Fiji Princess Ship Grounded: Salvage Crews Race to Prevent Spill Off Monuriki
The fiji princess ship grounded on Saturday near Monuriki Island in Fiji, sending salvage crews into a race to limit pollution and stabilize the vessel. The Blue Lagoon Cruises ship ran aground close to the uninhabited island where Cast Away was filmed, and all 30 passengers and 17 crew were taken off safely. No injuries have been reported, and authorities said the main concern on Monday was preventing an oil spill.
What Happened Off Monuriki
The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji said its officers arrived on Saturday to assess the stricken vessel after the grounding at a reef near Monuriki Island, about 45 kilometers west of Nadi. The fiji princess ship grounded after suffering serious damage to its rear left side, including the area where steering equipment is located, and part of the vessel underneath was also damaged.
the ship also experienced engine failure and was reported to be taking in water after the grounding. Because of rough seas and strong waves, officers were unable to safely inspect the vessel underwater at the time. Salvage crews were then sent to work on the ship and reduce the risk of pollution from the fuel onboard.
Passengers Taken Off Safely
All 30 passengers and 17 of the 31 crew were removed from the vessel on the same day. They were taken back to Port Denarau after the evacuation, and no injuries were reported. The ship’s owner said a ferry was brought alongside at first light on Sunday so passengers could disembark with their luggage and belongings.
Blue Lagoon Cruises said the ship was carrying about 20, 000 liters of diesel fuel. Authorities took oil spill equipment to the area as a precaution, but sea conditions were too rough for it to be used immediately. By Monday, pumpable fuel and other oils stored onboard had been removed, lowering environmental risks.
Damage, Fuel Removal, and Recovery Work
A spokesperson for the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji said there were no signs at the time of inspection that the fuel tanks had been damaged. The same spokesperson said salvage teams were working with the assistance of a salvage specialist from Australia to remove fuel and oil from the vessel.
Once the weather improves, further work is expected to begin to recover the vessel safely. The authority said its priority is the safety of all personnel, protection of Fiji’s marine environment, and continued response efforts. The fiji princess ship grounded remains under close watch while teams wait for calmer conditions.
Why Monuriki Matters
Monuriki Island is uninhabited and is known as the filming location for the 2000 film Cast Away. It is part of the Mamanuca Island chain, where the US version of Survivor has also been filmed since 2016. That makes the grounding near Monuriki especially notable, even as the immediate focus stays on safety and environmental protection.
Authorities are expected to continue monitoring the fiji princess ship grounded near Monuriki as salvage work progresses and weather allows a fuller assessment. The next updates will likely center on fuel removal, pollution risk, and the plan to recover the vessel safely.
