156 rescued as passenger ship runs aground in Romblon

INQUIRER FILES

LUCENA CITY — A roll-on-roll-off passenger ship ran aground in the waters off Romblon, Romblon, on Monday morning, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported.

“All passengers were safely transferred to Romblon Port, except for a dialysis patient and his companion since he needed access to his dialysis equipment, which was in his vehicle on the vessel,” the PCG-Romblon station said in a Facebook post

The PCG said the 156 passengers of “MV Maria Oliva,” which is operated by Montenegro Shipping Lines, were turned over to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) in Romblon town for further assistance.

“All are in good physical condition,” the PCG said.

MV Maria Oliva departed from San Agustin Port with 38 crew members, including the vessel’s master, and 26 wheeled cargoes and sailed toward Romblon port.

The PCG received the report of the grounding incident, but the exact time was not specified, and immediately dispatched a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) to assist the provincial government’s speedboat and the rescue boat to assist in the rescue of passengers.

No oil spill had been observed, the PCG said.
The PCG-Romblon continues to monitor the grounded vessel’s position. INQ