Basarnas Prepares Salvage Operation: The Reason Behind Flipping the KM Virgo 8 Hull
Basarnas has revealed the reasons behind its plan to conduct a salvage operation by flipping the hull of KM Virgo Transport 8 as part of the search for victims.
The Head of Basarnas, Air Marshal Mohammad Syafii, stated that the salvage process is an alternative plan in the event that underwater searches cannot be conducted due to weather conditions.
“The alternative plan we are implementing is primarily based on shipping laws. These laws mandate, and perhaps indirectly require, that ship owners involved in accidents that disrupt shipping or active sea lanes must move or, if necessary, lift the vessel. That is our primary basis,” Syafii said during a press conference on Wednesday (16/9) night.
Referring to those regulations, Syafii noted that the removal or lifting of a ship’s hull must be completed within a maximum of 180 days. He added that this timeframe is a key consideration in the salvage planning.
“Therefore, Basarnas, in coordination with departments under the Ministry of Transportation, is also involving the owner to carry out the activity I mentioned: the salvage of this capsized ship,” he said.
Syafii clarified that Basarnas does not possess full authority to conduct salvage operations independently. Consequently, Basarnas has invited experts to discuss the proposed plan.
“The authority for the salvage process does not reside solely with the National Search and Rescue Agency. However, we are utilising this situation to facilitate the execution of this operation,” he explained.
He noted that the salvage process would not be easy, but emphasized that the agency is racing against time to evacuate the victims who have yet to be found.
“We cannot delay, because from the initial moment of the incident, which we established as our datum, there have been shifts. Even yesterday, we considered the ship to be floating at a depth of 21 metres, but it has since shifted to a depth of 29 metres,” he said.
Previously, Basarnas planned to conduct a salvage operation by flipping the KM Virgo Transport 8 to simplify the search for victims. The vessel is currently capsized and floating in the Java Sea.
“If underwater searches cannot be performed due to weather, we plan to conduct a salvage. We intend to flip the ship to search inside the hull and carry out evacuations,” Syafii said during the press conference on Wednesday.
“Only once we are certain that the SAR process is complete will the ship be towed for investigation purposes,” he added.
KM Virgo Transport 8 was reported to have lost contact in the Java Sea waters on Sunday (13/9) at 02:00 WITA, while sailing from Surabaya to Banjarmasin since Saturday (12/9). The KM Virgo is reported to be carrying 243 people, including passengers and crew.
As of Monday (14/9), out of the 243 people on board, 114 have been successfully found, while 129 others remain missing and are still being searched for.