141 passengers, crew rescued after ship ran aground in Bohol — PCG

A total of 141 people - 86 passengers and 55 crew - were rescued after their ship ran aground off Talibon, Bohol, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Wednesday.

In an incident report, the PCG said the MV Starlite Saturn was traveling Surigao Port en route to Pier 5, Cebu City when it ran aground at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday.

The PCG Command Center then established communication with Coast Guard Seaman First Class (SN1) Cliftun Bert Etulle, one of the PCG sea marshals on board the vessel, to inform their location at 9:41 p.m.

The PCG BRP Malamawi (FPB-2403) found the vessel’s location and arrived off Danajon Bank, Calituban, Talibon, Bohol, at 11:30 p.m.

The passengers and crew were transferred to BRP Malamawi to ensure their safety and for further assistance, according to the PCG.

Two ships from the Philippine Navy were also deployed to the vicinity waters to augment the operation.

At around 8:20 a.m. on Wednesday, the PCG response team said all passengers and crew were transferred to MV St. Camael, the rescue ship provided by the concerned shipping line, before they were brought to safety at Pier 1, Cebu City.

The Coast Guard said no one was reported injured during the incident. 

It added that no sightings of oil spillage in the vicinity waters occurred. — Richa Noriega/RSJ, GMA Integrated News