The 93-meter expedition cruise ship Coral Adventurer grounded on a reef near Nussing Island, Papua New Guinea, on December 27, 2025, after a sequence of events triggered by an electronic navigation system adjustment. According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), the ship’s chief mate modified a pre-planned approach route in the vessel’s Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) to smooth a turn.
This seemingly minor change invalidated the system’s route safety verification, preventing the activation of the new path. As the vessel neared the harbor entrance at Dregerhafen, the chief mate attempted to load the route, but the system refused to engage until a safety check was completed. The resulting distraction caused the vessel to sail past the critical wheel-over point.
Realizing the error, the officer switched to manual steering and commanded the Azipull thrusters for an emergency maneuver. Unfortunately, the ship struck a reef at approximately 8.5 knots, resulting in hull indentation and structural damage. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the complexities involved in modern bridge technology and the importance of verifying digital charts well before reaching critical navigation points.