ZAMBOANGA CITY — A 16-member team of technical wreck divers from Manila has arrived in Zamboanga City to help locate the sunken MV Trisha Kerstin 3 and recover any remaining passengers, as authorities step up search and recovery operations following the deadly ferry sinking off Basilan.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said the specialist dive team arrived Tuesday and is set to begin operations Wednesday. 

They will focus on waters about 2.75 nautical miles northeast of Baluk-Baluk Island in the town of Hadji Muhtama, Basilan, where the roll-on/roll-off ferry went down early Monday.

The vessel is believed to be resting at a depth of 76 meters (249 feet) —well beyond the reach of regular dive equipment. “It will need technical divers and specialized gear to check the deck of the vessel. Planning and preparations for the diving operation are ongoing as part of the maritime casualty investigation,” Gavan said.

At least 10 people remain missing, including eight crew members, the ship’s captain, and a PCG sea marshal assigned to the voyage. So far, the tragedy has claimed 18 lives, including an infant, while 316 passengers were rescued, the Coast Guard said. Survivors were brought to Isabela City, where local hospitals were briefly overwhelmed by the sudden influx of patients. Most have since been declared stable.

The MV Trisha Kerstin 3 departed Zamboanga City at around 9:20 p.m. Sunday, bound for Jolo, Sulu, carrying 344 passengers and crew — well within its authorized capacity of 352. Around 1:50 a.m. Monday, the vessel sent a distress call before capsizing amid rough seas and sudden weather changes, according to Coast Guard accounts.

Shipping fleet grounded

In response, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) ordered the immediate suspension of the entire passenger fleet of Aleson Shipping Lines, which owns and operates the ill-fated vessel. Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has tasked him to personally oversee both the government response and a “full-blown” investigation.

Lopez added that the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and PCG have 10 days to conduct a full maritime safety audit of all Aleson passenger ships and crews. “If the investigation reveals government negligence, we will file cases against the officials. We are exacting accountability,” he said. Regulators will also review how safety clearances were issued, especially in light of the company’s operating record.

The investigation will cover cargo securing, the accuracy of passenger and crew manifests, weather and sea conditions at the time of sailing, crew competency, and the condition of life jackets and other safety equipment. Authorities noted that overloading does not appear to be a factor, though no final conclusions have been reached.

Oil sheen observed, no spill

Gavan ruled out an oil spill at the sinking site but confirmed authorities are containing a thin oil sheen seeping from the vessel, which is carrying more than 25,000 liters of diesel.

“We only saw an oil sheen during aerial surveillance. It was just a thin layer on the sea surface,” Gavan said. The sheen is approximately 1 nanometer thick, with a diameter of 7 to 10 meters. Diesel, classified as light oil, dissipates quickly in water, he explained.

Depth challenges and technical dives

The depth of the sunken ferry poses a challenge for recovery operations. Regular scuba gear cannot reach 76 meters safely, so technical divers with specialized equipment are required to inspect the vessel, particularly the deck where passengers may have been trapped. Authorities are also coordinating the diving schedule to ensure safety while maximizing recovery efforts.

VP Sara expresses condolences

Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday extended condolences to the families of the passengers who perished.

“I am saddened by the tragedy that befell the MV Trisha Kerstin 3, which sank in the waters near Baluk-Baluk Island, Basilan, yesterday,” Duterte said in a statement in Filipino.

“We at the Office of the Vice President extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who perished in this incident,” she added.

Duterte also called for prayers for the safety of the missing passengers and the rescuers still at work.

““We also pray for the safety and courage of the rescuers who continue to serve despite the challenges and dangers at sea,” she said.

A route marked by tragedy

This incident follows a route already marked by maritime accidents. In 2023, 31 people died when the ferry MV Lady Mary Joy 3 caught fire while traveling from Zamboanga to Jolo.

Maritime accidents remain a persistent concern in the Philippines, an archipelago of over 7,000 islands that relies heavily on ferries for inter-island travel. Experts continue to cite human error, poor seamanship, and weak enforcement as recurring factors in deadly incidents.

Officials said the Basilan sinking could become a test case for stricter enforcement of domestic ferry safety rules. Lopez noted that the audit of Aleson Shipping Lines could feed into a broader review of regulations affecting the country’s entire domestic fleet — not just a single operator.