Basarnas Reveals Challenges Hindering KM Virgo Salvage Operation
The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) is urging that the salvage operation for KM Virgo Transport 8 be carried out immediately. However, Basarnas has explained the complicating factors involved in the lifting operation.
“What we see is the ship’s condition: the KM Virgo is nearly 120m long, 21m wide, and approximately 18m high, currently in an overturned state and resting on the seabed. There are inherent difficulties that make it not as simple as immediately refloating and righting it,” stated the Head of Basarnas RI, Mohammad Syafii, following the opening of the 13th ASEAN Transport SAR Forum and ASEAN SAR Exercise 2026 in Yogyakarta on Tuesday (29/8/2026).
Syafii noted that they are considering involving other nations for the technical aspects of refloating the KM Virgo before it is towed. He suggested that once the refloating process is complete, the towing process should not take long.
“Regarding the refloating process, we have communicated that we might involve countries with the necessary capabilities,” said Syafising.
“If everything is properly configured, the process itself will not be very long. The initial process is clearly refloating first, then lifting, and then installing belts, so the ship is surrounded by belts and placed from both sides,” he explained.
Syafii explained that salvage operations can take a long time, sometimes up to three years. He cited the salvage of large cruise ships as an example.
“Take the Costa Concordia accident in Italy, if I recall correctly. The salvage process for a cruise ship can take up to three years. However, for a smaller vessel, it could be righted in just one day,” he remarked.
Syafii clarified that, according to the law, the authority for salvage operations lies with the insurance providers, specifically the Protection and Indemnity (P&I) maritime insurance companies. He urged that the operation be conducted immediately.
“Because we know there are still victims inside the ship, we request that the legal mandate be implemented as soon as possible,” Sychii explained following the forum opening.
“With the hope that we can carry out the search and evacuation of all victims remaining on the ship,” he added.
Regarding the salvage operation, Syafii stated that the insurance companies have been cooperative from the start and have conducted observations. These observations confirmed that the salvage operation is feasible.
“After the observation, we facilitated the insurance side to assess the conditions and ensure they could proceed with the salvage actions,” said Syafii.
“Whether it will be towed or righted first, what is certain is that it must be refloated first. We are pushing for this to be implemented immediately to ensure that all victims inside the ship can be evacuated,” he added.
According to reports, the Ministry of Transportation has sent a letter to the P&I insurance companies because the salvage or evacuation operation to lift the ship from the Java Sea waters has not yet commenced.
The Head of the Banjarmasin Port Authority and Harbormaster Office (KSOP), Heri Purnomo, also requested PT Virgo Karya Shipping to immediately organise the salvage operation.
“The Ministry of Transportation has issued a stern warning to the P&I; we hope that within one week, all administration and technical implementation for the salvage will be in place,” said Heri.
Heri mentioned that his office has also written to the operator of KM Virgo Transport 8 to accelerate the salvage execution. It has been over two weeks since the ship sank, yet the salvage has yet to be realised.
“We at KSOP have also issued a warning letter to the ship owner to immediately carry out this salvage operation,” Heri asserted.
It is known that to date, 179 victims have been evacuated from a total passenger manifest of 243 people. Details show that 108 people are safe, 71 have died, while 64 others remain missing.