A passenger ship was damaged when it accidentally collided with a barge loaded with 300 sacks of cement off Verde Island in Batangas before dawn on Wednesday, April 3.

“MV Fastcat M19” was carrying 47 crew and 41 passengers when it collided with barge “Krizza Rica” at approximately two nautical miles southeast of Barangay San Agapito around 1:45 a.m., the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

Rear Admiral Armando Balilo, PCG spokesperson, said a 26-year-old male passenger of MV Fastcat M19 sustained minor bruises and cuts in his upper right eye and upper right lip. He was given first aid treatment.

Initial investigation revealed that MV Fastcat M19 departed Batangas Port and was on its way to Calapan Port in Oriental Mindoro while the barged was being towed by motor tug “Migi” with 17 crew onboard while en route to Semirara Island, Caluya, Antique from Calaca, Balayan, Batangas when the collision happened.

“Due to the collision, MV Fastcat M19 incurred a damage on the third deck passenger deck starboard quarter (right rear corner), while barge Krizza Rica acquired scratches on its port bow (front left side),” the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

The Batangas port monitored the collision via its Vessel Traffic Management System so it immediately reported the incident to the Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Calapan for response.

Personnel of CGSS Calapan contacted the crew of the two vessels and advised the barge to anchor at Calapan Anchorage Area for further investigation.

Meanwhile, MV Fastcat M19 safely docked at Calapan Port around 3 a.m. where all the passengers were safely disembarked.

The injured passenger was transported by personnel of Calapan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) to Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital for further medical assistance.

The collision did not result to an oil spill based on the assessment conducted by personnel of the PCG Station Oriental Mindoro, CGSS Calapan, and Maritime Safety Services Unit-Southern Tagalog.