Philippine officials have grounded the entire fleet of passenger ships belonging to Aleson Shipping Lines Inc. after one of its ferries sank off Basilan province, killing at least 18 people and leaving 10 missing. The M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 capsized early Monday while en route from Zamboanga to Jolo island, with 317 passengers and 27 crew on board. More than 300 people were rescued.
The coast guard and navy continue to search for the missing, including the captain and most of the crew. An oil sheen has been spotted, and divers will deploy a remotely operated vehicle to inspect the wreckage, estimated to be 76 metres below the surface. Transport Secretary Giovanni Lopez said 15 passengers had decided not to board at the last minute, reducing the initial count of 332.
The indefinite grounding of Aleson's ships will allow safety inspections, Lopez said, noting that the company had been involved in 32 safety-related incidents since 2019. Other carriers will be permitted to operate, and the coast guard may offer free rides to prevent transport disruption in a region heavily reliant on ferries. Aleson has not commented on the order.
Rescued passenger Mohamad Khan, who lost his six-month-old baby, recounted how the ferry suddenly listed, throwing him, his wife and others into the dark sea. The Philippines has a history of maritime disasters, often attributed to poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding and weak enforcement of safety regulations. The deadliest was the 1987 collision of the Dona Paz, which killed more than 4,300 people.
