PNG Authorities Confirm No Injuries After MV Coral Adventurer Runs Aground in Morobe

PNG maritime authorities have confirmed that no passengers or crew were injured after the Australian-registered passenger vessel MV Coral Adventurer ran aground on a coral reef near Finschhafen in Morobe Province early Saturday morning.

The incident occurred at around 5.25am on December 27 while the vessel was operating within PNG waters, prompting an alert to the PNG Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre shortly after sunrise through its Australian counterpart.

 PNG Authorities Confirm No Injuries After MV Coral Adventurer Runs Aground in Morobe [Photo by PNGNMSA]

Communication was immediately established with the ship’s master, and authorities later confirmed that all 124 people on board — including 80 passengers and 44 crew — were safe and in good health.

Initial inspections carried out by the National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA) found no damage to the vessel’s hull, no water ingress, and no oil spill or pollution in the surrounding marine area. The ship’s machinery and anchoring systems were also found to be functioning normally.

NMSA officers, together with the Provincial Disaster Office and Water Police, boarded the vessel later on Saturday to carry out formal checks and begin investigations into how the grounding occurred.

A natural refloating attempt during high tide using the vessel’s engines was unsuccessful, leading authorities to engage Pacific Towing to assist with salvage operations. A tugboat was dispatched from Lae Port early Sunday morning.

As part of ongoing investigations, NMSA issued a detention order against the vessel’s master, preventing the ship from leaving the area while a Port State Control inspection and further inquiries are completed. The PNG Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre continues to monitor the situation in coordination with Australian authorities, while passengers are expected to fly home.

“Our investigations so far confirm that the immediate risks were well managed, and the safety of passengers, crew and the marine environment remains our top priority,” said NMSA Chief Executive Officer Paul Unas.