KM Virgo 8 Capsizes in Java Sea; Owner Denies Vessel Unseaworthiness
PT Virgo Karya Shipping, the operator and owner of the Motor Vessel (KM) Virgo Transport 8, which capsized in the Java Sea, has firmly denied rumours regarding the condition of their vessel being too old and unseaworthy.
The General Manager of PT Virgo Karya Shipping, Yoel Rihi, claimed that the ship operates in accordance with statutory standards and underwent a thorough maintenance process (docking) at the beginning of this year.
He clarified public speculation linking the incident to the age of the vessel, using an analogy to explain that the seaworthiness of a ship cannot be compared to the life cycle of a living organism. “I want to clarify this. We should not treat this ship like a human or an organic object, where older means worse. A ship is a machine. Machines can be rebuilt, tuned up, or even replaced. Even thin hull plates can be doubled,” said Yoel when met at the PT Virgo Karya Shipping office in Surabaya on Monday (14/9).
According to Yoel, the company adheres to strict regulations that distinguish between a vessel’s calendar age and its technical condition. He guaranteed that PT Virgo Karya Shipping would not take the risk of deploying a fleet that does not meet maritime safety qualifications. “We would not dare to sail a ship that does not comply with the law. Certainly, many adjustments need to be made. We have done that, it is up to standard, so we feel confident deciding that the ship is ready to sail,” he added.
As evidence of physical and administrative seaworthiness, Yoel revealed that KM Virgo 8 possesses active and legal sailing documents. All administrative requirements, such as the Sailing Approval Letter (SPB) and vessel seaworthiness certificates, were ensured to be complete before the fleet departed.
Dismissing doubts regarding routine maintenance, the management also disclosed the fleet’s maintenance track record. The vessel was recorded as having recently completed a full docking process in February this year.
KM Virgo Transport 8 is a Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel. The ship has a long history of nearly four decades at sea before losing contact while carrying 243 passengers in the Java Sea waters on Sunday (13/9).
Based on data from vessel tracking sites, KM Virgo Transport 8 is not a new vessel. The ship, identified by IMO number 8625179, was first produced in 1987 by the Shin Kurushima Onishi Shipyard in Japan, meaning the vessel is 39 years old.
KM Virgo 8 was previously named Ferry Kurushima. It has a length of 119 metres and a gross tonnage (GT) of 4,277.
The ship spent most of its service life in Japan. From 1987 until mid-2025, it routinely served passenger and vehicle routes from Kokura to Matsuyama.
The domestic shipping company, PT Virgo Karya Shipping, took over ownership of the vessel during the transition period between 2025 and 2026.
After undergoing the process of re-registration as an Indonesian-flagged vessel, its name was officially changed to KM Virgo Transport 8. The vessel was subsequently deployed commercially to serve the route from Tanjung Perak Port (Surabaya) to Trisakti Port (Banjarmasin) starting in July 2026.
Ironically, after only about two months of operating on that route, the vessel met its tragic fate in the early hours of Sunday (13/9).