239 safe after RoRo ship runs aground off Cebu —PCG

A roll-on-/roll-off (RoRo) ship carrying more than 200 individuals ran aground in the vicinity waters off Cebu, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Monday.

An initial investigation showed M/V Filipinas Butuan was en route to the port of Iloilo on Sunday evening when the passenger ship came across a fish cage 1.5 nautical miles from Barangay Kaongkod, Madridejos, Cebu.

The RoRo vessel avoided the fish cage, causing it to drift in the shallow waters and run aground.

A total of 239 individuals including the crew and the passengers were aboard the passenger vessel. No deaths or injuries were reported from the incident.

According to the PCG, the ship’s master coordinated with the coast guard to request assistance. He also informed the PCG about the presence of an oil leakage following the incident.

Three motorbancas were deployed in the area to facilitate the transfer of the vessel’s passengers and crew to Kota Park.

An oil spill boom and a box of absorbent pads were likewise positioned in the area to control the oil leak. — Sundy Locus/BM, GMA Integrated News