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The Department of Transportation ordered immediate grounding of Aleson Shipping Lines’ entire passenger fleet after one of its vessels sank on January 26
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The accident involving the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 left at least 18 dead and 10 missing; 316 have been rescued
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DOTr also ordered a nationwide audit and inventory of all passenger vessels
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The Philippine Coast Guard has 15 days to complete full investigation of the sinking
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) ordered the immediate grounding of all passenger vessels operated by Aleson Shipping Lines after one of its vessels sank on January 26, leaving at least 18 dead and 10 others still missing.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez directed the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), to carry out the audit following the sinking of MV Trisha Kerstin 3 en route from Zamboanga City to Jolo, Sulu.
The 10 missing includes the ship’s captain, eight crew members, and a PCG marshal. A total of 316 passengers have been rescued as of January 27, according to the PCG.
The grounding of Aleson’s passenger fleet was issued in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive for a full-blown investigation into the incident, according to DOTr.
Lopez instructed the PCG to complete its investigation within 15 days and to immediately deploy personnel to conduct emergency readiness evaluations, safety inspections, and audits on two Aleson vessels operating the Bongao, Tawi-Tawi-Zamboanga and Jolo-Zamboanga routes.
“We are grounding the entire fleet of Aleson Shipping Lines, and I’m asking MARINA to conduct a maritime safety audit together with the Philippine Coast Guard, not only of the vessels, but also of their crew,” Lopez said during a visit to Zamboanga City.
The transport chief said the investigation aims to determine the cause of the sinking and identify any possible lapses on the part of both the shipping company and government regulators.
“If we exact accountability from ship owners, we will exact even higher accountability from the government,” he said.
Lopez also ordered MARINA to submit a comprehensive maritime safety audit and inventory of the country’s entire passenger vessel fleet, with results expected in the coming days.
“The President consistently reminds us that maritime safety is not negotiable; it is not optional. Business considerations are only secondary. Maritime safety will always be the paramount and primordial concern,” Lopez said.
He added that, in the meantime, Aleson Shipping Lines must prioritize the swift processing of insurance claims and the provision of emergency assistance to the families of the victims and to rescued passengers, stressing that the process should be streamlined and made accessible.
“Once again, we convey the condolences of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the DOTr, and the entire government to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragedy,” Lopez said.
