Fire erupted in engine room of ferry LITE FERRY 16 at around 0600 (UTC +8) LT Aug 28, and quickly spread around, engulfing the whole ship. LITE FERRY 16 was approaching Palauan Port in Dapitan City, Zamboanga, Philippines, en route from Ceby City, with reportedly, 137 passengers on board. According to Philippines Coast Guard, 112 passengers were rescued, 24 remain missing as of 0800 LT.
Ferry LITE FERRY 16 isn’t recorded by AIS, no data found in databases, probably she was identified by AIS her old name. Two lay-up ferries were bought in 2015 and 2016 from Hainan Strait Shipping Company, and refitted as LCT ferries LITE FERRY 16 and LITE FERRY 19 for Lite Shipping Corporation.
