Ro-Ro vessel towed out from Bohol island after running aground

M/V Lite Ferry 27 has been pulled free during high tide on Friday morning after it ran aground last Wednesday, Sept. 12 near Mocaboc Island off Tubigon, Bohol. Contributed Photo

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol – A roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel was pulled out on Friday morning, two days after it ran aground on Mocaboc Island, Tubigon town, Bohol.

MV Lite Ferry 27 was docked at the port of Tubigon after it was pulled out during high tide about 9 a.m., said Seaman First Class Phillip Michael Tan of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Tagbilaran Station.

He said the vessel was bound for Tubigon from Mandaue City when it ran aground due to limited visibility of a lighthouse in the area which served as the vessel’s guide.

“It was the captain’s miscalculation that the vessel failed to navigate accordingly towards the Tubigon port,” Tan said.

Tubigon’s seaborne patrol responded to the scene. The 63 passengers were rescued. No one was reported hurt.

A towing operation, aided by a rising tide, managed to pull the ferry out from the spot where it ran aground about 1 a.m. on Wednesday.

The tugboat, also owned by Lite Shipping Company, then towed the ferry to Tubigon Port.

Personnel of the PCG-Tagbilaran and Tubigon substation oversaw the operation with the assistance of the Marine Environmental Protection Unit.