Coral-Adventurer

The 'Coral Adventurer' was met by Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) investigators in Cairns on Nov 4, after the vessel anchored one mile off the coast of Yorkeys Knob. AMSA officers wearing high-visibility gear were seen boarding a tender bound for the ship about 9.30 a.m., while another man was ferried out to the vessel on Nov 5. The police and AMSA were investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Suzanne Rees, 80, on Oct 25, after she became separated from her tour group during a hike on Lizard Island. The ship had left the Coconut Bay at 3.40 p.m. without her, and crew only realised she was missing when she didn’t appear at dinner. The alarm was raised around 10 p.m. Believing she may have fallen overboard, the 'Coral Adventurer' returned, and search teams scoured the island by torchlight. Her body was found at first light on Oct 26, about 50 metres from the trail. The company confirmed it is co-operating with the authorities but declined to identify the representative who boarded the ship or comment on the progress of the investigation. The ship’s departure was allegedly delayed a week due to engine problems, leaving the crew understaffed and struggling to manage passenger excursions safely. The company said that staffing levels on the ship and for the Lizard Island walk were entirely consistent with previous cruises and in line with regulatory and operational requirements. The Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators said the operator had a strong safety record. The AMSA has issued a notice to the master of the 'Coral Adventurer' prohibiting the embarkation of any new passenger. Report with photos: https://au.news.yahoo.com/investigators-board-cruise-ship-death-054631752.html

On the afternoon of Nov 3, the 'Coral Adventurer' dropped anchor in pos. 16° 46' S 145° 44' Eoff Cairns, and investigators from four government agencies boarded the ship, where the crew was interrogated over how they failed to notice Suzanne Rees, 80, had not re-boarded after a stop at Lizard Island. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has ordered the ship into lockdown. The cruise, operated by Coral Expeditions, was on the first stop of its 60-day itinerary when passengers were let off onto Lizard Island, a couple of hundred miles up the coast from Cairns. Suzanne Rees, a keen walker from Sydney, embarked on a hike to the island’s summit with a group of other passengers but became separated. She fell ill during the climb and was asked to turn back alone, according to her daughter Katherine Rees. The ship set sail again without anybody noticing she was missing, and apparently without doing a passenger count. At some stage in that sequence, or shortly after, Rees died. By the time the ship’s crew noticed she was missing that evening, it was already back at sea. The ship turned around and arrived back to the island on Oct 26 at around 2 a.m., and Coral Expeditions cancelled the rest of the cruise, citing the “tragic” death and previous mechanical issues. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority issued a notice to the master of the 'Coral Adventurer' prohibiting the embarkation of any new passengers. Reports with photos: https://7news.com.au/news/coral-adventurer-cruise-passengers-shock-at-death-of-suzanne-rees-80-as-ship-docks-in-cairns-c-20580267 https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/37209790/investigators-board-cruise-left-elderly-tourist-island/