Ro-Ro vessel bound for Batangas catches fire

A rollon, rolloff (Ro-Ro) vessel traveling from Calapan, Oriental Mindoro to Batangas caught fire before dawn on Friday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

PCG spokesperson Cmdr. Armand Balilo said a fire was reported on board the M/V Rina Hosanna, a Ro-Ro and passenger ship owned by the Montenegro Shipping Lines, at past 12 a.m.

The vessel left Calapan at 9 p.m. on Thursday and was in the vicinity of Matoco Point when the blaze was reported.

The PCG immediately dispatched its DF-308, a fast patrol craft, to help evacuate the 88 passengers and 26 crew members on board.

The fire was eventually put out at around 7 a.m. on Friday.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.

Another ship owned by Montenegro Shipping ran aground in the waters of Malajibomanoc island in Batangas. The M/V Divina Gracia, a  Ro-Ro and passenger vessel, ran aground at around 10:30 p.m. on Friday. —Julie M. Aurelio