Philippine Coast Guard personnel rescued at least 352 passengers and crew members of a ship that ran aground off Cebu on Saturday dawn, a coast guard spokesman said.

Commander Armand Balilo said M/V Filipinas Ozamis of Cokaliong Shipping Lines met the accident while transiting the entrance of Chanel Cebu Port, particularly at Lipata bank, at around 4:30 a.m.

The steel-hull passenger and cargo ship departed Ozamis City and en route to the port of Cebu. It was skippered by Capt. Erben Lumbab with 45 officers and crew.

Balilo said Coast Guard ships were promptly dispatched to the area to conduct search and rescue operation after Chester Cakaliong, the ship owner, informed the Coast Guard of the incident and sought assistance.

As of 9:10 am, all the passengers and crew of the ship were transferred to Coast Guard ships and later disembarked to the Port of Cebu. "As of now, all the passengers and personnel were already rescued," said Balilo.

Balilo could not immediately say why the ship ran aground, but said concerned authorities were still looking into it.