THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) suspended the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate of MV Virgen de Peñafrancia II after a berthside incident at the Port of Real, Quezon, injured three passengers and left the roll-on/roll-off vessel partially submerged.
The incident occurred at 12:25 a.m. Friday when strong water currents snapped a mooring line, according to Marina Regional Office IV. The sudden loss of tension caused the Starhorse Shipping Lines vessel to list severely to starboard and take on water while docked during peak “Undas 2026” holiday travel.
The vessel’s movement shifted unsecured car-deck cargo, striking a parked vehicle containing three passengers. Philippine Coast Guard personnel rescued the passengers, who were hospitalized in stable condition.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon ordered the suspension under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s safety directives. Issued under Republic Act 9295, the order grounds the vessel pending technical evaluations of its hull integrity, stability, and overall seaworthiness.
A joint investigation team from Marina and the Coast Guard is reviewing mooring line condition, tension management, and cargo-lashing compliance to determine accountability.
The grounding reflects heightened oversight of domestic ferry operations during high-volume travel periods, with further administrative sanctions contingent on technical findings.