The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Friday, Jan. 30, that the roll-on/roll-off vessel M/V Trisha Kirsten 3 may have been overloaded when it sank off Basilan.
PCG spokesperson Captain Noemie Cayabyab explained that this assessment was based on the recovery of 11 bodies on Thursday, Jan. 29, near the suspected wreck site about 2.75 nautical miles northeast of Baluk-Baluk Island.
The number of recovered fatalities exceeded the missing persons listed in the initial passenger manifest submitted by the ship’s crew, raising concerns about possible discrepancies and overloading.
The manifest earlier stated that the vessel was carrying 359 individuals when it sank on Jan. 26, including 332 passengers and 27 crew members.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan earlier said the vessel was not overloaded as he noted that the authorized passenger capacity of the ship was 352, excluding crew members.
The PCG later clarified that 15 passengers listed in the manifest did not board the vessel, reducing the count of those onboard to 344.
Based on initial records, 316 were rescued, 18 died, and 10 were reported missing. The missing included eight crew members, the ship captain, and a PCG sea marshal.
However, Cayabyab said the discovery of additional bodies raised serious questions.
“Based on our operations yesterday, we were able to recover 11 individuals. This means that from the initial 10 reported missing, the number increased,” she said.
“We are not discounting the possibility of overloading based on the new information we have been receiving,” Cayabyab added.
As of Jan. 30, the PCG confirmed 316 survivors and 29 fatalities.
The number of missing remains undetermined due to continuing reports from families claiming their relatives were on board.
“There is a possibility that some individuals boarded who were not included in the passenger manifest. There is also a possibility that some listed in the manifest did not actually board,” Cayabyab said.
“We are validating all information with families. This is in coordination with the shipping company and is part of the ongoing investigation,” she added. (Martin Sadongdong)
