KM Virgo Has Hit the Seabed; Basarnas Urges Immediate Salvage Operation
The Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Mohammad Syafii, has urged that the salvage operation for KM Virgo Transport 8 be carried out immediately. However, Basarnas explained the complicating factors involved in the vessel’s recovery.
“What we are seeing is that the ship (KM Virgo) is almost 120m long, 21m wide, with a height of approximately 18m. It is currently upside down and has already touched the seabed. There are inherent difficulties, so it will not be as simple as immediately refloating and righting it,” said Syafii following the opening of the 13th ASEAN Transport SAR Forum and ASEAN SAR Exercise 2026 in Yogyakarta on Tuesday (29/09/2026).
Syafii stated that the agency is considering involving other nations to assist with the technical aspects of refloating the KM Virgo before it is towed. Once the refloating process is complete, he noted, the towing process should not take long.
“Regarding the refloating process, we have communicated that we might involve countries that possess the necessary capabilities,” Syafised Syafii.
“If everything is properly set up, the process itself will not actually take 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, even up to three years. He cited the salvage of large cruise ships as an example, which can take up to three years.
“Take the Costa Concordia accident in Italy, if I am not mistaken. The salvage process took up to three years because it was a cruise ship. However, if the ship is small, 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) insurance companies. He urged that the operation be conducted without delay.
“Because we know there are still victims inside the ship, we request that the legal mandate be implemented as quickly as possible,” Syafii explained following the opening of the 13th ASEAN Transport SAR Forum and ASEAN SAR Exercise 2026 in Yogyakarta.
“With the hope that we can carry out the evacuation or the search and rescue of all victims within the ship,” he added.
Regarding the salvage operation, Syafii stated that the insurance companies have been cooperative from the beginning and have already conducted observations. Based on these observations, it has been determined that a salvage operation is feasible.
“After the observation, which we facilitated, the insurance side assessed the conditions and confirmed that the insurance can proceed with salvage actions,” said Syafii.
“Whether it will be towed or righted first, what is certain is that it must be refloated first. Whether it is towed directly or righted, we are pushing for this to be implemented immediately. We are confident that we can evacuate all victims from the ship,” he concluded.