MELBOURNE, Australia: A cruise ship ran aground on a reef in Fiji, forcing the crew to evacuate 30 passengers, the ship's owner said on April 6
The MV Fiji Princess, run by Blue Lagoon Cruises, ran aground on April 4 near Monuriki Island, where the 2000 film Cast Away starring Tom Hanks was filmed, the company said.
It said the weather was calm when the ship dropped anchor, but a sudden, strong storm likely shifted the anchor, pushing the ship onto a nearby reef, where it got stuck.
Early on the morning of April 5, a ferry arrived, and 30 passengers got off safely with their belongings. No one was hurt. They were taken to Denarau Island.
The company said that by April 6, all fuel and oil that could be removed from the ship had been removed, reducing the risk of environmental damage.
A salvage expert from Australia has been at the site since April 5 to manage efforts to free the ship.
Fiji's maritime safety authority did not respond to requests for comment.
