One two-month journey through the Australian Coast is being halted following the death of an elderly woman who was stranded by the vessel on a distant tropical isle.
The elderly woman had been trekking on Lizard Island with other travelers from the Coral Adventurer, but parted ways from the party for a break. The vessel departed without her and came back later that day after the personnel discovered the woman was unaccounted for.
An extensive rescue mission found her body the following day.
Officials are examining the tragedy, alongside police and the official investigator.
The CEO of the shipping company said that guests and personnel on the ship were informed that the rest of the voyage had been called off due to the "sad loss and earlier mechanical issues".
In a statement, he added that travelers would be issued a complete reimbursement, and said the organization was working "to organize the return journeys of the travelers via specially arranged planes".
Regulatory bodies also released an updated announcement, and said they had "delivered a directive to the Commander" prohibiting any further travelers from boarding the vessel.
The official said that they would inspect the ship in the port city upon its arrival.
The ship initially left the coastal city on 24 October, and was just two days into the expedition at the time of the elderly woman's death. The remote island was the opening port on the itinerary.
Passengers on the ship - who usually pay substantial amounts of dollars to join the cruise - were transported there for a day trip with the possibility of walking or snorkeling.
The offspring of the victim said that her family was "surprised and grieved that the vessel left Lizard Island after an planned excursion without my mother".
In her statement, she described her parent as an "active elderly person" who was a member of a walking club.
"From the little information we have been told, it appears that there was a lapse of care and common sense," she mentioned.
She further stated that she hoped the investigation would be able to determine what "the company should have performed that might have saved Mother's being".
"We understand from the police that it was a extremely warm day, and mum took sick on the hill climb," she revealed.
"She was asked her to return, alone. Then the vessel left, apparently without performing a headcount.
"During some point in that sequence, or shortly after, mum passed away, without company."
Via official communication, the CEO verified that the company was "cooperating fully with officials to aid their examination".
He mentioned that the organization was "deeply sorry that this has occurred" and had extended its complete assistance to the loved ones.
The ship caters for up to a hundred twenty travelers with forty-six crew, according to official details. It was purpose-built to access remote areas of the Australian shoreline and is equipped with "small boats" - compact vessels used to ferry travelers on land visits.
Incidents like this are uncommon, and passenger vessels have systems to track which individuals are embarking or getting off, according to maritime specialists.
"Leaving covertly or [back] on the ship really isn't an choice," one expert stated.
Shipping companies take these processes with great importance and have "advanced technology in place to stop such incidents from taking place," the expert further stated.
"This appears to be presumably a shocking - and unfortunate - one-off."
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