Snapped lashing eyed as possible cause of M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 sinking

The sinking of the roll-on/roll-off (RORO) vessel M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 could be due to a lashing holding heavy cargo that snapped, said Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso.

Olaso, a former ship captain and husband to one of the owners of Aleson Shipping Lines which owns the ill-fated ship, said the lashing (a metal cable used to fasten cargo securely) could have snapped due to one of the ferry's heavy loads. 

“Siguro yung lashing materials hindi nakayanan. Siguro mabigat yung truck, baka overcapacity so hindi nila namataan ‘yon. Pumutok yung rolling materials gumanon ‘yung barko, nung nag-rolling siya, sumabay yung truck na ano, tumagilid. Kaya nung tumagilid yung truck nagkaroon siya ng angle of loll, and then dumire-diretso na lumubog ‘yung barko,” he said in Jonathan Andal’s report in “24 Oras” on Tuesday.

(Perhaps the lashing materials couldn't handle the strain. Maybe the truck was heavy, perhaps it was overcapacity, so they didn't notice it. The rolling materials snapped and the ship rolled to one side—when it rolled, the truck went with it and tilted. As the truck tilted, the ship hit an 'angle of loll,' and then the ship proceeded to sink.)

For its part, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that it is not discounting any possibility on what could have caused the sinking.

“That will be part of the investigation. We are not discounting any possibility,” said PCG chief Admiral Ronnie Gavan. 

The Coast Guard maintained their focus right now is to look for survivors from the mishap. 

“Sa ngayon, wala pa po kaming ginawang formal investigation, we focus on the search and rescue. Mas mahalaga sa ngayon ang buhay ng tao,” Gavan added.

(As of now, we have not conducted a formal investigation; we are focusing on the search and rescue. Right now, human lives are more important.)  

The PCG is also investigating whether squall, or sudden increase in wind speed that is often accompanied by heavy rains, could have caused the incident. 

“Itong area po na ito sa Bucal-Bucal at sa may Bilas Island, usually may squall dito, parang subasko po. Ito po yung biglaang paglakas ng hangin. We are also checking on that,” said PCG spokesperson Captain Noemie Cayabyab. 

(In the areas of Bucal-Bucal and near Bilas Island, there is usually a squall here, like a 'subasko' (sudden gust). This is a sudden increase in wind speed. We are also checking on that.) 

Although there’s an oil spill from the sunken ship, the PCG said that there’s nothing to worry about. 

It has already prepared an oil spill boom and oil dispersant for the thin sheen of oil on the sea’s surface. 

“Sa ngayon wala pa tayong kailangan ikabahala. Normally, yung oil nasa surface lang naman,” said PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gavan. 

(As of now, we have nothing to worry about. Normally, the oil stays only on the surface.) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News