This is the dramatic moment waves battered a port as passengers struggled to board a ferry.

Maria Janeth Cabrera and her fellow travellers were caught in dangerously rough seas at Santa Fe Port on Bantayan Island, Cebu.

Footage shows the Super Shuttle Ferry heaving violently at its berth, with another vessel tossed by the swell behind it on January 4.

As the sea deluged the docking area, terrified passengers could be heard screaming while Coast Guard officers desperately ushered the crowd away from the water's edge.

A grey Ford pickup truck was forced to manoeuvre quickly away from the loading ramp to avoid being swept away as the platform swayed precariously.

Maria said: 'The waves were simply too powerful and we couldn't board safely. When the conditions failed to improve, the Coast Guard announced that the crossing had been cancelled.'

Bantayan Island is known for its calm, crystalline waters during the dry season, yet it is also prone to treacherous seas and destructive waves that frequently force ferry cancellations. During the monsoon season, the crossing becomes increasingly perilous, with powerful swells often bringing the busy port of Santa Fe to a complete standstill.