Vessel runs aground in Quezon; 181 passengers, crew rescued

LUCENA CITY — A total of 181 passengers and crew members of a roll-on-roll-off vessel which ran aground near the port of Real, Quezon were rescued Thursday morning by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The PCG-District Southern Tagalog (PCG-DST) reported that MV Virgen De Peñafrancia II, which was about to leave the port for Polillo island off the Pacific Ocean, while maneuvering accidentally drifted into the shallow waters and consequently grounded on the sandy seabed.

The PCG station in Real immediately initiated rescue operations.

Authorities facilitated the safe disembarkation of passengers and utilized private motorized boats to ferry the passengers back to port.

The vessel with a gross tonnage of 253 tons and net tonnage of 76 tons, was carrying 29 crew members, 152 passengers, 16 vehicles, and 51 motorcycles at the time of the incident.

According to the PCG, no oil slicks were spotted.

Another ship was tapped to tow the grounded vessel owned by Starhorse Shipping Lines. back to port.