Ferry damaged but reaches port

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Another ferry encountered problems at sea over the weekend but managed to reach port with all its 364 passengers safe.

The M/V St. Gregory the Great nearly capsized while navigating Iloilo Strait last weekend.

The ship hit a rock near the Siete Pecados islets on Saturday morning, creating a gaping hole in its hull, but the vessel managed to reach Arrastre Port at Fort San Pedro in Iloilo City.

Lt. Cmdr. Dominador Senador III, chief of the Philippine Coast Guard-Iloilo, said PCG divers discovered the hole, between five to 10 meters long, during an underwater inspection at the port of Iloilo.

He said initial investigation showed that at around 3 a.m., the vessel shook and water submerged the engine compartment by almost 1.5 meters.

Responding PCG personnel, who came with two tugboats, towed the passenger ship toward Iloilo Arrastre port.

The vessel, which left Manila on Friday on its way to Cagayan de Oro City, had just stopped at BREDCO Port in Bacolod City to pick up passengers when the incident occurred.

At least 301 of the affected passengers boarded Saturday night a Trans-Asia ship bound for Cebu, from where they would be taken to Cagayan de Oro City.

Dennis Garganera, branch manager of 2Go Shipping Line, the ship’s operator, said they provided food to the affected passengers and paid for their damaged cargo. He said they would also provide assistance to the remaining stranded passengers in Iloilo City.

The damaged ship is now docked at the Iloilo port for repairs.