I was in a boat or ferry accident — who is liable and where do I complain?
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
A passenger ferry or boat that carries paying passengers is a common carrier by sea, so the same strong Civil Code protection applies: the operator owes extraordinary diligence and is PRESUMED at fault when a passenger is injured or killed (Civil Code Arts. 1755, 1756), a presumption it can rebut only by proving extraordinary diligence or a purely fortuitous event. Sea transport is regulated by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) — which oversees vessel safety, manning, and the franchise of domestic shipping — and the Philippine Coast Guard handles maritime safety enforcement and incident response; passenger-fare and route issues for shipping also fall under MARINA. Report the incident to the ship's master and get it logged, keep your ticket and any manifest proof that you were aboard, secure a Coast Guard/police incident report, and keep medical and receipt records. Pursue your injury or death claim against the operator (and its P&I/insurer), and file a safety or service complaint with MARINA; for a death case the Civil Code death indemnity and damages apply (Arts. 1764, 2206).
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Frequently asked
Is a ferry operator liable the same way a bus operator is?
Yes. A passenger vessel is a common carrier, so the Civil Code presumption applies: when a passenger is injured or killed the operator is presumed at fault (Art. 1756) and must prove extraordinary diligence or a fortuitous event to escape liability.
Which agency do I complain to about a sea trip?
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) regulates domestic shipping, vessel safety, and passenger service, while the Philippine Coast Guard handles safety enforcement and incident response. File a service/safety complaint with MARINA and secure a Coast Guard/police incident report.
What should I keep after a boat accident?
Your ticket and any proof you were on the manifest, photos/video, a Coast Guard or police incident report, and all medical records and receipts. These support both your civil claim against the operator/insurer and your MARINA complaint.
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Your rights as a commuter, passenger, driver, and air traveler — where to complain when a taxi, Grab, jeepney, bus, or van overcharges you, refuses your trip, or drives recklessly (the LTFRB), the strong 'common carrier' protection under the Civil Code (Arts. 1732–1766) that makes a public carrier presumed at fault when a passenger is injured or killed and liable for lost baggage, how to contest a traffic ticket or LTO/MMDA apprehension and when a traffic enforcer may confiscate your license (RA 4136), the current legal status of the No-Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP), what an airline owes you for a delayed, cancelled, or overbooked flight and lost luggage under the Air Passenger Bill of Rights (DOTC-DTI JAO No. 1, s. 2012), and basic e-bike, tricycle, and sea-travel (MARINA) rules. CTPL and motor insurance claims live in the Insurance & HMOs cluster; taking back a financed vehicle lives in the Vehicle Repossession cluster.