A motorboat capsizes after colliding with passenger ship MV SUG Adventure off Sta. Crus Island in Zamboanga City on April 10, 2026. (Photo: Philippine Coast Guard)
Three people were injured after a passenger vessel and a small motorboat collided off Sta. Cruz Island in Zamboanga City on Friday evening, April 10.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the incident involved the passenger vessel MV SUG Adventure and a motorbanca at around 6 p.m.
“According to our interview with one of the motorboat’s crew members, their carburetor malfunctioned, which caused the boat to accelerate and lose control, leading to the collision with the passenger ship,” PCG spokesperson Noemie Cayabyab said.
A vessel’s carburetor acts as the engine's “lungs,” pulling in air and mixing it with gasoline in the correct proportions needed for combustion.
The impact caused the motorbanca to capsize and all of its three passengers were thrown into the water.
The crew of MV SUG Adventure quickly conducted search and rescue operation, leading to the safe recovery of the motorboat passengers.
The PCG said all three passengers sustained injuries. No fatalities were reported.
“The injured were brought to Paniran Wharf in Zamboanga City, where the [Philippine] Red Cross and personnel of the Coast Guard Station Zamboanga were on standby. They were given first aid,” Cayabyab said.
“The vessel was also quick to respond in the rescue. They immediately took the passengers on board and brought them to the nearest port in Zamboanga City,” Cayabyab said.
The PCG has coordinated with the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) to suspend MV SUG Adventure’s passenger ship safety certificate while an investigation is ongoing.