The passenger vessel M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, operated by Aleson Shipping Lines, sank off Pilas Island in Basilan early morning of January 26, 2026, while en route from Zamboanga City to Jolo, Sulu.
The ship, which carried 342 registered passengers according to its manifest, was built in 1995 and previously served in Japan as Camellia II before being acquired in 2010.
Local authorities have so far recovered more than 13 bodies, though the final casualty count remains uncertain as search and rescue operations continue.
The Philippine Coast Guard, together with disaster response units, immediately deployed maritime assets to aid in the rescue efforts.
Measuring 47.9 meters long and 12 meters wide, the vessel also has a sister ship, the M/V Reina de Luna, under Montenegro Shipping Lines.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the sinking.
