A cruise ship incident led to the rescue of numerous passengers stranded on a secluded island after the vessel collided with a reef and became immobile.
The Fiji Princess, managed by Blue Lagoon, found itself stuck near Monuriki Island, famous for its role in the film Cast Away starring Tom Hanks. Around 30 passengers were safely evacuated along with their belongings the day after the ship hit the reef.
A ferry transported the passengers to safety early in the morning before transferring them, along with 30 crew members, to Port Denarau.
According to the Fiji Navy as reported by ABC News, all passengers were successfully rescued and relocated to Port Denarau. There were no injuries reported, and everyone was accounted for.
Blue Lagoon Cruises stated that an investigation is underway, with initial findings pointing to a severe squall that caused the ship’s anchor to drift towards the nearby reef, resulting in the grounding.
The company confirmed the removal of any pumpable fuel or oil onboard to minimize the risk of an environmental catastrophe. Additionally, an Australian salvage expert had been present since the incident to oversee the recovery operations.
The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (Msaf) dispatched officers for an assessment, revealing significant damage to the vessel’s rear left side, including the steering equipment area. The ship also suffered engine failure and was taking on water after the grounding, although underwater inspections were hindered by rough sea conditions.
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