Philippine Coast Guard, partners respond to ferry grounding in Bohol province

The Philippine Coast Guard and various local partners have facilitated the successful rescue of the occupants of a passenger ferry that ran aground off Bohol province on Tuesday, February 28.

The incident involving the Ro-Pax ferry Starlite Saturn occurred at around 16:15 local time on Tuesday when the vessel became stranded off Bohol’s Danajon Bank.

The ferry was en route to Cebu City after having earlier departed Surigao del Norte province.

The passengers were initially transferred to a coast guard fast patrol boat that arrived in the area. The coast guard said the Philippine Navy also deployed two of its vessels to render assistance.

Another ferry later arrived on-scene to transport some of the passengers and crew to Cebu City while a number of lorry drivers were left on board the grounded vessel to secure the vehicle cargo with the assistance of the remaining crew and embarked coast guard sea marshals.

No injuries or pollution have been reported.