Melbourne, Australia — Thirty passengers rescued from a cruise ship stranded on a reef fijithe ship’s owner said on Monday.
The MV Fiji Princess, operated by Blue Lagoon Cruises, ran aground near Monuriki Island on Saturday, a scene from the 2000 film Tom Hanks “ cast away” the Fiji-based tourism company said in a statement.
“The investigation is still in its early stages, but the area where the ship was anchored was calm and it appears that the severe storm caused the ship’s anchor to be pulled towards a nearby reef, causing the ship to run aground,” the statement said.
At first light on Sunday a ferry brought in the 55.52-metre (182-foot) vessel and 30 passengers disembarked with their luggage and luggage. No one was injured.
The passengers were taken to Denarau Island.
Blue Lagoon Cruises said pumpable fuel as well as other oil stored on the ship had been removed by Monday, reducing environmental risks.
An Australian rescue expert has been at the scene since Sunday monitoring recovery efforts, the statement said.
Industry regulator Fiji’s Maritime Safety Authority did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.
