Montenegro Lines

Montenegro Shipping Lines Inc. (MSLI)

Company type	Private
Industry	Shipping
Founded	1978;47 years ago (1978)
Founder	Vicente L. Montenegro Sr.
Headquarters	Montenegro Corporate Center, Diversion Road, Barangay Bolbok, Batangas City , Philippines
Area served	Philippines
Key people	Vicente C. Montenegro Jr. (General manager)
Subsidiaries	San Pedro Shipyard Corporation Montenegro Marine Roro Bus Transport
Website	montenegrolines.com.ph

Montenegro Shipping Lines Inc. (MSLI) is a Philippine domestic shipping line based at Batangas City, Philippines. The office is located at Montenegro Corporate office, along Bolbok Diversion Road, Bolbok Batangas City. It operates passenger, cargo and RORO vessels to various destinations in the Philippines under the brands Montenegro Lines and Marina Ferries.

History

Montenegro Shipping Lines, Inc. was established on 16 September 1978 by entrepreneur Vicente Leyco Montenegro, Sr., a pioneer in commercial and public transportation in the Philippines. The first route that the company served is from Batangas City to Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro using the boat MV Malaya. ^[1] Over the past 40 years, MSLI provided passenger and commercial marine transportation services (cargo or vehicles) with a fleet of fast ferries and RORO vessels to 13 ports in the Philippines. In 2010, the company acquired eight additional RORO vessels worth PH₱1 billion from the Development Bank of the Philippines' Maritime Leasing Corporation and other lenders. ^[2] By 2012, the company operated over 30 vessels on its fleet of passenger, cargo, and RORO vessels throughout Luzon and Visayas. ^[3] As of 2020, the company has 59 vessels calling on 34 ports across the Philippines. ^[1] Moreover, the company has a controlling stake over RORO Bus Transport Services Inc., a Philippine bus company that transports passengers to different destinations in the Philippines via the Strong Republic Nautical Highway. ^[4]

In 2019, MSLI became a member of the Philippine Coastwise Shipping Association (PCSA), the biggest shipping group in the Philippines. ^{[5] [6]}

Destinations

As of 2024, Montenegro Shipping Lines has 65 destinations. Montenegro Lines serves the following destinations: ^{[7] [8]}

• Batangas City
• Mabini, Batangas
• Tingloy, Batangas
• Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro
• San Jose, Occidental Mindoro
• Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro (Santa Teresa)
• Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro
• Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro
• Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro
• Roxas, Oriental Mindoro
• Boracay Island
• Malay, Aklan (Caticlan)
• Nabas, Aklan
• Buruanga, Aklan
• Caluya, Antique (Semirara Island)
• Iloilo City
• Dumangas, Iloilo
• Bacolod
• Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental
• Dapitan City
• Larena, Siquijor
• Siquijor, Siquijor
• Odiongan, Romblon
• Romblon, Romblon
• Banton, Romblon
• Calatrava, Romblon
• San Agustin, Romblon
• Magdiwang, Romblon
• Odiongan, Romblon
• Corcuera, Romblon (Simara Island)
• Lucena City
• Mogpog, Marinduque
• Santa Cruz, Marinduque
• Masbate City
• Cataingan, Masbate
• Batuan, Masbate (Lagundi)
• Aroroy, Masbate
• Pio Duran, Albay
• Pilar, Sorsogon
• Surigao City (Lipata)
• San Ricardo, Southern Leyte (Benit)
• Cuyo, Palawan
• Culion, Palawan
• Coron, Palawan
• Puerto Princesa City
• El Nido, Palawan
• San Jose, Dinagat Islands
• Dapa, Surigao del Norte
• Allen, Northern Samar (Dapdap)
• Matnog, Sorsogon
• Bogo City, Cebu
• Bongao, Tawi-Tawi
• Zamboanga City
• Jolo, Sulu
• Isabela City, Basilan
• Lamitan City, Basilan
• Toledo City, Cebu
• San Carlos City, Negros Occidental
• Escalante City, Negros Occidental
• Cebu City
• Bogo City, Cebu
• Tabuelan, Cebu
• Caluya, Antique
• Palompon, Leyte
• Jordan, Guimaras

Vessels

Montenegro Lines has a total of 85 operating vessels. Montenegro Lines operates the following vessels as of August 2025:

Tugboats

• MT Montenegro Tugboat
• MT Montenegro Tugboat 2

Maria Series

MV Maria Querubin

• MV Maria Angela
• MV Maria Beatriz
• MV Maria Diana
• MV Maria Erlinda
• MV Maria Felisa
• MV Maria Gloria
• MV Maria Helena
• MV Maria Isabel
• MV Maria Josefa
• MV Marie Kristina
• MV Maria Lolita
• MV Maria Matilde ^[9]
• MV Maria Natasha
• MV Maria Oliva
• MV Maria Querubin
• MV Maria Rebecca
• MV Maria Sophia
• MV Marie Teresa
• MV Maria Ursula
• MV Maria Vanessa
• MV Maria Wynona
• MV Maria Xenia
• MV Maria Yasmina
• MV Maria Zenaida ^[10]

Fast-crafts

FC City of Angeles

FC City of Zamboanga

• MV City of Angeles
• MV City of Bacolod
• MV City of Calapan
• MV City of Dapitan
• MV City of Escalante
• MV City of General Santos
• MV City of Himamaylan
• MV City Of Iloilo
• MV City of Kabankalan
• MV City of Lucena
• MV City of Masbate
• MV City of Naga
• MV City of Ozamiz
• MV City of Roxas
• MV City of Sorsogon
• MV City of Tabaco
• MV City of Zamboanga

Reina Series

MV Reina Quelita

• MV Reina Delos Angeles
• MV Reina Banderada
• MV Reina Divina Gracia
• MV Reina Del Cielo
• MV Reina Delos Flores
• MV Reina Emperatriz
• MV Reina Genoveva
• MV Reina Justisya
• MV Reina Hosanna
• MV Reina Immaculada
• MV Reina Kleopatra
• MV Reina De Luna
• MV Reina Magdalena
• MV Reina Neptuna
• MV Reina Olympia
• MV Reina Quelita
• MV Reina Del Rosario
• MV Reina Sentenciada
• MV Reina Timotea
• MV Reina Urduja
• MV Reina Veronica
• MV Reina Wilhelmina
• MV Reina Xaviera
• MV Reina Yvonne
• MV Reina Zadia

Santa Series

• MV Santa Alberta
• MV Santa Brigida ^[11]
• MV Santa Carmerlita ^[12]
• MV Santa Editha
• MV Santa Faustina (New Vessel)
• MV Santa Juliana
• MV Santa Margarita (New Vessel)
• MV Santa Soledad

Binibini Series

MV Binibining Batangas

• MV Binibining Abra De Ilog
• MV Binibining Batangas
• MV Binibining Coron
• MV Binibining Dumaguete
• MV Binibining Surigao
• MV Binibining Matnog (New Vessel)
• MV Binibining Jolo (New Vessel)
• MV Binibinibng Liloan (New Vessel)

Future Vessels

• MV Santa Juliana ^{[13] [14]}

Incidents and accidents

• On 11 April 2002, a fire broke out on the cargo hold of MV Maria Carmela as it sailed from Masbate City to Lucena, causing it to sink. The incident, which happened of the coast of Pagbilao, Quezon, killed 39 people, while 371 individuals survived. ^{[15] [16]}
• On 17 March 2017, 88 passengers and 26 crew members onboard MV Reina Hossana were rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard after a fire broke out onboard. The vessel was traveling from Calapan to Batangas City when the incident happened. The fire was eventually put out and the vessel was towed to Batangas City. ^{[17] [18]} Another MSLI vessel, MV Reina Divinagracia, which was sent from Calapan to help rescue the passengers and crew of MV Reina Hossana, ran aground in the vicinity of Balahibong Manok Island in Tingloy, Batangas. All of its 104 passengers and 20 crew were rescued, while the vessel was freed from its location and towed to port. ^{[17] [19]}
• On 1 April 2017, MV Maria Oliva suffered loss of power to its engines while en route from San Ricardo, Southern Leyte to Surigao City, Surigao del Norte. The vessel floated without power for 10 hours until a Philippine Coast Guard vessel arrived and rescued the 264 individuals onboard. Another civilian vessel arrived and towed the vessel to Lipata Port in Surigao City. ^{[20] [21]}
• On 26 September 2017, 87 people were injured when MV Maria Matilde rammed into a rock formation in the vicinity of Calatrava, Romblon due to a steering problem. The vessel was traveling from Odiongan to Romblon, Romblon when the incident happened. The vessel safely reached its destination but sustained severe damage to its bow. ^{[22] [23]}
• On May 27, 2023, MV Reina Xaviera was aground incident in Dapa, Surigao del Norte due to strong winds result to aground in the low tide area effects of Typhoon Betty are enter in the Philippine Area of Responsibility and on June 5, 2023 was aground again for second times due to Low Tide depart 5:00 pm from Port of Dapa bound to Surigao City MARINA suspend the Cargo Ship Safety Certificate of said vessel.
• On July 16, 2023, MV Maria Helena ran aground and tilted to its portside off the coast of Banton Island while en route from Lucena, Quezon to San Agustin, Romblon. The ferry ran aground as a result of the rough seas which caused the ferry to wobble quite slowly. The momentum of the wobbling caused a heavy truck to fall down towards the left, causing the ferry to run aground and tilt toward its left.
• On February 11, 2024, MV Reina Hosanna ran aground incident in Capul, Northern Samar due to Engine failure resulted to aground due to strong wind and currents in the shoreline in Barangay 1 on the said Municipality. The distressed vessel also carried 16 light cars, two small trucks, a trailer, and eight 10-wheel trucks from Matnog, Sorsogon. There was no reported water ingress into the vessel and all crew members were in good condition, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). Personnel from PCG, local police, fire officers and local emergency responders safely rescued all the passengers using water rafts.

See also

• Philippines portal
• Companies portal
• Transport portal

• List of shipping companies in the Philippines
• 2GO Travel
• Starlite Ferries
• SuperCat
• Roble Shipping Inc.
• Cokaliong Shipping Lines
• Lite Ferries

References

1. "About Us - Montenegro Shipping Lines, Inc". Montenegro Lines. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
2. "Montenegro Shipping buying 8 ro-ro vessels for P1 billion". Portcalls Asia. 25 August 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
3. "Montenegro Shipping Acquires Ro-Ro Vessel". Manila Bulletin (via Yahoo! News). 25 February 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
4. Cabuag, V.G. (23 April 2012). "Inter-island ships losing steam vs budget carriers". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
5. "Cebu-based shipping group installs first set of officersíPortcalls Asia" . Retrieved 4 February 2021.
6. "Biggest shipping group formed in Cebu". Manila Bulletin. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
7. "Where would you like to go?". March 21, 2021.
8. "2021 Lipata and San Ricardo Ports Ferry Schedule and Fare Rates". March 21, 2021.
9. Underwent repair following a 2017 ramming incident. Returned to service. (See Incidents and accidents)
10. "PUNTO MINDORO | Montengro renovates MV Maria Zenaida". 18 June 2019.
11. "VESSEL REVIEW | Santa Brigida – Locally-built 72-metre ferry for Philippines' Montenegro Lines". 6 May 2021.
12. "PUNTO MINDORO | MV Santa Carmelita's Lounge". 23 June 2019.
13. "Montenegro Shipping Lines Launches MV Santa Juliana: A New Milestone in Philippine Maritime Industry". 21 July 2025.
14. "SHIP UPDATE Montenegro Shipping Lines Incorporated launches its latest RORO Passenger Vessel: M/V Santa Juliana in China". 22 July 2025.
15. Aravilla, Jose; Crisostomo, Sheila (11 May 2002). "MV Carmela Ferry Tragedy: Heads roll at Coast Guard, BFP". The Philippine Star . Retrieved 4 February 2021.
16. "Philippine ferry fire kills 23". CNN. 11 April 2002. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
17. Aurelio, Julie (18 March 2017). "Ro-Ro vessel bound for Batangas catches fire". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
18. Datu, Dennis; Ferrer, Paulo (17 March 2017). "Ro-Ro nasunog habang papunta sa Batangas". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
19. "(UPDATE) Coast Guard rescues a total of 104 passengers from two distressed ships". Manila STV. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
20. "PCG assists 264 passengers and 20 crew members onboard distressed passenger/cargo vessel in Agusan Del Norte". Philippine Coast Guard . 3 April 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
21. Cultura, Rodge (2 April 2017). "264 pasahero, crew nailigtas mula sa nasirang barko". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
22. Virola, Madonna; Cinco, Maricar (26 September 2017). "87 hurt as ship rams rock in Romblon". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved 4 February 2021.
23. "87 injured as ship crashes into cliff in Romblon". CNN Philippines . 26 September 2017. Archived from the original on September 28, 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2021.