dailyloe.com – A Fijian cruise ship ran aground on a reef near Monuriki Island on Saturday. The incident involved the vessel Fiji Princess during a seven-day cruise. All passengers were safely rescued according to official reports.
The ship hit the reef near the island famous for the film ‘Cast Away’. Monuriki Island gained informal fame from the 2000 Tom Hanks movie. Videos on social media showed the 55-meter vessel stuck near shore.
Thirty passengers and approximately thirty crew were onboard at the time. A government spokesperson confirmed all passengers were transported to Port Denarau. This port is located on Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu.
Fiji Navy sources stated all individuals were safely rescued on Saturday. They were moved to Denarau following the grounding incident. No injuries were reported from the marine accident.
The ship remained stuck on the reef according to local reports. Blue Lagoon Cruises, the operator, did not respond to comment requests. The company is now working on salvage and recovery operations.
It remains unclear whether any Australians were among the passengers. The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji is preparing an official report. This investigation will detail the circumstances of the grounding.[]
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
