Other links

Far East Travel

Health Forum

World Travel Forum

Cruise Arrivals

Visiting Beijing

Lung Cancer Info

Silvermoonz

Indian Premier League

Cyprus Hotels

MV Princess of the Stars

MV Princess of the Stars was a ferry owned by Filipino shipping company Sulpicio Lines that capsized off the coast of San Fernando, Romblon at the height of Category 2 Typhoon Fengshen (PAGASA name: Frank) on June 21, 2008. Built in 1984, the 23,824-ton ferry MV Princess of the Stars had a total passenger capacity of 1,992 people.

The MV Princess of the Stars, flagship of the Sulpicio Lines fleet, left the port of Manila on June 20, 2008 on its way to Cebu City. The number of passengers is variously reported 700 to 800. The ferry sent a distress signal at midday on June 21 when its engines allegedly stalled in rough seas near Sibuyan Island. San Fernando mayor Nanette Tansingco sent a speedboat and confirmed that the ferry had a hole in the hull, was partially submerged and that several bodies had been found nearby. Later reports revealed that the hole in the hull was actually the ship's bow thruster.

As of June 23, four bodies were recovered by the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy. According to the Coast Guard, the ferry's manifest recorded 702 passengers including 50 children as well as 100 crew. The civil defense office said the ship carried 626 passengers and 121 crew members. Three Navy vessels were dispatched but one had to abort its mission due to 'gigantic waves, pounding rain, and gusty winds', said Lieutenant Colonel Edgard Arevalo, spokesman of the Philippine Navy

The Philippines Coast Guard reported only 57 survived the maritime tragedy, around 350 bodies had been recovered, while 515 people missing were allegedly trapped inside the capsized vessel. On October 28, 2008, 40 bodies were recovered from Deck C, the vessel's economy section, by 16 divers of salvage group Harbor Star and from the Coast Guard from the MV Princess of the Stars.

Typhoon Sinks Ferry with Over 700 People Onboard!