Maria-Felisa

On Feb 1, 2026, the ' Maria Felisa' had suffered an engine room fire in the Surigao Strait. The ferry had sailed from Benit Port, San Ricardo, at around 12:20 p.m. bound for Lipata Port, Surigao City, with 92 passengers and 33 crew members on board. At around 1:40 p.m., the Philippine Coastguard received a report that the vessel encountered a fire inside the engine compartment, and deployed the Fast Patrol Boat 151 and the High Speed Boat 026 to provide assistance. The 'Maria Felisa' had departed Port of Benit at around 12:20P p.m., bound for Lipata Port. At approximately 1:30 p.m. the crew detected a fire in the engine room and immediately executed firefighting procedures, preventing the fire from spreading to other parts of the vessel. CCTV review indicated that the fire originated from elevated temperature in the lube oil filter, which led to machinery overheating. After the fire was put out, the ferry was disabled and adrift approximately 0.85 nautical miles off Bilaa Point, Barangay Punta Bilar, Surigao City. The Coastguard immediately proceeded to render assistance, while the ferry 'Binibining Liloan', a sister ship of the 'Maria Felisa' also provided additional support. Floating assets were deployed by the Coastguard to ensure the safety and security of the passengers and crew. The 'Maria Vanessa' conducted an alongside tow of the 'Maria Felisa' towards Lipata Port, with the Coastguard escorting the operation to ensure the safety of both vessels. At approximately 3:58 p.m. the vessels arrived at Lipata Port, where all 92 passengers were able to disembark safely. They were assessed by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Surigao City, in coordination with the PNP Maritime Group and the Bureau of Fire Protection. Three of the 33 crew members suffered minor injuries during the incident. A 25-year-old oiler from Arayat, Pampanga sustained first-degree burns and was transported to the Caraga Regional Hospital- A 22-year-old apprentice from San Simon, Pampanga sustained first-degree burns and was also transported to the hospital A 22-year-old apprentice from Bustos, Bulacan suffered smoke inhalation. He declined hospital transport, and was provided first aid by CDRRMO personnel. The PCG has coordinated with the Maritime Industry Authority for appropriate investigation and disposition. The incident has been officially reported to the MARINA Regional Office XIII for further investigations. Reports with photos: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17i2ERZf7B/ https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GBhm2Kkqn/