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SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews/10 September) — A passenger vessel bound for Cebu and said to be loaded with chromite ran aground shortly after it left the port of San Jose in Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte Tuesday evening.
Based on the Coast Guard report, the 730.42-ton M/V Super Shuttle Ferry 7, owned by Asian Marine Transport Corporation, ran aground after hitting a shallow portion near Biray-Biray Island in Dinagat.
Ship captain Romeo Berdos said the vessel departed at 8:45 p.m. but after 30 minutes it accidentally hit a shallow portion.
Josue Saba of the Philippine Coast Guard in Surigao told MindaNews that the ship was not badly damaged and was able to resume its voyage to Cebu.
Saba said the ship hit a shallow part of the sea because the tide was very low at that time.
Aside from the unknown number of passengers, the ship was allegedly carrying an undetermined quantity of chromite.
A ship crewmember who requested anonymity told MindaNews that the ship was overloaded with chromite from Dinagat.
However, Saba declined to comment if the ship was indeed loaded with chromite, saying it was a passenger vessel.
“That I do not know, I was not there at the incident because the ship was able to sail after the captain found out that there was no leak in its hull,” Saba said.
He added all the crewmembers and passengers arrived safe at Pier 3 in Cebu City on Wednesday. (Roel Catoto/MindaNews)