MV Coral Adventurer refloated, 83 passengers airlifted out of Lae
The grounded Australian-registered cruise vessel MV Coral Adventurer has been successfully salvaged and refloated following a coordinated multi-agency operation at Dregerhafen Point in Morobe’s Finschhafen District.
The salvage operation was completed yesterday with assistance from Pacific Towing tugboats, while the Lae Water Police maintained maritime and land security throughout the operation.
Morobe Provincial Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Samson Siguyaru, said Water Police officers were deployed to escort the Lutheran Shipping vessel MV Ialibu from Lae to the grounded ship and to assist with the safe disembarkation of passengers.
Passengers were transferred from MV Coral Adventurer onto MV Ialibu and escorted back to Lae, arriving at approximately 2:30pm.
Chief Superintendent Siguyaru said MV Ialibu was chartered by the vessel’s Australian owner, Coral Expeditions.
“A total of 83 passengers were safely transferred from the grounded vessel and brought back to Lae under the strong security presence of my Water Police officers,” he said.
He said 78 of the passengers were international tourists, while the remaining five included a female PNG Customs officer, a male PNG shipping agent based in Madang, and three off-duty crew members of MV Coral Adventurer who were due for end-of-year leave.
Upon berthing at the Lutheran Shipping wharf at Voco Point, passengers were formally received by the Provincial Police Commander, officials from the National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA), Customs, NACIA, and Immigration officers, with Water Police securing the area.
Buses provided by Guard Dog Security, arranged through the Australian High Commission, transported passengers in a convoy under police escort to Nadzab Tomodachi International Airport, arriving at about 4:00pm.
Advanced customs clearance had been facilitated earlier by the Australian High Commission, allowing passengers to proceed directly to check-in and onward boarding.
The group later departed Lae for Port Moresby, transiting onward to their respective home countries.
Speaking to NBC News, one passenger who wished to remain anonymous said she enjoyed her time in Papua New Guinea, describing the people as friendly, and thanked the Lae Water Police for maintaining security and order until their safe arrival at Nadzab airport.
Chief Superintendent Siguyaru also confirmed that five international tourists chose to remain in Lae to continue their festive season holiday.
Meanwhile, Lae Water Police officers remain on board MV Coral Adventurer, which is now afloat in Finschhafen waters, providing security for the 40 crew members still on board as they await completion of formal clearance procedures by the NMSA before being cleared to depart.
