Virgo Transport 8 Has Drifted and Capsized, Posing Risks to Divers
BASARNAS has revealed that the vessel Virgo Transport 8 has shifted approximately 1.6 nautical miles westwards from its original coordinates since the accident in the Masalembo waters of the Java Sea on Sunday (13/9). In addition, the vessel is now upside down. Basarnas Chief Mohammad Syafii explained that the shift in the vessel’s location occurred on the second day of the SAR operation.
“The datum position, or the location point, of the Virgo Transport 8 has shifted. From what I reported yesterday, it has now moved roughly 1.6 nautical miles westwards and is in an inverted condition,” said Syafii at Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Monday.
According to him, the vessel’s position poses risks to divers. This is because the evacuation operation for the Virgo Transport 8 victims is being carried out by diving. Basarnas suspects that many passengers remain trapped inside the vessel.
Therefore, entering the hull of the Virgo, said Syafii, cannot be forced before all safety requirements are met. A number of conditions must be taken into account, namely the weather and the underwater environment, so that divers remain safe.
“For instance, if it is lying face down when the dive team enters, that certainly carries its own risks,” he said.
Another difficulty, he said, is that the vessel still has partitions, or empty compartments, within its hull. This makes it possible for the vessel to continue shifting or floating with the current.
“If we force our way in and, say, open one of the partitions of an empty compartment, there would be an extraordinary change in pressure, which would of course be extremely dangerous,” he explained.
On the basis of these considerations, Basarnas is deploying personnel with experience and specialist training in handling sunken vessel conditions. (Ant/H-4)
As many as 22 victims of the Virgo Transport 8 accident who were confirmed alive remain stranded at sea.
The joint SAR team has extended the search for five journalists and three residents missing in the Sunda Strait. Foggy weather and the activity of Anak Krakatau are the main obstacles.
Basarnas said KM Virgo Transport 8 was struck by waves exceeding three metres before the accident in the Java Sea. 115 victims have been found, whilst 128 remain missing.
Developments in conditions on the ground will determine the continuation of the humanitarian operation.
Basarnas is also continuing to inventory and bring in personnel with specialist diving capabilities.