Ship catches fire off Batangas

MANILA, Philippines - All 43 passengers and 75 crewmembers of the M/V Cebu Ferry 1, which caught fire off Batangas yesterday, were safe, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

PCG spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Algier Ricafrente said the 2,778-gross ton ship, owned and operated by ATS Consolidated Inc., left Batangas for Caticlan, Aklan at 8 a.m. yesterday but caught fire two nautical miles off Macoco Point.