VIEW of Real, Quezon. (Wikipedia)
REAL, Quezon - Forty-one passengers were rescued after a passenger ship ran aground near the Port of Real in Barangay Ungos here on Tuesday morning, Sept. 23.
The roll-on, roll-off vessel carrying 41 passengers and seven rolling cargoes was about to depart from the port bound for Polillo Island when the incident occurred at around 9:50 a.m.
The ship was maneuvering from the docking area when its bottom hit the shallow and rocky part of the sea just 50 meters away from the port.
The ship ran aground completely and was unable to move.
Philippine Coast Guard personnel rescued the passengers who were stranded on the ship for about an hour.
The rolling cargoes were left on the ship.
The incident report submitted by the master of the vessel and the chief mate of the ship to the Philippine Coast Guard said the current was strong while they were leaving the port which the engine could not handle.
They said they removed all the ropes that supported the ship's maneuvering but they got tangled in the propeller, causing the engine to stop, and they drifted onto the reef.
The PCG is investigating the incident.