CEBU CITY—After the Princess of the Stars tragedy and a freak accident in the port of Iloilo, another Sulpicio Lines vessel figured in an incident Monday morning.

But Sulpicio Lines port captain Nestor Ponteres said the SuperFerry 12 of the Aboitiz Transport System was the one that bumped into the MV Princess of the South of Sulpicio Lines at past 10 a.m. Monday.

Ponteres said the Princess of the South, which was carrying cargoes, came from Cagayan de Oro City and had docked at the Cebu International Port at 8 a.m. on Monday.

He said the SuperFerry 12 was pulling out from the Pier 5 when it drifted toward the Princess of the South.

Ponteres said the starboard of SuperFerry 12 hit the Princess of the South’s forecastle, punching an 8-inch diameter hole.

But he said the hole did not affect the seaworthiness of the vessel, which was to depart for Cagayan in the evening.

In a text message, Aboitiz vice president Jess Supan said SuperFerry 12 was doing undocking procedures when its anchor got tangled with that of the Princess of the South.

Supan said SuperFerry 12’s anchor was untangled at about 12:30 p.m. Monday, allowing it to depart 15 minutes later. No significant damage to the vessel was reported.

“All passengers are safe,” Supan added.

Coast Guard commandant Vice Adm. Wilfredo Tamayo has directed Cmdr. Antonio Cuasito, Coast Guard Central/Eastern Visayas chief of staff, to coordinate with the local Maritime Industry Authority for an immediate inspection of the Princess of the South.

On June 21, the Princess of the Stars capsized in the midst of a typhoon off Sibuyan island in Romblon province. All but 56 of the 864 people aboard either drowned or were listed as missing.

On Sept. 4, the MV Cotabato Princess was about to dock at the Iloilo port when a strong wave caused the vessel to ram into a port construction project, causing P16 million worth of damage.

Only cargo vessels of Sulpicio Lines have so far been allowed to operate following the Princess of the Stars tragedy.