President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Philippine Coast Guard to inspect dredgers in Manila Bay following a report on a vessel changing identities. The dredger Kang Ling 539 was found using multiple flags while operating. This ties into broader controversies over reclamation projects in the area.
On January 6, 2026, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to board all dredgers operating in Manila Bay as part of the reclamation project and inspect their vessel registration and Automatic Identification System (AIS), used to track vessel movements.
According to Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, who quoted the PCG, the orders follow a report from SeaLight, a maritime incursion watchdog. The report details the dredger Kang Ling 539, which originated from Zhangzhou, China, and switched identities—including flags—while sailing to Manila Bay and then to the Santo Tomas River in Zambales.
On January 3, 2026, the vessel used the name Kang Ling 539 but simultaneously appeared as Sierra Leone-flagged, then Philippine-flagged. It shed its Philippine flag near the Bataan Peninsula before turning back into Manila Bay, according to SeaLight, which tracked it using AIS data, International Maritime Organization records, and various monitoring systems.
PCG spokesperson Captain Noemie Cayabyab stated that Kang Ling 539 had been previously apprehended for safety-related violations, with appropriate actions taken. “The PCG has made it clear that should detainable violations still be present, and if the vessel is found to have been allowed to sail despite such violations, administrative sanctions to all involved PCG personnel will be imposed,” she said. The investigation is ongoing, and other dredgers will also be inspected.
The operator, Golden Tiger Shipping Agencies, Incorporated, insisted in a letter that the vessel’s importation, flag change, and identifications were all legitimate, supported by logs, voyage data, port clearances, and regulatory findings. “The vessel has maintained consistent traceable records... We have nothing to conceal and openly welcome inspections, verifications, and technical reviews,” the company added. It made no mention of the prior safety violations.
Reclamation projects in Manila Bay have long been controversial due to potential environmental harm and security risks.
