The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday, Jan. 7, ordered a new inspection of a suspected Chinese dredger accused of operating with irregularities in Manila Bay and nearby waters.

PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan directed the Coast Guard District National Capital Region–Central Luzon to recheck the compliance of the dredger “Kang Ling 539” with Philippine maritime rules.

It turns out that the vessel had already been apprehended in the past for safety-related violations, “for which appropriate enforcement actions were undertaken.”

“The PCG has made it clear that should detainable violations still be present, and if the vessel is found to have been allowed to sail despite such violations, administrative sanctions to all involved PCG personnel will be imposed,” PCG spokesperson Capt. Noemie Cayabyab said.

Prior to this, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed the PCG to board and inspect all dredgers participating in the Manila Bay reclamation works. The inspections shall include verification of vessel registration and automatic identification system (AIS) transmissions to check compliance with the country’s maritime regulations.

The order came after reports that the dredger, which reportedly originated from China, was using multiple identities while operating in Philippine waters.

Maritime analyst Ray Powell said the dredger transmitted at least 30 different vessel identities and sailed under various flag states, including the Philippines, Sierra Leone, China, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Panama, while traveling between Manila Bay and a dredging site in Zambales for more than two years.

He said this raised red flags over possible violations of maritime and domestic regulations.

Philippine regulations require dredgers operating between domestic points to be at least 60 percent Filipino-owned, Philippine-flagged, and manned by Filipino crew.

Foreign-owned or foreign-flagged vessels are not allowed to conduct dredging unless they are reflagged and placed under qualified local ownership.

In May 2025, Marcos called for a nationwide investigation into dredging and reclamation activities in the country amid growing environmental concerns and reports that sand from Philippine waters might have been sent to Chinese land reclamation projects.