DOTr orders Marina to file admin cases vs Aleson over ferry tragedy

DOTr orders Marina to file admin cases vs Aleson over ferry tragedy
Mary Joy Salcedo - February 11, 2026 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2180651/dotr-orders-marina-to-file-admin-c...

Lopez: Ferry sinking may have been caused by overloading

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has ordered the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) to file administrative cases against Aleson Shipping Lines, owner of MV Trisha Kerstin 3, which sank off the coast of Basilan province, killing 52 people.

This follows the completion of the 15-day maritime initial investigation by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Marina into Aleson and its crew members.

“We have instructed Marina to file administrative cases against Aleson Shipping Lines to determine whether or not to revoke their franchise,” Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said in a press conference along with Marina Administrator Sonia Malaluan and PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan on Wednesday.

“This also includes filing administrative cases against the crew of MV Trisha Kerstin 3, and we have already suspended their seaman’s identification documents,” he added.

Lopez said six PCG personnel and eight from Marina involved in the sinking were relieved from their posts, noting that some also face administrative cases.

Lopez also said he instructed Marina to suspend the accreditation of Orient Shipping Lines, the third-party classification society that issued the safety certificate for MV Trisha Kerstin 3.

In addition, he ordered the DOTr legal team to coordinate with Marina and the PCG to study and prepare for the possible filing of criminal cases against the officers and owners of Aleson, as well as the vessel’s crew.

‘Overloading’

According to Lopez, the initial report from the PCG and Marina revealed that one of the potential causes of the incident was that the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 may have been overloaded.

“One of the identified potential causes of the vessel’s sinking is the possibility of overcapacity and overloading, because when there is overloading or overcapacity, cargoes—particularly rolling cargoes—can shift on the vessel,” Lopez explained.

“Overloading or overcapacity refers to the combined weight of passengers and rolling cargoes compared with the vessel’s actual carrying capacity,” he added.

He also said the investigation found that the rolling cargoes, such as trucks and motorcycles, did not pass through the weighing bridge at the port.

“This means we did not weigh them, so we do not have their actual weight. All we have are informal estimations,” he said.

In addition, the acting DOTr secretary cited possible crew incompetence, particularly during the initial entry of water into the vessel before it eventually sank.

“The MV Trisha Kerstin 3 already has safety deficiencies; yet, it was still issued a seaworthiness certificate,” he added.

Shortly after midnight on Jan. 26, the RoRo passenger vessel, which departed from Zamboanga City bound for Jolo in Sulu, sank off Barangay Baluk-Baluk Island in Hadji Muhtamad town, Basilan.