Cruise ship runs aground in Fiji; 30 passengers safely evacuated

Melbourne: Thirty passengers were evacuated from a cruise ship that ran aground on a reef in Fiji, the vessel's owner confirmed on Monday.

The MV Fiji Princess, operated by Blue Lagoon Cruises, ran aground on Saturday near Monuriki Island, the location famously featured in the 2000 Tom Hanks film Cast Away, according to a statement from the Fiji-based tourism company.

“Whilst the investigation is in its early stages, conditions upon the ship anchoring in the area were calm. It appears a severe squall caused the ship's anchor to drag towards a nearby reef, resulting in the vessel becoming grounded,” the statement added.

At first light on Sunday, a ferry was brought alongside the 55.52-metre (182-foot) ship, allowing 30 passengers to disembark with their luggage and belongings. No injuries were reported.

The passengers were transported to Denarau Island.

ALSO READ | ‘It turned from holiday to survival mode’: 800 tourists stranded in remote North Sikkim

Blue Lagoon Cruises confirmed that pumpable fuel and other oils stored onboard had been removed by Monday, reducing the risk of environmental damage.

A salvage specialist from Australia has been on site since Sunday, supervising recovery efforts, the company said.

The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji, the industry regulator, did not respond to requests for comment on Monday.