Passenger vessel runs aground off Iloilo; passengers, crew safe

A passenger vessel going to Cebu ran aground in Concepcion, Iloilo on Tuesday morning, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

In a statement, the PCG said the MV Filipinas Cebu of the Cokaliong Shipping Lines ran aground in the vicinity waters between Igbon Island and Agho Island at 12:08 a.m.

INCIDENT REPORT: The @coastguardph responds to a maritime incident involving MV FILIPINAS CEBU that ran aground in the vicinity waters between Igbon & Agho Islands in Concepcion, Iloilo today, 09 Aug 2022.

??https://t.co/tNDRIhrZ3w#DOTrPH????????#CoastGuardPH#MaritimeSectorWorks pic.twitter.com/d7Nn0AwHuA

— Philippine Coast Guard (@coastguardph) August 9, 2022

MV Filipinas Cebu departed from Iloilo at 7:14 p.m. on Monday.

Captain Alexander Wahing said the 223 passengers and 38 crew onboard including him were safe and not injured, according to the PCG.

PCG Sub-Station Concepcion and BRP Panglao (FPB-2402) responded to the area. The Bureau of Customs and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Concepcion also gave assistance.

After the assessment of its Marine Environmental Protection Unit, the PCG said there are no traces of oil spill from the incident.

The cause of the maritime incident is still under investigation, according to the PCG.

Passengers from MV Filipinas Cebu will be transferred to its sister vessel MV Nasipit, which departed Maasin, Leyte at 2 a.m. and is expected to arrive in the area at 2 p.m.

“According to the concerned shipping company, the passengers of MV FILIPINAS CEBU will be safely transferred to MV NASIPIT to reach their destination,” the PCG said.

“As of press time, the PCG District Western Visayas continues to monitor MV FILIPINAS CEBU to ensure the safety and security of the passengers and crew,” the PCG added. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News