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Cruise ship will not return to service after grounding
The 'Fiji Princess', which had been part of Blue Lagoon Cruises’ fleet for over 22 years, will be retired after its grounding on April 4 in the northern Mamanuca Islands amid inclement weather. Sfter assessing the vessel following the initial recovery efforts, zthe company has decided to remove the ship from service. Impacted guests were being contacted and offered alternative travel options. The retirement comes two weeks ahead of the debut of the 'Yasawa Princess II', Blue Lagoon Cruises’ newest ship on April 27, which can accommodate up to 44 passengers.
Cruise ship ran aground
The ' Fiji Princess' ran aground on a reef off Fiji on April 4, 2026, in windy weather in pos. 17° 36' S 177° 03' E. All 30 passengers and 17 of its 31 crew members were taken off the vessel the same day with a ferry, which came alongside at first light. The passengers and their luggage were transported to Denarau Island. There have been no injuries reported. The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (Msaf) said its officers have arrived to assess the ship. Initial checks confirmed that the vessel has suffered serious damage to its rear at port side, including the area where the steering equipment is located. Part of the vessel underneath has also been damaged. The vessel also experienced an engine failure and was taking in water following the grounding. Due to rough seas and strong waves, officers were unable to safely inspect the vessel underwater at the time. The main priority on April 6 was to reduce the risk of pollution. The pumpable fuel as well as other oils stored onboard the ship were been removed on April 6 by the landing craft 'Krishnan' (IMO: 8994752), which went alongside, thus diminishing environmental risks. The vessel was carrying about 23 tons of diesel fuel. The authorities had taken oil spill equipment to the area as a precaution. At the time of inspection, there were no signs that the fuel tanks had been damaged. Salvage teams were working to remove the fuel and oil from the vessel, with the assistance of a salvage specialist from Australia. Once the weather improved, further work would begin to recover the vessel safely. The Msaf continued to work closely with the vessel operator and all response teams. Monuriki Island, about 45km west of the city of Nadi, was the filming location for the 2000 film Cast Away. It is part of the Mamanuca Island chain, on which the US version of reality show Survivor has been filmed since 2016. The evacuated passengers and crew members were taken back to Port Denarau. The remaining crew were aiding salvage efforts, and were being berthed on Fiji Princess’s sister ship, the 'Cougar', for safety reasons. When the ship anchored, the area was calm, and a strong gust of wind pushed the ship's anchor toward a nearby reef. A salvage specialist from Australia has been on the scene since April 5, overseeing recovery efforts, which were due to start once the weather conditions have improved. Reports with photos: https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/fiji-cruise-stranded/106533888 https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/fuel-removal-underway-from-grounded-fiji-princess-msaf/ https://www.9news.com.au/world/30-passengers-evacuate-after-cruise-ship-runs-aground-on-reef-in-fiji/f2a198db-0858-426b-8b62-4866b768df91 https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/msaf-monitors-grounded-passenger-vessel/ https://fijisun.com.fj/news/shipping/fuel-removed-from-grounded-vessel-as-recovery-efforts-continue
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