[3] On Tuesday September 8, 2009 the last missing passenger was reported rescued and more up-to-date figures were provided by disaster response officials.

She was built at the Usuki Iron Works Saiki Factory as a replacement for the Naminoue Maru (3rd generation), and entered service on the Tokyo - Naze (Amami island) - Naha (Okinawa) route on August 30, 1986.

Even before sailing, she was already earmarked to replace the relatively slow M/V Maynilad in the Manila-Zamboanga-Davao route, with at least one newspaper already advertising this new development, promising “a totally different experience”.

Her final assignment brought her to General Santos, and she was on her way to Iloilo when the SuperFerry 9 capsized and sank near the Zamboanga Peninsula in the early hours of September 6th 2009.

[6] In April 2006, the ship experienced repeated engine problems that caused passengers to be delayed a day and a half at sea while on a trip from Bacolod City to Manila's South Harbor.

[7] In February 2007, engine problems stranded her at Daog Point on Negros Island while en route to Iligan City from Bacolod.

[12] According to Coast Guard chief Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, initial reports said that the generator of SuperFerry 9 fluctuated several times.

Passengers had reported loud heavy crashing noises and suggested cargo containers had moved in the hold damaging the hull.

On September 7, 2009, survivor Lita Casumlum was found by search parties some eight miles (thirteen kilometers) from the site of the sinking.

[5] The Philippine Government's Maritime Safety Office, MARINA, quickly announced that all passengers would be entitled to 50,000 pesos compensation as a result of the sinking.

The inherent safety of Ro-Ro vessels has been called into question in a number of Maritime Inquiries, especially in Europe, over the last 10 years or more.

Given the large number of Ro-Ro vessels engaged in ferry transportation in the Philippines, and the current government's enthusiasm for Ro-Ro vessels, the question of inherent stability and safety, especially in high seas such as the Philippines experiences frequently each year, is of vital interest and importance to the Filipino travelling public.