New Caledonia’s maritime rescue services executed 4 consecutive medical evacuations from RCI-Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas within a 24-hour period, marking an atypical operational sequence for the region. The incidents occurred as the vessel transited between Vanuatu and Brisbane during a 7-night South Pacific voyage departing Brisbane on February 28th.
On March 5th, the New Caledonia Operational Surveillance and Rescue Center (COSS-NC) coordinated the first evacuation following a telemedical consultation confirming a passenger required urgent hospitalization. The ship altered course to Noumea, where two Australian nationals were evacuated post-midnight.
As Quantum of the Seas resumed its itinerary, 2 additional non-correlated medical emergencies arose on March 6th, necessitating the evacuation of 2 New Zealand nationals via New Caledonian rescue teams. All patients were stabilized aboard prior to transfer and transported to shore-based medical facilities.
This series of evacuations follows a similar pattern from mid-February, when 3 Australian passengers were medically disembarked from the same vessel. Quantum of the Seas concluded its voyage as scheduled, returning to Brisbane on March 7th.
The incidents underscore the operational demands of managing medical emergencies in remote maritime zones, with New Caledonian authorities emphasizing adherence to standardized protocols for passenger safety. No further disruptions to the vessel’s itinerary were reported.
For more Quantum of the Seas incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.