The search for victims of the capsized and sunken Virgo Transport\nvessel in the Java Sea is ongoing, conducted by the National Search and\nRescue Agency (Basarnas). As previously reported, the KM Virgo Transport\n8, which was sailing from Surabaya to Balikpapan, lost contact before\nultimately sinking.<\/p>\n
To date, 129 victims of the KM Virgo Transport 8 remain missing. In\nfootage obtained on Friday, 18 September 2026, the Indonesian Navy\u2019s\nKopaska\/Kopebal team shared images of the KM Virgo Transport 8 resting\nat a depth of 29 metres at the accident site in the Java Sea.<\/p>\n
The video reveals extremely strong currents around the vessel\u2019s\nlocation, with visible scrapes and abrasions on several sides of the\nship.<\/p>\n
According to the Head of Basarnas, Air Marshal Mohammad Syafi\u2019i,\nunderwater operations by the diving team have not yet been able to be\ncarried out to their full potential. This is due to current speeds\nreaching 6 knots, whereas safety regulations recommend diving only when\nunderwater currents are below 1.5 knots.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe challenge we face is that our underwater operations cannot yet\nbe executed maximally. The team assigned to the diving has been deployed\nfrom the KRI and has headed to the planned locations for underwater\nsearching. However, the natural conditions involve current speeds at the\nlocation reaching above 6 knots, even approaching 7 knots,\u201d he stated,\nas quoted from a YouTube broadcast on Friday, 18 September 2026.<\/p>\n
Despite safety protocols recommending diving when currents are below\n1.5 knots, the powerful underwater currents made it impossible to\ncontinue the mission, forcing the deployed divers to be pulled back for\ntheir own safety.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn accordance with regulations, diving is recommended with the\ncondition that current speeds are below 1.5 knots. Therefore, when the\nteam members were lowered, they were immediately pulled back because\nsafety factors must be met,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, Syafi\u2019i explained that his agency is developing\nalternative plans for the SAR operation, including different underwater\nmethods. If weather conditions remain unfavourable, they will consider a\nplan to right the vessel to facilitate the search inside the ship.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/km-virgo-transport-8-sighted-underwater-by-kopaska-divers-1789714724", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }