Ferry Runs Aground Near Philippines Coast, All 506 Passengers Rescued

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) rescued all 506 passengers aboard MV Lite Ferry 5 after the vessel drifted and ran aground in shallow waters just off Jagna Port in Bohol on the night of April 19.

The ferry, which operates a regular route from Bohol to Cagayan de Oro, was preparing to depart around 10:30 p.m. when it got stuck roughly 200 meters from the port.

According to authorities, the vessel drifted due to low tide while maneuvering out of the port.

A nearby resident was the first to notice the incident and quickly alerted the PCG Sub-Station in Jagna.

After confirming the situation with the ship’s captain, the Coast Guard deployed immediate response teams to begin evacuating passengers.

All 506 passengers- including infants, children, and adults- were safely brought back to shore by early Sunday morning, April 20, using small boats.

No injuries were reported during the operation.

MV Lite Ferry 5 is a roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel that carries both passengers and vehicles across the 79-nautical-mile route.

Built in 2019, the ferry is operated by Lite Shipping Corporation, based in Cebu, which currently manages a fleet of 20 ferries on inter-island routes in the Philippines.

The evacuation operation was handled through joint efforts involving the PCG District Central Visayas (CGDCV), the Philippine Navy, local volunteers from Bantay Dagat, Jagna’s Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and nearby fisherfolk.

Officials involved in the rescue said that there was no immediate damage found on the hull of the vessel.

However, the PCG confirmed that a full marine safety and environmental inspection is now underway to ensure there are no hidden threats.

A tugboat from Cebu is on its way to pull the vessel out of where it remains stuck.

PCG Station Eastern Bohol issued a Notice to Mariners shortly after the rescue.

The advisory urges all ships operating near Jagna Port to take extra caution and follow safety procedures while passing near the grounded ferry.

Reference: PNA

Source: Maritime Shipping News