DOTr: M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 possibly sank due to overloading

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday said overloading was one of the potential causes of the sinking of M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 off Basilan waters.

In a press conference, DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez shared this development following the initial findings from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

“Ang isa po sa mga natukoy na potential causes sa paglubog ng barko ay 'yung sinasabi nating may posibilidad ng overcapacity at overloading. Ito po ay dahil kapag may overloading or overcapacity, posibleng pong nagkaroon ng cargo shift doon sa mga rolling cargoes noong vessel,” he said.

(One of the potential causes identified for the sinking of the ship is the possibility of overcapacity and overloading. This is because when there is overloading or overcapacity, it is possible that there will be a cargo shift in the rolling cargoes on the vessel.)

“Ang overloading or overcapacity is the combined rate of the passengers and the rolling cargoes versus doon sa actual capacity na kayang buhatin ng barko (the actual capacity the vessel can carry),” he added.

Rolling cargoes such as trucks and motorcycles were also not weighed at the port prior to departure, based on the investigation.

“This is a live figure. Validation has been ongoing. But as of this morning, this is the figure, we have 293 survivors, 52 cadavers have been recovered, and we have 24 missing. The authorized passenger capacity is 352. It is allowed to have 24 crew, excluding the ancillaries,” Lopez said.

Among other possible causes of the sinking of M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 were poor seamanship and safety violations, according to Lopez.

“May nakita din pong poor seamanship, ibig sabihin yung competence ng mga tripulante lalo na noong nagsimulang pumasok 'yung tubig sa barko,” Lopez said.

(Poor seamanship was also found, meaning the competence of the crew, especially when water began to enter the ship.)

“Lumabas din ang inconsistencies, which is still subject to further validation by the Coast Guard, doon sa numero ng pasahero as per the passenger manifest kumpara doon sa mga numero ng survivors or still missing at recovered,” he added.

(Inconsistencies, which are still subject to further validation by the Coast Guard, also emerged in the number of passengers as per the passenger manifest compared to the numbers of survivors or still missing and recovered.) 

Aside from these, Lopez said there were “safety deficiencies” that were recorded in M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 but a seaworthiness certificate was still issued.

The safety audit was conducted by a third party provider MARINA-accredited private classification society identified as Orient Shipping Lines.

Lopez pointed out that MARINA should not have accepted the recommendation from the third party provider considering the documented deficiencies.

"Itong M/V Trisha Kirsten 3 meron na itong safety deficiencies gayunpaman nabigyan sila ng safety certificate, seaworthiness certificate. Dapat hindi tinanggap ng MARINA (M/V Trisha Kirsten 3 has safety deficiencies but it was still given safety certificate, seaworthiness certificate. MARINA should not have accepted it)," he said.

Filing of charges

Due to this, Lopez ordered the filing of administrative complaints against the owner of the Aleson Shipping Lines and crew of the sunken ship as well as several PCG and MARINA personnel in Zamboanga Peninsula.

The DOTr is also planning to file criminal charges.

"Inutusan din natin ang DOTr Legal na makipag-ugnayan sa MARINA at Coast Guard upang aralin at paghandaan ang pagsasampa ng criminal case against the officers, owners of Aleson Shipping Lines kasama na rin po mga tripulante," Lopez said.  

(I have ordered the DOTr Legal to coordinate with MARINA and Coast Guard to study and prepare the filing of criminal against against the officers, owners of Aleson Shipping Lines, including the crew.)

Several PCG and MARINA personnel in the region have also been suspended, according to Lopez.

M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 on the evening of January 25 departed from Port of Zamboanga City for Jolo, Sulu but it submerged in Basilan waters on the morning of January 26.

The DOTr earlier grounded the entire fleet of Aleson Shipping Lines as authorities conducted a maritime safety and inspection audit following the incident. 

Considering the initial findings, the DOTr maintained the grounding of the Aleson ships.

On Wednesday, the PCG said the fatalities from the incident increased to 52 and the survivors remained at 316.—with a report from Bernadette Reyes/AOL, GMA Integrated News