Cruise ship in limbo off Cairns following grandmother's island death
A luxury cruise vessel faces an uncertain future as maritime authorities maintain their silence over the death of a passenger left behind on a remote island.
The cruise ship involved in the death of a grandmother at Lizard Island is in limbo as it remains anchored in waters off the coast of Cairns northern beaches.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority investigators boarded the Coral Adventurer from Yorkeys Knob boat club after it returned on Tuesday November 4.
Sydney grandmother Suzanne Rees, 80, was found dead on Lizard Island after a missed headcount on October 25.
What was planned as a 60-day cruise was cancelled by Coral Expeditions following the “tragic” death of Ms Rees and the Coral Adventurer having mechanical issues.
A Coral Expeditions spokesperson said now its schedule was under review.
“Coral Expeditions continues to provide its full support to the ongoing investigations,” he said.
“This includes making crew, staff and passengers available for interview, and we continue to work through these processes.
“The Coral Adventurer’s schedule remains under review while the investigations are ongoing.”
An inside source has suggested that the 60-night Coral Adventurer trip was delayed a week after engine problems, and believed that crew could have been “understaffed” for excursions.
AMSA remain tight-lipped about the investigation with a spokeswoman declining to comment.
“We’re not providing further comments or details about this incident at this stage,” she said.
Originally published as Cruise ship in limbo off Cairns following grandmother's island death
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