A fire drill by a ship triggered a massive search operation off the Philippine coast near Subic port last week to locate what was believed to be a burning vessel with more than 200 passengers on board, officials said. Several rescue vessels, helicopters and planes were dispatched after an official at Subic heard a distress message and thought there was a genuine emergency, said Coast Guard Operations chief Commander Efren Sabas. Subic port officials earlier told reporters the MV Palawan Princess was on fire some seven nautical miles south of Subic Bay, according to coordinates they received from the distress call. Most of the passengers were rescued, they said later. "It was a drill by the Palawan Princess while tied at the pier in Manila," said Sabas.