Lae: The Australian cruise ship Coral Adventurer has run aground after hitting a reef off the coast of Papua New Guinea, carrying 123 people onboard. The incident took place early on Saturday morning, about 30 kilometers from Lae, the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea, located in Morobe province.

According to Anadolu Agency, the operator of the ship confirmed that none of the 80 passengers or the 43 crew members sustained any injuries. "All passengers and crew are safe," a spokesperson for Coral Expeditions mentioned in a statement. An initial inspection of the vessel showed no damage, and the occurrence has been duly reported to authorities for further official inspections of the hull and marine environment.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) reported that it did not receive a distress signal from the Coral Adventurer but acknowledged awareness of the ship running aground. "AMSA is currently monitoring the situation and is ready to support Papua New Guinea authorities if requested," a spokesperson stated.

The Coral Adventurer is also under scrutiny by AMSA and Queensland Police following an earlier incident involving the death of an 80-year-old passenger, Suzanne Rees. Rees was found dead on Lizard Island on October 26, after separating from a hiking group for a rest. The ship continued its journey without her, only to return and find her missing hours later. Her body was discovered the next day. The cruise, which was intended to last 60 days, was cancelled following Rees's death, just two days into the voyage.