September 17, 2026 | 06:32 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Basarnas (the National Search and Rescue Agency) is preparing a salvage operation—supported by expert teams from Hong Kong, the United States, and Indonesia—to expand search options for victims of the KM Virgo Transport 8 accident in the Java Sea, amidst challenging weather conditions.
Basarnas Head Mohammad Syafii stated that foreign and domestic experts would observe and assess the vessel's condition to determine operational steps and equipment requirements prior to the salvage operation—the process of recovering or lifting a distressed vessel.
Salvage operations are conducted to handle vessels involved in accidents, particularly those that have sunk, capsized, run aground, or sustained severe damage. The operation itself may involve securing the vessel, righting it, gaining access to its interior, searching for and evacuating victims, and subsequently moving or towing the vessel from the accident site.
"Most of the expert team members are coming from Jakarta. Some personnel are already on-site, while the rest of the team is scheduled to arrive tomorrow around 10:00 AM," Syafii said during a press conference regarding the fourth day of the KM Virgo Transport 8 SAR operation at Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Wednesday evening.
He noted that the team currently on-site would be joined by additional personnel before conducting an aerial observation. Afterward, the team would return to Banjarmasin for a coordination meeting based on the assessment of the vessel's condition.
Based on the meeting's outcome, the team would determine the necessary equipment and resources. Equipment could be brought in from Surabaya, Kalimantan, or other regions, depending on the situation and operational needs on the ground.
Syafii explained that the salvage operation is being prepared as a contingency in case underwater searches remain impossible due to adverse sea weather. One proposed plan involves righting the vessel using inflatable bags, allowing the team to search the interior and evacuate victims.
Once the SAR process is deemed complete, the vessel will be towed away for investigation purposes. The execution of the salvage will be tailored to the findings of the expert team's observation and assessment of the vessel's condition. “Based on the expertise and experience of the specialist team, the salvage process is expected to take around 24 hours provided all stages proceed smoothly; however, the duration could extend if the team encounters difficulties or unforeseen conditions,” said Syafii.
The KM Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 people when it sailed from Surabaya, East Java, bound for Banjarmasin on September 12, 2026.
The vessel reportedly encountered bad weather and lost contact before being found capsized in the waters of Masalembo, Java Sea, at 01:00 WIB (Western Indonesian Time) on September 13, 2026.
As of Wednesday (September 16) at 22:00 WITA (Central Indonesian Time), Basarnas confirmed that 114 victims had been located, comprising 108 survivors and six fatalities.
Of the 243 people listed on the KM Virgo Transport 8 manifest, 129 remain missing.
Read: Virgo Transport 8 Wreckage Remains Visible Underwater After Shifting 450 Meters
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