All passengers, crew safe after RoRo capsizes at Quezon port

Real MDRRMO  

MANILA — All 40 passengers and 18 crew members of a roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel that capsized at Ungos Port in Real, Quezon, were safely accounted for, although some sustained minor injuries, the coast guard said. 

Coast Guard Southern Tagalog District Commander Commodore Geronimo Tuvilla said personnel stationed at the pier immediately launched search and rescue operations after the MV Virgen de Peñafrancia II of Starhorse Shipping Lines encountered the incident at around 12:44 a.m. on Friday.

Real MDRRMO 

Based on the initial inquiry by the Coast Guard Northern Quezon, the ship’s captain said a mooring rope securing the vessel to the pier had snapped due to strong water currents, causing the vessel’s bow to drift about 10 meters away from the port.

The vessel reportedly attempted to maneuver back but its bow ran aground before it capsized onto its starboard or right side.

There was no immediate threat of an oil spill, but the Philippine Coast Guard deployed oil spill containment booms around the vessel as a precaution.