Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine authorities said on February 11 that overloading may have been a key factor in the sinking of a ferry in the country’s south last month, as the death toll rose to 52 after another body was recovered from the wreck.
At a press briefing, the Philippines’ Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the sunken vessel, M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, had committed multiple safety violations and that its owner, Aleson Shipping Lines, had breached administrative regulations. He noted that overcapacity and overloading were among the possible causes of the tragedy.
Preliminary findings showed that vehicles on board the ferry at the time of the accident, including trucks and motorcycles, did not pass through weighing stations as required, nor were they weighed in accordance with regulations. If the vessel had indeed been overloaded, it was highly likely that cargo may have shifted inside the ship’s hold, contributing to its capsizing, Lopez said.
The incident has also raised concerns about corruption, according to the transportation chief. Several members of the Philippine Coast Guard and the country’s maritime authority – agencies responsible for granting clearance for ships to depart port – are now under investigation.
Reiniel Pascual, an investigator with the maritime authority, confirmed based on crew statements that passengers did not receive any warning or public announcement about the emergency before the ferry sank and overturned.
The accident occurred on January 26 as M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 was sailing from the port city of Zamboanga to Jolo Island in Sulu province. The vessel reportedly experienced technical problems before sinking near Basilan province in southwestern Mindanao.
After verification and cross-checking with various parties, the Coast Guard confirmed that 372 people were on board at the time of the incident. Of these, 293 survived, a revision from the initial figure of 316 survivors. Meanwhile, 27 people remain missing.
The site of the capsizing lies along the same sea route where Lady Mary Joy 3 caught fire in 2023, killing 31 people. Both vessels were owned by local operator Aleson Shipping Lines./.
