Salvage of Sunken Virgo Transport 8 Planned for October 2026
Kabarsaji.com – Efforts to lift the KM Virgo Transport 8 from the Java Sea are expected to move forward this month, as the vessel’s operator works to complete arrangements with its international insurer and a salvage contractor. The ship’s recovery has become increasingly urgent because dozens of people listed on its manifest have still not been found and are believed to remain inside the wreck.
PT Virgo Karya Shipping, which manages the vessel, has said the salvage operation is targeted for October 2026. Company spokesperson Simson Fransiscus Rihi said discussions with the firm’s international Protection and Indemnity, or P&I, insurer have been accelerated to enable the appointment of an overseas salvage partner.
The recovery process involves more than sending a team to the wreck site. A contractor must be formally selected, necessary information must be supplied to insurance decision-makers, and administrative arrangements must be completed before the operation can begin. Support has also been obtained from the Ministry of Transportation, the Harbormaster and Port Authority Office, known as KSOP, and the National Search and Rescue Agency, Basarnas.
“It is indeed our obligation. We are also backed by official letters issued by the Ministry of Transportation and the KSOP, as well as assistance from Basarnas, which helps us press the P&I insurer on this matter,” he said.
Salvage Partner Nearing Appointment
Simson said PT Virgo Karya Shipping has reduced the number of potential contractors under consideration. However, the company is not naming its preferred salvage firm yet because the agreement has not been executed and further information is still required by the insurer.
That final stage is significant. Raising a sunken passenger vessel requires a specialist operation, and the contractor’s appointment is central to mobilizing personnel and equipment. The company is seeking to finish the paperwork and contractual process quickly so that the recovery plan can proceed without further delay.
“God willing, the signing will take place in the coming days. There are still a few things to finalize—specifically, data we need to provide to the decision-makers at the P&I insurer,” he said.
Once the agreement is in place, the expected arrival of the salvage team is also planned for this month. The timing remains tied to completion of the insurer-related requirements and the formal contract signing.
Authorities Call for Immediate Action
Heri Purwanto, head of Class I KSOP Banjarmasin, said the Transportation Minister has issued a strong reprimand to PT Virgo and instructed the company to raise the vessel immediately. The order reflects concern for victims who may still be trapped within the sunken ship.
KSOP, which oversees port and maritime safety matters, can issue orders and warnings to the operator. But Heri said the pace at which the physical salvage work begins ultimately depends on the insurance provider’s process.
“The Ministry of Transportation can only issue reprimands and orders for immediate action. However, the actual speed of the salvage operation depends entirely on the insurance provider,” Heri said.
The distinction matters for families awaiting answers: government pressure can push the operator to act, while the specialist recovery operation still requires insurance-backed arrangements and a contracted salvage team capable of handling the wreck.
Search Continues for 55 Missing People
At 10 p.m. Central Indonesian Time on Saturday, marking the 21st day of search and rescue operations, Basarnas confirmed that 188 people had been located. The total included 108 survivors and 80 people who died.
There were 243 people listed on the KM Virgo Transport 8 manifest. With 188 accounted for, 55 remained missing. Search personnel believe those individuals may be inside the submerged vessel, and the search operation is continuing.
The planned raising of the ship therefore has two closely connected purposes. It is a marine recovery operation involving the vessel itself, but it may also be crucial to efforts to locate the remaining passengers and crew. Until access to the wreck is achieved, uncertainty remains for the families of those who have not been found.
PT Virgo Karya Shipping has stressed that it is working to shorten the remaining administrative timeline. The next immediate milestones are completion of the information requested by the P&I insurer, signing of the salvage contract, and deployment of the appointed recovery specialists to the Java Sea site.
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