Singapore: Preparations are being made to salvage a 23,000-tonne Panama-flagged cruise ship that ran aground off General Santos City, Philippines, on Friday, the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) says.

The MV Victory Pacific was heading from Mexico City to Singapore when it ran out of bunker fuel. The vessel is reportedly bound for decommissioning in India.

It switched to using diesel fuel and ran aground while trying to reach Makar Port to refuel, local reports say.

Local marine salvage firm Harbor Star Shipping Services has been contracted to remove the stranded vessel.

PCG is now investigating if the cruise ship has damaged coral reefs in the area. [16/12/14]

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