A passenger vessel ran aground off Lubang, Occidental Mindoro on Easter Sunday morning, April 5, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

PCF spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said all 162 passengers and eight crew members of MV Our Lady of Fatima 03 were rescued.

An initial report from the PCG showed that the passenger vessel went aground about 670 meters off the shoreline of Barangay Tilik at around 7:45 a.m.

“The Coast Guard Sub-Station Lubang observed the vessel’s sudden stop at around 7:45AM, shortly after departing Tilik Port en route to Nasugbu,” Cayabyab said.

Lubang, a remote island municipality in Occidental Mindoro, serves as a key sea link between Mindoro and Batangas. Its ports handle small passenger vessels that navigate shallow coastal waters, which can become hazardous during low tide.

“Initial coordination with the vessel’s captain confirmed that the incident was caused by low tide conditions over a rocky seabed,” Cayabyab added.

The PCG said sea conditions were “calm to moderate” at the time of the incident.

“The vessel was operating within its authorized capacity and had approximately 250 liters of marine diesel oil and 45 liters of lube oil on board, with no cargo,” Cayabyab shared.

By 8:40 a.m., rescuers began transferring passengers to another vessel.

“All passengers had been safely transferred to MV Princess Christine II and were ferried to Tilik Port at around 9:20 a.m.,” Cayabyab said.

A joint assessment conducted confirmed that the vessel was partially grounded in a shallow area but no oil sheen or signs of marine pollution were observed, the PCG said.

The PCG also noted that the grounding site is outside a designated Marine Protected Area, easing concerns over environmental damage.

“The vessel captain was advised to file a marine protest, while the crew will conduct an underwater inspection to check any structural damages,” Cayabyab said.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard Station Occidental Mindoro recommended to the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Regional Office IV the suspension of the vessel’s Passenger Ship Safety Certificate.

The suspension will remain in place pending a comprehensive investigation into the incident, the PCG said.