Overview
- The Australian‑flagged Coral Adventurer struck a reef near Dregerhafen Point east of Lae on December 27 and remains grounded with a reported six‑degree list to port.
- Initial refloat attempts using the ship’s engines failed and a tug also could not free the vessel, with a larger tow set to try again as conditions allow.
- All 80 passengers and 43–44 crew were reported safe; guests have disembarked to PNG and are being repatriated on charter flights to Cairns after the voyage was canceled.
- AMSA detained the vessel on reasonable suspicion it is not seaworthy and for potential Safety Management System failures, while the ATSB opened a grounding investigation and quarantined the voyage data recorder.
- Early checks indicated no injuries, no water ingress and no obvious hull or pollution damage, with full hull and environmental inspections to follow once refloat and safe boarding are possible; local officials noted the route is known for high reefs.