Early on 17 September, the passenger ferry RoRo Master 5 ran aground off Mindoro in the Philippines. The vessel was travelling from Batangas to Abra de Ilog when it grounded about 30 metres from shore near Sitio Sigman, Barangay Udalo.
Initial reports said the ferry was carrying 80 passengers and 24 vehicles. Local authorities later reported that 117 passengers and crew members had disembarked and received assistance. The Philippine Coast Guard was still verifying the number of people on board.
Rescuers used four liferafts and a line secured between the vessel and the shore to evacuate passengers. They were taken to Abra de Ilog, where they received food, water and medical checks. No serious injuries were reported. Local media said one passenger fainted from fear.
During the initial inspection, the coast guard found no water entering the vessel and no oil spill. A gyrocompass fault may have caused the ferry to deviate from its intended course, according to the preliminary investigation. The cause of the grounding remains under investigation.
In the early hours of 18 September, RoRo Master 5 was refloated and reached the port of Abra de Ilog, where its 24 vehicles were unloaded.
