On Saturday, April 19th, the Ro-Pax (roll-on/roll-off passenger) vessel Lite Ferry 5 (IMO: 9873321, 2019-built, Philippines-flagged) ran aground approximately 200 meters from Jagna Port (Bohol Island, Philippines) shortly after departing for Cagayan de Oro City.
The grounding occurred during low tide while the vessel was maneuvering away from the port.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), in coordination with the Philippine Navy, the Jagna Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Bantay Dagat, and local fisherfolk, initiated a rescue operation following a distress call. All 506 passengers were safely evacuated and returned to Jagna Port by the morning of April 20. No injuries were reported.
An initial inspection by the PCG found no internal hull damage to the vessel. A tugboat from Cebu has been dispatched to refloat the ferry and return it to port.
Lite Ferry 5 is operated by Lite Shipping Corporation, a Cebu-based company managing a fleet of 28 vessels serving routes across the Visayas and Mindanao regions.