KNKT Conducts Preliminary Investigation into Virgo Transport 8 Ship Incident
The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) has yet to provide a response regarding the progress of the evacuation of victims from the KM Virgo Transport 8, which sank in the Masalembo waters, Java Sea. The Head of Data, Information, and Public Relations of the KNKT Secretariat, Anggo Anurogo, stated that the investigation team is still conducting the preliminary investigation process regarding the KM Virgo Transport 8 accident.
“For now, we cannot provide a response as the KNKT is still in the process of an initial investigation,” said Anggo when contacted on Monday (21/09/202cap).
Previously, hydrodynamic expert from the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) Surabaya, Prof. Ir. I Ketut Aria Pria Utama, highlighted the aspects of seakeeping performance in the incident involving the capsizing of the KM Virgo Transport 8 in the Masalembu Islands, Sumenep, East Java. The Professor from the Department of Naval Architecture, Faculty of Marine Technology (FTK) ITS, stated that the suitability of ship design with water characteristics needs to be a priority, especially in the design of vessels operating in Indonesia.
“What needs to be criticised is whether the Japanese-made ship design is suitable and recommended for sailing in Indonesian seas with high waves,” said Prof. Ketut in Surabaya, East Java, on Tuesday (15/09/2026).
According to Ikap, the nickname for Prof. Ketut, the aspect of seakeeping, or a ship’s ability to face wave conditions, is often overlooked, which can trigger issues regarding stability and the comfort of the ship’s movement during operation. The KM Virgo Transport 8, which capsized in the Java Sea waters near the Masalembu Islands on Sunday (13/09/2026), is known to be an imported vessel from Japan that is approximately 30 years old.
However, Ikap noted that the age of the ship should not be the primary issue as long as maintenance is performed properly. He explained that the characteristics of Japanese waters differ from those of Indonesia.
The distance between islands in Japan is relatively short, whereas Indonesia possesses open water areas with the potential for large waves.
“The characteristics of these extreme shipping routes demand different standards for hull design,” he said.
According to Ikap, roll-on/roll-off (roro) ferry models from four-season countries generally have fully enclosed hulls. The KM Virgo Transport 8 is also a type of roro vessel.