Ched Rick Gatchalian

The Philippine Coast Guard building is seen in this photo taken on August 25, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday said it has begun inspecting all 27 dredgers operating in waters off Manila Bay and Zambales, following a report detailing how a China-origin dredger switched “identities” while sailing through Philippine waters.

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday said it has begun inspecting all 27 dredgers operating in waters off Manila Bay and Zambales, following a report detailing how a China-origin dredger switched “identities” while sailing through Philippine waters.PCG spokesperson Captain Noemie Cayabyab told ABS-CBN News that the boarding of vessels started Tuesday and continued Wednesday as part of the inspection and investigation earlier ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/6/chinese-activities-in-the-west-ph-sea-seen-to-continue-in-2026-navy-spox-1547">READ: Chinese activities in the West PH Sea seen to continue in 2026—Navy spox</a></div>“Ang naging direktiba naman ng ating Pangulo is to conduct comprehensive inspection of all vessels, particularly itong dredging vessels operating in Manila Bay reclamation project. So, ongoing ang pagka-conduct ng inspection at investigation ng Philippine Coast Guard,” Cayabyab said in a phone interview.(The directive of our President is to conduct a comprehensive inspection of all vessels, particularly the dredging vessels operating in the Manila Bay reclamation project. So the Philippine Coast Guard is currently conducting inspections and investigations.)United States-based maritime incursion watchdog SeaLight earlier reported that the China-origin dredger Kang Ling 539 was found to have been broadcasting multiple identities, including different flags, while operating in Philippine waters.“Initially, itong nakita nating irregularities na na-report sa atin is ‘yong pag-o-off ng kanilang AIS o ‘yong Automatic Identification System at ‘yong pagbabago ng identities sa AIS,” Cayabyab said.(Initially, the irregularities reported to us involved the switching off of their AIS, or Automatic Identification System, and the changing of identities on the AIS.)Cayabyab said the subject vessel had previously been apprehended for safety-related violations, for which appropriate enforcement actions were taken. She declined to disclose specific details, citing the ongoing probe.“In case na mapapatunayan nga na during the inspection and investigation ay itong vessel na ‘to ay nag-operate at previously nag-undergo ng inspection at may detainable violation na nakita at pinayagan pa rin… all PCG personnel na involved ay they will definitely face administrative sanctions,” she said.(If it is proven during the inspection and investigation that this vessel was allowed to operate despite having previously undergone inspection and having a detainable violation, then all PCG personnel involved will definitely face administrative sanctions.)<div> </div><div>30 IDENTITIES</div>SeaLight reported that Kang Ling 539 has transmitted at least 30 different vessel identities while shuttling between Manila Bay and a dredging site in Zambales for more than two years.During its January 2 to 4 trip, Kang Ling 539 once again broadcast two identities while sailing in Manila Bay.After rounding the Bataan Peninsula around midnight, it dropped its Philippine identity and continued north using only its Sierra Leone identity, including during a four-hour dredging operation on the Santo Tomas River on January 3.The Philippine identity briefly reappeared before the vessel re-entered Manila Bay, disappeared again, and later returned when the ship anchored near the reclamation site, where it resumed broadcasting both identities.“Why does a single ship need 30 identities? This is a question someone needs to ask the crew, which has been shuttling between the Zambales dredging site and the Manila Bay land reclamation site since its arrival from China in August 2023, then under the flag of Sierra Leone. ” SeaLight director Ray Powell said.According to the report, the dredger has flown at least six different flags, including those of the Philippines, Sierra Leone, China, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Panama—raising concerns over possible violations of maritime and domestic regulations.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday said it has begun inspecting all 27 dredgers operating in waters off Manila Bay and Zambales, following a report detailing how a China-origin dredger switched “identities” while sailing through Philippine waters.

PCG inspects dredgers following report on identity-switching China-origin vessel

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PCG inspects dredgers following report on identity-switching China-origin vessel

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 07, 2026 04:40 PM PHT

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China

Dredger

Manila Bay

Zambales

SeaLight

Philippine Coast Guard

Reclamation

AIS

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