KM Virgo Shifts 2.9 km, Basarnas Considering Righting or Sinking the Vessel
The position of the capsized KM Virgo Transport 8 in the Java Sea has continued to drift from its initial location. Basarnas has recorded that the vessel has moved approximately 2.9 kilometres, or 1.6 nautical miles.
The Head of Basarnas, Air Marshal Mohammad Syafii, stated that this drift is occurring because the ship remains buoyant and contains several empty air pockets within its structure.
“As I reported yesterday, it has now drifted about 1.6 nautical miles while in its capsized state,” he said, as reported on Tuesday, 15 September 2026.
According to Syafii, this condition allows the ship to continue moving or floating on the sea surface. He explained that the presence of internal bulkheads and empty spaces enables the vessel to drift.
The shifting position of the ship presents a significant challenge for search and rescue efforts, particularly when teams attempt to conduct underwater searches.
Syafii explained that the empty spaces within the ship could cause sudden pressure changes if certain bulkheads are opened, a situation deemed highly dangerous for divers. “When there are empty spaces in the ship, if we force our way in and open one of the bulkheads, there will be an extraordinary change in pressure, which would certainly be very dangerous,” he noted.
Consequently, Basarnas is coordinating with various parties to determine the safest and most effective method for searching for victims. One option being considered is altering the ship’s current overturned position.
“We are even considering how we might change the position from its overturned state to right it; that is our first priority. Secondly, feedback from the Indonesian Navy suggests that if the ship were to sink, it might actually be better, as it would remain stationary. The ship is currently in relatively shallow waters, at a depth of approximately 30 metres,” he explained.
In addition to the options of righting or sinking the vessel to stabilise its position, Basarnas is also considering the possibility of salvaging the wreck from its current location.