The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Tuesday, Jan. 27, ordered the grounding of the entire passenger fleet of Aleson Shipping Lines, the operator of the roll-on/roll off (RORO) vessel M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 that sank off Basilan, as a full-blown investigation was launched while search and rescue SAR operations continue for 10 missing individuals.

DOTr Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the directive came from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and covers all Aleson passenger vessels nationwide pending a maritime safety audit by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

“I was sent by President Bongbong Marcos to personally convey our condolences to all those who died in the tragedy that happened yesterday,” Lopez said in a press briefing at the Coast Guard Station (CGS) Zamboanga.

He directed Marina to submit a complete maritime safety audit of the entire domestic passenger fleet of Aleson Shipping Lines for inventory.

“We are grounding the entire passenger fleet of Aleson Shipping Lines. I am asking Marina to conduct a maritime safety audit together with the Coast Guard. This includes vessel inspection and crew assessment,” Lopez said.

Marina and the PCG were given 10 days to complete the audit and inspection as the decision on whether Aleson vessels will be allowed to resume operations will depend on the results.

“This will not only apply to Aleson. It will apply to the entire domestic fleet of the Philippines,” Lopez said.

Lopez questioned how safety clearances were issued to the company, noting Aleson’s record.

“I reviewed the maritime safety record of Aleson Shipping Lines. Since 2019, they have had 32 maritime incidents, including this one,” he said.

“So I am asking Marina, what did we do in the last several years? Where are the reports? What were our shortcomings?” he asked, adding that policy revisions may follow with regard to the issuance of permits to ship owners.

According to the initial investigation, MV Trisha Kerstin 3 was carrying 317 passengers and 27 crew members when it sank on Monday, Jan. 26, about 2.75 nautical miles northeast of Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan. This brings the total number of those aboard to 344, not 359 as earlier reported by the PCG.

“’Yung ibang pasahero hindi po tumuloy sa biyahe (Some passengers did not push through with the trip). That explains the difference,” Lopez said.

As of writing, the death toll stood at 18, including an infant, while 10 others were missing, including eight crew members, the ship captain, and a PCG marshal. A total of 316 individuals were also rescued.

PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan said there is a possibility that some passengers were not listed in the passenger manifest as some survivors were claiming they have yet to find their missing relatives.

“The President has ordered a full-blown investigation. We need this to determine all angles of what really happened. We also need to establish accountability on all sides, whether government or ship owner,” Lopez said.

“If the investigation shows there were shortcomings on the part of the government, you can be assured that heads will roll and we will file the appropriate cases. We are exacting accountability. The same applies to the ship owner. If the investigation shows they were at fault, we will expect the full force of the law,” the DOTr Chief added.

Lopez also directed Marina to ensure immediate assistance to victims’ families while Aleson Shipping Lines was ordered to prioritize the processing of the victims’ insurance claims and financial aid.

“When it comes to maritime safety, that is not negotiable. Business considerations are secondary. Maritime safety will always be the paramount and primordial concern of government,” he said.

The investigation into the Basilan sinking has a 15-day deadline for the PCG while a separate review of Marina policies will run parallel.

Asked about allegations that life jackets were defective or unavailable, Lopez said these would be covered by the probe.

“If that comes out in our investigation, then it will be addressed. This is not just about who is responsible. What is more important is how we move forward and institutionalize policies so this tragedy does not happen again,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gavan said technical wreck divers will begin underwater operations to inspect the wreck, which lies about 76 meters below the surface, on Wednesday, Jan. 28.

“Today, six technical divers from Manila will arrive with their equipment. They will start technical diving tomorrow. We have prepared 16 technical wreck divers. Others will arrive tomorrow. We will also deploy a remote operated vehicle (ROV) to assist,” he said.

He said no diving was conducted on the first day of the search as efforts focused on surface search.

“Technical diving is dangerous. At 76 meters, this is very deep. But we are doing everything we can by employing technical wreck divers,” Gavan said.

Asked about the missing captain, Gavan said it is standard maritime practice for a shipmaster to be the last to leave a vessel.

“I am not surprised that he is among the missing. That is unfortunate and saddening. But the expectation among all mariners is that the captain is the last to abandon ship,” he said.

Commodore Rejard Marfe, commander of the Coast Guard District of Southwestern Mindanao, said the official number of missing is based on the vessel manifest.

“We are basing this on the manifest. If there are others missing, that will be part of the investigation. That would mean there were people not listed,” Marfe said.

“As of now, 10 are declared missing because that is what is reflected as lacking in the manifest,” he noted.

Since the grounding of the entire fleet of Aleson Shipping Lines is expected to affect passenger and cargo mobility, Lopez said the disruption will be addressed by Marina through the issuance of special permits to other interested shipping companies.

Aleson Shipping Lines is reportedly the only shipping firm to operate in Zamboanga which carries passengers to Basilan, Jolo and other parts of the region.

“We instructed Marina to issue special permits to other shipping lines that are seaworthy and qualified. In routes where Aleson is the only operator, we requested the Coast Guard to provide free transport in the meantime,” Lopez said.

“Cargo concerns will be addressed separately,” the DOTr chief added.