Virgo Ship Operator Claims Passenger Manifest Matches Data: 243 Souls

PT Virgo Karya Shipping, as the owner and operator of KM Virgo Transport 8, claims that the details of the passenger and crew manifest on board the vessel at the time it lost contact in the Java Sea waters are consistent with the actual conditions, totalling 243 souls.

The General Manager of PT Virgo Karya Shipping, Yoel Rihi, emphasised that the data they hold has been synchronised with port authorities and the search team.

“Our manifest is always in accordance with the data from the KSOP (Harbour Master Office),” said Yoel when met at the PT Virgo Karya Shipping office in Surabaya on Monday (14/9).

Yoel claimed that the detailed data includes not only regular passengers but also specifies the number of personnel supporting the ship’s operations.

“Our total manifest is 243. This consists of 30 crew members, 60 walking passengers who purchased economy or standard class tickets, and 124 drivers and assistants,” he said.

The majority of KM Virgo’s passengers originate from the logistics sector, specifically 124 truck drivers and assistants. Consequently, the vessel was also recorded as carrying 89 vehicles.

Additionally, Yoel noted that there were 29 support workers, including cleaning staff, catering staff, and musicians.

“The followers on this ship, besides the crew, such as cleaning, catering, and musicians, total 29 people. Therefore, our total is 243,” he stated.

Yoel also ensured that the figure of 243 people has been validated and is fully synchronised with the data held by the Search and Rescue (SAR) team.

To accommodate the information needs of families, PT Virgo Karya Shipping holds a complete list of names for all 243 individuals. The management has opened its doors to families of victims who wish to verify the presence of their relatives on the manifest.

“We have the list of names. For instance, if families or friends wish to enquire about victims, they are welcome to come to the office so we can discuss the matter and provide explanations together,” concluded Yoel.