crew, the operator, and any maintenance history related to the vessel. These records will help establish whether there were any operational issues or external factors that contributed to the incident.

According to a spokesperson for Coral Expeditions, initial inspections of the Coral Adventurer indicated that no visible damage was sustained by the vessel following the grounding. However, they emphasized that further inspections would be conducted once the vessel has been refloated and returned to a safe location. The company has committed to conducting a thorough investigation into the incident and ensuring that any lessons learned are applied to prevent similar accidents in the future.

As the grounding occurred in a remote location, the ship’s operators are also making arrangements to ensure the safe repatriation of all passengers. It was confirmed that no injuries were reported, and all passengers are to be flown back to Australia on a chartered flight, minimizing any further disruption to their travel plans. These arrangements are expected to be carried out smoothly, though the early termination of the cruise left many passengers disappointed.

In addition to the grounding incident, the earlier mishap at Lizard Island has drawn attention to safety protocols aboard the Coral Adventurer. Reports suggest that the elderly passenger who tragically passed away on Lizard Island had been hiking with other passengers before feeling unwell and separating from the group. The company has yet to comment in detail on the circumstances surrounding that event, though it is likely that this earlier incident will be factored into the ongoing investigations.

Both incidents have raised questions about the safety standards on board the vessel, the operational procedures of Coral Expeditions, and the ability of the ship’s crew to handle emergencies. While the company has reiterated that it is committed to ensuring the safety of its passengers, these incidents have led to increased scrutiny of its safety practices and crisis management protocols.

Passengers have been airlifted from the Coral Adventurer after it ran aground off Papua New Guinea, with flights now scheduled for their swift return to Australia to ensure their safe journey home.

The grounding of the Coral Adventurer off the coast of Papua New Guinea serves as a reminder of the risks faced by cruise vessels navigating in ecologically sensitive areas. It underscores the importance of ensuring strict adherence to safety protocols, particularly when navigating areas with delicate ecosystems such as coral reefs, which are vulnerable to damage from maritime accidents. The ongoing investigations and safety reviews will provide valuable information for improving safety measures across the cruise industry, ensuring that future voyages are carried out with greater precaution and care.