Overview
- The Australian-flagged vessel struck a reef about 30 kilometres from Lae on December 27 with 80 passengers and 43 crew aboard.
- The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has launched an investigation, quarantined the voyage data recorder and begun collecting tracking, weather and maintenance records.
- Efforts to refloat the ship using its own engines were unsuccessful, towage has been engaged, the vessel is heeled about 6 degrees to port and no water ingress is reported.
- Papua New Guinea’s rescue coordination centre has boarded to assist and plan reef and hull inspections, while AMSA is monitoring and says no distress call was received.
- Coral Expeditions says an initial check found no obvious damage to the ship, and the operator remains under scrutiny following the October death of passenger Suzanne Rees.