Video: Philippine Coast Guard Completes 27-Day Deep-Water Search Of Sunken MV Trisha Kerstin 3, 14 Still Missing

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has completed a full underwater search of the sunken MV Trisha Kerstin 3 after 27 days of high-risk deep-water diving off Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan.

The Ro-Pax ferry sank on January 26, 2026, about 2.75 nautical miles northeast of Baluk-Baluk Island after departing Zamboanga City Port. The disaster has left 65 people confirmed dead, 293 survivors, and 14 individuals still missing.

The operation marks one of the most complex technical wreck dives conducted in Philippine waters in recent years.

According to the PCG, diving operations began on January 28 and ended on February 23. The vessel lies at a depth of approximately 76 metres.

Over nearly four weeks, 19 technical wreck divers worked inside the submerged ferry under extreme conditions. They recovered 22 bodies from different sections of the vessel.

Commodore Rejard Marfe, Commander of Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao, stated that divers operated in strong underwater currents and near-zero visibility caused by heavy siltation.

Submerged hazards, structural instability, oil contamination, and scattered debris made the dives more dangerous.

The team systematically searched Deck A, Deck B, the car deck with vehicles still onboard, and the engine room. The engine room was penetrated despite oil presence and limited visibility.

All dives were documented through underwater video recordings to support the ongoing investigation.

Underwater assessments show that the vessel is listing to port. Both exposed sides of the hull, including the ramps, remain intact with no visible external fractures.

On the car deck, partially collapsed vehicles leaning toward the left side created obstructions, making interior access more difficult. Divers had to clear silt, debris, and collapsed materials that may have shifted due to currents.

The PCG confirmed that while the entire vessel has been searched, dive operations will continue until February 26 to conduct “re-swiping procedures.”

Re-swiping involves returning to previously searched sections for a second, more deliberate inspection.

Divers re-enter decks, cabins, the engine room, and the car deck to visually and physically re-check spaces. Tight corners, blind spots, areas beneath vehicles, behind bulkheads, and under debris are inspected again.

The process also confirms negative findings to ensure no victims or evidence remain in cleared areas. The PCG said the objective is to ensure that no location where a person may have been trapped is left unchecked.

After consolidating data, authorities confirmed 293 survivors, 65 fatalities, and 14 people still unaccounted for.

Some recovered bodies have yet to be identified. The remains were turned over to the Philippine National Police-Scene of the Crime Operations for proper disposition. Families have provided DNA samples to assist in identification.

In cases where identification documents were found, families were immediately informed. Where bodies could not be readily identified, forensic DNA comparison is being conducted.

Over the weekend, divers recovered the remains of crewmember Rodolfo Cabilan Jr., who was found on the car deck. His identity was confirmed by personal belongings, according to local reports.

The investigation into the sinking is ongoing. More than a dozen public officials have been dismissed for allegedly allowing the operator, Aleson Shipping Lines, to continue operating vessels in reportedly unseaworthy conditions.

Survivors have claimed that some life vest storage compartments were locked and that the vessel may have been overloaded.

Some accounts also suggest the ship was already listing at departure. Initial indications reportedly show that the vessel may have exceeded its rated capacity, according to senior investigators with maritime regulator MARINA.

Calls for criminal accountability have also emerged, with demands for prosecution of those responsible for the casualty voyage.

The Trisha Kerstin 3 sinking is the deadliest maritime incident in Philippine waters since the August 16, 2013 disaster involving the ferry St. Thomas Aquinas. That collision off Cebu province resulted in 108 confirmed deaths and 29 people unaccounted for among 870 passengers and crew.

References: MB, PCG

Source: Maritime Shipping News