Ship’s engine conks out off Batangas; 63 passengers, crew safe

The MV Our Lady of Fatima 03, a passenger vessel that encountered engine failure about one nautical mile southwest of Fortune Island in Nasugbu, Batangas on Saturday, was towed by its sister ship,  MV Lubang Express to Wawa Port in Nasugbu. (Photo courtesy of Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — A passenger ship encountered engine failure about one nautical mile southwest of Fortune Island in Nasugbu, Batangas Saturday morning.

All 54 passengers and nine crew members on board were safe, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The MV Our Lady of Fatima 03’s  engine conked out at around 9:30 a.m. while transiting between Ambil and Fortune Island.

“While transiting in between Ambil Island and Fortune Island, an engine failure was discovered around 9:30AM and an attempt to troubleshoot the engine was made, but it was unsuccessful, leaving the ship to be dead on water,” the PCG – southern Tagalog  said,

“Accordingly, some parts of the engine particularly the exhaust valve was damaged causing the dislocation of its push rod,” it added.

The distressed vessel  was towed safely back to Wawa Port in Nasugbu.

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