Date of Release:

MARINA Press Release
03 September 2018

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) is conducting an investigation on passenger ferry MV Lite Ferry 28 that caught fire Sunday, September 2, 2018, in Cebu.

Personnel of Marina regional office 7 and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) are currently assisting all 92 passengers and 29 crew onboard who were rescued, while they probe the cause of the fire.

According to the initial report by the Marina and PCG, the fire emerged from the ferry’s engine room at 11:45 am while it was about to dock at the Port of Taloot in Argao, Cebu. The ship left Tagbilaran Port in Bohol at 8:00 am.

Private cargo ship LCT Miami docked at Taloot Port immediately rescued and safely transported all passengers and crew to the port.

Two more vessels—PCG’s BRP Capones and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ BFAR MCS 3007—rendered assistance and firefighting operations. With the prompt assistance extended during the incident, the fire was immediately declared out. At 12:45 pm, the distressed ferry was towed towards the shore to allow for a thorough investigation.