DOTr grounds Aleson Shipping Lines pending 15 day-probe

Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez on Tueday ordered Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to to ground all passenger ships of Aleson Shipping Lines until a 15-days full-blown investigation of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is completed.

This directive follows the tragic sinking incident of of MV Tr isha Kerstin 3 while en route to Jolo, Sulu from Zamboanga City, which takes the 18 people's lives with 10 missing, including the ship's captain, eight crew members and PCG marshal.

316 total passengers has been rescued, according to PCG.

Emergency readiness evaluation, safety inspection and audit on two Aleson vessels travelling from Bongao, Tawi-Tawi to Zamboanga, and Jolo, Sulu to Zamboanga is to be done within the investigation, which ordered by President FErdinant MArcos Jr.

"If we exact accountability to the ship owners, we will exact higher accountability in the government," Lopez said during his visit to Zamboanga City.

The transport chief also directed MARINA to conduct and submit a comprehensive maritime safety audit and a full inventory of all passenger vessels nationwide.

The transport chief ordered MARINA to carry out a nationwide maritime safety audit and passenger vessel inventory, with results expected in the coming days.

"Parati pong inuulit ng Pangulo, ang maritime safety is not negotiable, it's not optional. Ang business consideration is only secondary (The President consistently reiterates that maritime safety is non-negotiable and not optional. Business considerations come only second." Lopez said.

"Maritime safety will always be the paramount and primordial concern," he continued.

Secretary Lopez emphasized that the shipping company must promptly expedite insurance claims and provide emergency assistance to victims’ families and rescued passengers, ensuring the process is simple and accessible.

They also have extended condolences to the berieved families of the incident.

“Muli, pinaparating po namin ang pakikiramay ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr., ng DOTr at ng buong pamahalaan sa mga nasawi po sa trahedya (Once again, we convey the condolences of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the DOTr, and the entire government to those who lost their lives in the tragedy)," transport chief said