Salvage operation begins to right capsized Indonesian ferry as 126 remain missing
Specialist teams have commenced efforts to tow and right the Virgo Transport 8 in the Java Sea, aiming to recover bodies after five days of weather-hindered searches left 126 passengers and crew unaccounted for.
Indonesian authorities have launched salvage operations to right the passenger ferry Virgo Transport 8, which capsized in the Java Sea during a scheduled voyage from Surabaya to Banjarmasin. The decision to move the vessel follows five days of rescue efforts that were significantly hampered by strong currents and rough weather, which previously prevented 1,100 rescuers from conducting effective underwater searches.
On Friday, an expert team began work to tow the ship into shallower waters before righting it, a process intended to facilitate the recovery of bodies. Local navy commander Galih Nurna Putra confirmed that the salvage operation was under way, noting that divers had managed to enter the vessel earlier in the day. During this entry, divers retrieved the bodies of two men and a woman, bringing the confirmed death toll to nine.
Despite the progress, strong currents forced a halt to further underwater searches on Friday. Currently, 108 survivors have been accounted for, while 126 passengers and crew members remain missing. Specialist divers capable of operating at depths exceeding 100 metres have been deployed to assist in the ongoing recovery efforts.
The head of the Banjarmasin search and rescue agency, I Putu Sudayana, indicated that teams would be able to resume full body recovery once the vessel is righted. He warned that divers face significant risks if they attempt to enter the capsized ship before this process is completed, as the hull remains unstable due to trapped air and empty compartments that could cause it to shift unexpectedly.
The operation is being led by the ship’s owner, as required by Indonesian law, with support from the rescue agency, the navy, and maritime police. The vessel is located approximately 80 nautical miles from the command centre at Trisakti port in Banjarmasin, a distance that officials say makes access difficult.
The Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 people on a 20-hour voyage when it capsized in bad weather early on Sunday. The incident highlights the critical role of sea travel in Indonesia, where ferries are a primary mode of transport across the archipelago’s 17,000 islands, often serving as a cheaper and more accessible alternative to flying.
