Over the weekend, the Philippine Coast Guard dealt with two incidents involving inter-island ferries, preparing for the possible evacuation of ~500 passengers. Inter-island ferries are an essential mode of transportation in the Philippines, but their safety record has been inconsistent in some cases.
In the early morning hours of July 15th, the ferry Maria Helena (carrying 93 passengers plus 36 crew) encountered a problem ~300 ft (91 m) from Banton Island's shore. The cause of the issue is disputed, with the Coast Guard stating that the vessel ran aground and started listing. However, media reports suggest that the crew intentionally grounded the ferry due to heavy surf, possibly linked to the onset of the monsoon season.
The Maria Helena went aground at ~2 am local time on Sunday. The Coast Guard swiftly initiated a rescue operation and began evacuating the passengers using lifeboats about an hour later. The ferry was also carrying 16 vehicles, and some drivers initially refused to leave, wanting to protect their vehicles.
The grounding caused the ferry to list at a reported 10-degree angle, and the stern was low due to the incident. Additionally, the crew tried to secure the vehicles, but one vehicle broke its lashing and had a tire blowout, causing an imbalance. The sea conditions at the location were reported to be calm.
By Sunday mid-morning, most of the crew and the drivers had abandoned the ship. Only the captain and quartermaster remained on board to safeguard the vehicles and coordinate rescue efforts. The Coast Guard took precautions by placing an oil boom around the vessel because there were 21,000 liters of marine diesel on board.
In the second incident, the ferry named Trisha Kerstin 2 had a more positive outcome as it managed to restart its engine with assistance from the Coast Guard. The ferry carried 342 passengers and departed from Zamboanga City on July 15th. Later in the day, the boat reported a main engine cooling pipe breakage, leading to a loss of power. The Coast Guard provided support, and by midnight, the engine problem was repaired, allowing the ferry to continue its journey without requiring evacuation. It reached its destination at ~2 am on July 16th.