A PASSENGER vessel ran aground off the coast of Masbate on Sunday, August 24, 2025, while en route to Cebu.
The Philippine Coast Guard Station Central Cebu said it has been coordinating with Maritime Industry Authority (Marina 7) officials on the incident involving Cokaliong Shipping Lines’ MV Filipinas Surigao del Norte.
“Initially, we can say that there was resistance from the (boat) captain to the direct order from the Station Commander in Masbate,” Coast Guard Station Central Cebu Commander Capt. Jerome Lozada told reporters on Monday, August 25.
“We also made efforts to contact the captain, but since the area is not within our area of responsibility, we advised him to follow the Station Commander’s (Masbate) instructions. However, he did not return,” Lozada added in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Lozada explained the Marina 7 is responsible for the proper documentation process, including verifying the crew’s licenses.
He added that it also holds the authority to issue a suspension order if necessary, especially if the ship or crew fails to meet operational or safety standards.
The ongoing investigation will determine the appropriate penalties or violations that may apply, said Lozada.
Incident
MV Filipinas Surigao del Norte was en route to Cebu on Aug. 24, at around 9:57 p.m., when a call was made to the Coast Guard Station Central Cebu to report that the vessel had run aground off the coast of Masbate.
Lozada said the passenger’s call prompted immediate coordination with the Coast Guard Station Masbate, informing them of the distress call since the vessel was outside Cebu’s jurisdiction.
The Coast Guard Station in Masbate was also instructed to have the MV Filipinas Surigao del Norte return to the departure port following the incident.
Cokaliong Shipping Lines Vice President for Operations Chase Cokaliong shared details of the incident to the media.
According to Cokaliong, the vessel encountered unexpected interference as it navigated through an area where several small fishing boats were located, despite being in a designated shipping route.
The obstruction prompted the vessel to maneuver around the fishermen and subsequently encounter a shallow portion of the water, causing a delay of about 30 minutes before it was able to continue its voyage to Cebu.
Addressing questions about whether the ship had actually touched the bottom of the sea, Cokaliong clarified that the vessel only made a slight contact with the seabed and sustained “zero damage.”
Cokaliong also said at around 11:00 p.m., the Coast Guard Station Masbate contacted the ship’s captain. The decision to continue the voyage to Cebu was based on careful consideration of both safety and practicality, he said.
Cokaliong said the vessel was thoroughly inspected twice, including checks on the bottom, bulkheads, tanks, and emissions.
No issues were found, making it unnecessary to return to Masbate, as the distance is nearly the same as continuing on to Cebu, he added.
“We’re not foolish to continue a journey that puts people’s lives and the value of our ship, worth hundreds of millions, at risk. We have the perfect history on our track records, we’ve never undertaken a risky venture,” said Cokaliong in a mix of Cebuano and English.
The MV Filipinas Surigao del Norte safely arrived at Pier 1 in Cebu on August 25 as scheduled with some passengers needing medical attention, including senior citizens.
One male passenger described the experience as “shocking” and “traumatic.”
Some were reportedly checked for elevated blood pressure at the ambulance, while others reported pain in their arms, heads, and ears after the impact.
Lozada announced that the vessel has been ordered to halt operations temporarily. It is not allowed to resume travel while the investigation is ongoing.
He added that the initial step in the process is for the shipping company to file a marine protest to officially record the incident.
Cokaliong assured that the company remains fully committed to cooperating with authorities and addressing any inquiries concerning the incident. / DPC