DOTr Grounds Entire Aleson Fleet Over Deadly Basilan Sinking, Cites 32 Maritime Incidents Since 2019 on NewsLine Philippines - Building Information Highway for the Community
DAVAO CITY (January 28) — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has ordered the immediate grounding of the entire passenger fleet of Zamboanga City–based Aleson Shipping Lines following the deadly sinking of M/V Trisha Kirstin 3 off Baluk-Baluk Island, Basilan, on January 26, an incident that has once again thrust the shipping firm’s troubled safety record into the national spotlight.
Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez announced the sweeping suspension on Tuesday, January 27, after reviewing company records showing that Aleson had been linked to at least 32 maritime incidents over the past seven years, including fatal accidents involving its passenger vessels.
The latest tragedy has so far claimed 18 lives, among them a child, while 10 others, mostly crew members, remain missing, according to authorities. Search and rescue operations continued on Wednesday as families of the victims gathered anxiously at ports and evacuation centers in Basilan and Zamboanga City, many demanding answers and accountability after years of repeated maritime disasters involving the same operator.
A History of Deadly Incidents
The sinking of Trisha Kirstin 3 is not an isolated case.
In March 2023, more than 30 passengers were killed when M/V Lady Mary Joy 3, another Aleson vessel, caught fire off the waters near Basilan, forcing hundreds to jump into the sea. That incident triggered temporary suspensions, safety inspections, and promises of reform — yet critics now argue that systemic failures persisted.
Lopez said the DOTr’s internal review revealed that since 2019, Aleson vessels had been involved in dozens of incidents, ranging from engine failures and groundings to fires and sinkings, raising serious questions about regulatory oversight, enforcement, and follow-through by maritime authorities.
“So I’m asking MARINA: What did we do for the last how many years? Where are the reports? What were our shortcomings?” Lopez said during a news conference streamed live on Facebook, signaling a broader policy reckoning beyond the shipowner alone.
Grounding, Audits, and Accountability
In response to the sinking of Basilan, Lopez directed the Philippine Coast Guard to conduct a 15-day formal investigation into the incident.
He also ordered both the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the PCG to complete a maritime safety audit of Aleson Shipping and its crew within 10 days, while mandating a nationwide audit of the entire domestic passenger fleet.
A full investigation, Lopez said, would proceed under direct orders from Malacañang, emphasizing that accountability would extend not only to the shipowner but also to government officials if negligence or regulatory lapses are established.
“When it comes to maritime safety, that is not negotiable. That is not optional. Business considerations are just secondary,” Lopez said.
“If we exact accountability from shipowners, we are going to exact higher accountability from people in government.”
Questions on Vessel Stability and Lashing
Authorities earlier clarified that the Trisha Kirstin 3 was not overloaded in terms of passenger capacity. Data showed 317 passengers and 27 crew members were on board, although the ship’s manifest listed 332 passengers, some of whom reportedly did not board. The vessel’s maximum capacity is 352 persons.
However, investigators are now examining whether improper lashing of vehicles on board may have contributed to the sinking.
In a video interview posted by GMA News, Khymer Adan Olaso, a former ship captain, said initial findings point to the possible failure of vehicle restraints, which may have allowed cargo to shift amid rough seas, causing the vessel to list and eventually capsize. Olaso is also the son-in-law of the owner of Aleson Shipping, a relationship that has fueled calls for heightened transparency in the investigation.
TIMELINE: Aleson Shipping Incidents and Sanctions
2019–2022 | Recurrent Operational Incidents
Records reviewed by the Department of Transportation show multiple maritime incidents involving vessels operated by Aleson Shipping Lines, including engine failures, mechanical delays, and navigational issues.
These incidents were generally addressed through spot inspections, temporary clearances, and corrective advisories, rather than long-term suspension of operations.
March 2023 | M/V Lady Mary Joy 3 Fire (Basilan Waters)
M/V Lady Mary Joy 3 caught fire off Basilan, killing more than 30 passengers.
Survivors reported panic, lack of clear emergency instructions, and delayed rescue.
Sanctions imposed:
Temporary suspension of selected vessels
Safety inspections by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)
Corrective measures were ordered before resumption
Outcome: Operations eventually resumed after compliance, despite calls from victims’ families for stronger penalties and criminal accountability.
2023–2024 | Continued Operations
Despite the deadly 2023 fire, Aleson vessels continued servicing major Mindanao routes.
No public record of long-term franchise suspension or revocation was issued.
January 26, 2026 | M/V Trisha Kirstin 3 Sinking (Baluk-Baluk Island, Basilan)
M/V Trisha Kirstin 3 sank amid rough seas.
At least 18 deaths confirmed, including a child; 10 still missing, mostly crew members.
Investigators are examining the possible failure of the vehicle lashing, which may have caused the cargo to shift and the vessel to list.
January 27, 2026 | Entire Fleet Grounded
Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez ordered the grounding of Aleson’s entire passenger fleet after discovering the company had been linked to 32 maritime incidents since 2019.
Orders issued:
15-day PCG investigation
10-day maritime safety audit of Aleson and its crew
Nationwide audit of the domestic passenger fleet.
32 Incidents, Two Deadly Disasters: How Many Warnings Were Missed?
The grounding of Aleson Shipping’s entire fleet did not come from a single tragedy—it came after years of warnings.
When Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez revealed that Aleson had been involved in 32 maritime incidents over seven years, the disclosure reframed the sinking of M/V Trisha Kirstin 3 not as an accident but as the latest consequence of repeated system failures.
In March 2023, the burning of M/V Lady Mary Joy 3 left more than 30 people dead and shocked the nation. Temporary suspensions and inspections followed—but Aleson eventually returned to full operations. Families of the victims have since asked a painful question: Why was a company with a fatal record allowed to keep sailing?
Government sanctions historically imposed on erring shipping firms—temporary suspensions, compliance audits, and corrective orders—have rarely escalated to franchise revocation or criminal accountability. This regulatory pattern has drawn criticism from maritime safety advocates, who argue that penalties are reactive rather than preventive.
Lopez’s pointed question to regulators underscores the issue:
“What did we do for the last how many years? Where are the reports?”
The current investigation now extends beyond Aleson’s management to the watchdogs themselves—the Maritime Industry Authority and the Philippine Coast Guard—whose inspections and clearances allowed operations to resume after previous incidents.
Meanwhile, families of the latest victims wait at ports and evacuation centers, some still hoping their loved ones will be found. For them, the fleet grounding offers little comfort unless it leads to lasting reform, not another cycle of tragedy, inquiry, and resumption.
The question now facing the government is stark:
Will the sinking of Trisha Kirstin 3 finally mark a break from regulatory leniency—or will it join a growing list of disasters that changed nothing?
Families Left Waiting
As divers and investigators work at sea, families of the victims continue to wait — some mourning confirmed deaths, others clinging to hope as loved ones remain unaccounted for. Many survivors and relatives have renewed calls for stronger sanctions, long-term suspensions, and criminal liability where warranted, saying past penalties imposed on erring shipping firms have failed to prevent repeat tragedies.
PCG Commandant Ronnie Gil Gavan said an initial team of six technical divers was deployed to Basilan on Wednesday, January 28, with 10 more divers to follow to support underwater search, retrieval, and forensic assessment of the wreck.
For Lopez, the Basilan sinking represents more than a single maritime accident; it is a test of whether the government can finally break a cycle of disaster, investigation, suspension, and repetition that has long haunted the country’s domestic shipping industry.
As grieving families demand justice, the coming weeks will determine whether the grounding of Aleson’s fleet marks a turning point in maritime safety enforcement or becomes yet another chapter in a pattern the public has seen too many times before.-Editha Z Caduaya
The post DOTr Grounds Entire Aleson Fleet Over Deadly Basilan Sinking, Cites 32 Maritime Incidents Since 2019 appeared first on NewsLine Philippines.
DOTr Grounds Entire Aleson Fleet Over Deadly Basilan Sinking, Cites 32 Maritime Incidents Since 2019
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