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Passengers of MV Our Lady of Fatima 03 being rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard on April 5, 2026.
Philippine Coast Guard / Released
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) successfully evacuated over 160 passengers on Sunday, April 5, after a passenger vessel ran aground in the shallow waters off Lubang, Occidental Mindoro.
In a statement on Sunday, the PCG said that the vessel, MV Our Lady of Fatima 03, was situated approximately 670 meters from the shoreline when it came to an abrupt halt at around 7:45 a.m.
According to the Coast Guard Sub-Station Lubang, the ship had just departed Tilik Port and was en route to Nasugbu, Batangas, when it struck a rocky seabed.
Initial reports from the ship’s captain indicated that the grounding was caused by low tide conditions.
According to the PCG, there were 162 passengers and eight crew members on board at the time of the incident.
The Coast Guard confirmed that all 170 individuals are accounted for and in stable condition. Rescue operations moved swiftly, with all passengers transferred to MV Princess Christine II by 8:40 a.m. and safely returned to Tilik Port shortly after 9 a.m.
Despite the vessel carrying approximately 250 liters of marine diesel and 45 liters of lube oil, the PCG said it found no signs of an oil sheen or marine pollution.
Furthermore, the PCG confirmed that the grounding site is located outside of any Marine Protected Area.
While the weather and sea conditions were reported as calm to moderate, the vessel remains partially grounded in the shallow area.
The captain has been advised to file a formal marine protest, and the crew is scheduled to conduct an underwater hull inspection to check for structural integrity.
As a precautionary measure, the Coast Guard Station Occidental Mindoro has recommended that the Maritime Industry Authority Regional Office IV suspend the vessel’s Passenger Ship Safety Certificate. A comprehensive investigation into the incident is currently underway.
