By ABC News national tourism reporter Kristy Sexton-McGrath, Rosanne Maloney, and Conor Byrne
The Coral Adventurer has capacity for 120 guests and 46 crew. Photo: Facebook / Coral Expeditions
A luxury cruise ship that allegedly left a woman behind on a remote Far North Queensland island had been struggling with mechanical problems in the lead-up to the fatal incident, the ABC has been told.
The Coral Adventurer's 60-night circumnavigation of Australia, during which 80-year-old grandmother Suzanne Rees died on Lizard Island, had been due to depart Cairns on 17 October, but was delayed by a week.
A source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the ABC the ship "had big problems" before the journey began.
"The reason why they were a week late to depart was because there was something wrong with the engine," they said.
"And then it happened again on the trip after the poor lady died."
Rees was found dead on Lizard Island on Sunday 25 October after embarking on an escorted hike to the island's lookout the previous day. Her family said they were told she had felt unwell and turned back without anyone to assist her.
Witnesses report that the Coral Adventurer left the island on Saturday evening before returning late that night to conduct a search after Rees was found to be missing.
After Rees's body was recovered by rescue services the ship continued its journey north and anchored in the Torres Strait late last week.
But the ship encountered further mechanical problems and passengers and some crew were flown to the mainland by charter aircraft from Horn Island late last week.
Coral Expeditions has confirmed the voyage was cancelled following Rees's death and the mechanical problems.
The company said passengers would receive a full refund and that arrangements had been made for their return journeys.
"The Coral team prides itself on delivering high-quality experiences to our guests. It was increasingly apparent given the circumstances of the last week that we could not deliver on this promise," it said in a statement.
Officials from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) are expected to board the 95-metre vessel when it reaches port.
The ship is steaming south towards Cairns, though it is unclear if it will dock in the tropical city.
Ports North, which manages the region's ports, says its berths are full.
Day of the incident
The Cairns-based Coral Expeditions, which is owned by the NRMA, runs a fleet of three small ships: the Coral Adventurer, the Coral Geographer, and the Coral Discoverer.
On the day of the incident, 25 October, the Coral Adventurer was on its first stopover of the 60-day trip, which cost passengers tens of thousands of dollars.
Rees, a retired accountant and avid bushwalker, joined a tender from the ship and joined a guided walk to the island's highest point, Cook's Look.
The Sydney grandmother's family said they had been told by police that it was a very hot day and that Rees felt ill while on the climb and was asked to head back down by herself.
The alarm was only raised when she failed to appear for dinner.
A search of the ship, which has capacity for 120 guests and 46 crew, was conducted before Rees was reporting missing to AMSA's Joint Rescue Coordination Centre at about 10pm.
Her body was discovered ashore the next day and her family have called for a coronial inquest into her death.
"From the little we have been told, it seems that there was a failure of care and common sense," daughter Katherine Rees said.
"The ship left, apparently without doing a passenger count.
"Mum died alone."
In a statement AMSA said it was also investigating and would examine why Ms Rees may not have been accounted for during boarding.
The regulator said it would assess any noncompliance and take any necessary action.
Operators of commercial passenger vessels are required to have procedures to monitor passengers, including head counts, so no-one is left behind.
- ABC News
