KM Virgo Transport 8 has drifted 1.6 nautical miles while capsized
Banjarmasin (ANTARA) - Basarnas has revealed that the position of KM Virgo Transport 8 has drifted approximately 1.6 nautical miles to the west from its initial coordinates, while in a capsized state, following its accident in the Masalembo waters, Java Sea, on Sunday (13/9).
Basarnas Head Mohammad Syafii stated that this shift was identified through changes in the datum or the ship’s location point on the second day of the SAR operation, with the movement following the currents in the waters where KM Virgo Transport 8 sank.
“There has been a shift in the datum or the location point of the Virgo Transport 8. From what I reported yesterday, it has now drifted approximately 1.6 nautical miles to the west in a capsized condition,” said Syafii during a press conference regarding the progress of the second-day SAR operation for the KM Virgo Transport 8 accident, at Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Monday.
According to him, the ship’s current overturned position poses specific risks to divers, as entering the hull cannot be forced until all safety requirements are met, including weather conditions and the underwater environment, to ensure personnel can work safely.
“If the position is overturned when the diving team enters, it certainly carries its own risks, and the operation can only be carried out if safety provisions and ‘safety first’ principles are met, meaning a guarantee of safety,” he said.
He explained that the difficulty of the operation has increased because the ship still contains bulkheads or empty spaces within the hull that allow the vessel to continue drifting or floating with the currents. This condition must be taken into account before the team determines the method for searching for victims inside the ship.
Syafii noted that human diving capabilities must also adhere to applicable safety regulations, especially when the team faces a capsized ship with enclosed spaces that could become dangerous if breached by force.
“Furthermore, regarding the empty spaces within the ship, if we were to force our way in and, for example, open one of the bulkheads in an empty space, there would be an extraordinary change in pressure, which would undoubtedly be very dangerous,” he said.
This situation is being used by Basarnas to coordinate the next steps for the third day of the operation, involving personnel with specialised experience and training in handling sunken vessels, ensuring that every technical decision prioritises rescuer safety.
“We will conduct discussions involving personnel who possess the necessary skills, both in terms of experience and education regarding these specific conditions. This is what we will develop,” said Syafii.
Basarnas is even assessing the possibility of changing the position of KM Virgo Transport 8 from its capsized state to a position that would better support searching the interior of the ship, though this option remains part of technical discussions considering various operational risks.
As of Monday (14/9) at 22:00 WITA, Basarnas Head Mohammad Syafii confirmed that 114 victims have been found, consisting of 108 survivors and six fatalities, leaving 129 people still missing out of a total of 243.
Of the 114 victims found, 86 have arrived at Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin, comprising 85 survivors and one fatality (the body has been handed over to the family).
The second fatality was evacuated at Syamsudin Noor Airbase, Banjarbaru, and handed over to the National Police DVI Team for further medical examination.
Additionally, one survivor arrived at Syamsudin Noor Airbase after being evacuated via a Basarnas helicopter from the accident site, while 26 other victims are still in the process of being evacuated to Trisakti Port, consisting of 22 survivors and four fatalities.
KM Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 passengers and was reported to have lost contact in the Masalembo waters, Java Sea, on Sunday (13/9) at approximately 02:00 WITA, while sailing from Surabaya to Banjarmasin since Saturday (12/9).