Aleson sets two October sailings for MV Antonia 1 between Zamboanga and Sandakan

Daily Express reported on 16 October 2026 that Aleson Shipping Lines will sail MV Antonia 1 from Zamboanga City to Sandakan on 20 October at 1pm, with the return on 22 October. The paper said these are the only two October trips announced so far, and that further trips will depend on passenger uptake and cross-border-agency arrangements.

The report described the sailings as a resumption of the Zamboanga–Sandakan service. It said the crossing can be used for organised repatriation movements as well as ordinary passenger travel. Aleson told the paper it does not arrange deportation orders itself, but can accept officially referred repatriation group passengers with prior advance co-ordination. Travellers, including those in official groups, need complete valid travel documents. The paper said repatriation queries should go to Malaysian Immigration and Philippine consular offices rather than to shipping ticket counters. The route also serves family-reunion travellers, small-scale traders and tourists.