Ministry of Transportation: Salvage Equipment for KM Virgo Wreckage has Arrived in Singapore
The Ministry of Transportation, through the Banjarmasin Harbour Master and Port Authority (KSOP), has stated that the equipment required for the salvage operation to raise the wreckage of the Motor Vessel (KM) Virgo Transport 8 from the seabed of the Java Sea is now available in Singapore.
“It has been confirmed that the salvage equipment is already in Singapore,” said the Head of KSOP Class I Banjarmasin, Heri Purwanto, during a press conference regarding the 16th day of the Search and Rescue (SAR) operation at Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Monday night.
He noted that the international insurance club, Protection and Indemnity (P&I), acting as the co-underwriter for the owner of KM Virgo, has prepared all the necessary equipment. The next step involves appointing a salvage partner, which is likely to be an international firm, while the local partner will be PT Jasalindo.
“It has been confirmed that the equipment includes a crane barge, complete with a main boom system,” he said. The crane barge and main boom are high-capacity lifting tools specifically used for evacuating shipwrecks.
“If I am not mistaken, it is from PT Jasalindo. Jasalindo has been overseeing this activity from the beginning and has provided essential data. The initial photographs of the ship’s condition were obtained from the Jasalindo team using ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) technology,” he added.
Once the salvage partner is appointed, the local partner will first conduct mitigation efforts regarding the ship’s condition while awaiting the arrival of the equipment from Singapore at the SAR operation site to support the wreck recovery.
“We all hope that all salvage equipment will be at the operation site in less than a week, as promised by the owner of KM Virgo to the leadership of the Ministry of Transportation,” said Heri Purwanto.
As of the 16th day of the Search and Rescue (SAR) operation, Monday at 22:00 WITA, Basarnas confirmed that 179 people have been found, consisting of 108 survivors and 71 fatalities. Meanwhile, 64 victims remain missing out of the total 243 individuals listed on the KM Virgo Transport 8 manifest.