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View all search resultsRescuers plan to right ship capsized in Java Sea
The Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 people on a 20-hour voyage from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan when it capsized in bad weather early on Sunday. Six people died and 108 survived the incident, tallies that have not changed since Sunday.
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An aerial view of the Virgo Transport 8 passenger ship that capsized in Indonesia's Java sea, September 13, 2026, in this still image taken from video. (Reuters via Handout/National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas))
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escuers plan to try to right a passenger ship that capsized in the Java Sea last weekend as persistent strong currents and big waves prevent them from making an underwater search of the overturned vessel for the 129 people still missing.
The Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 people on a 20-hour voyage from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan when it capsized in bad weather early on Sunday. Six people died and 108 survived the incident, tallies that have not changed since Sunday.
The National Rescue Agency and the Indonesian Navy will make an assessment on Thursday on the plan to turn the capsized ship back over, including what equipment was needed, the agency's chief Mohammad Syafii told a press conference late on Wednesday.
"We plan to salvage the vessel by turning it upright and then conduct the search and evacuation. Once we are certain the operation is complete, the ship will be towed away for the investigation," Syafii said, adding local and foreign experts had been consulted.
Turning the ship upright would normally take about 24 hours, but it could take longer if "there are complications," he said.
On Wednesday, two Navy teams started an underwater search but were forced to withdraw because the current was moving at nearly 7 knots, Syafii said, adding that diving is recommended only when the current is below 1.5 knots.
Some evidence discovered during the dives will be given to the National Transportation Safety Committee, which is investigating the incident, said Lt. Col. Galih Nurna Putra, the Navy commander in Banjarmasin, without providing further details of what was found.
Air and sea surface searches on Wednesday did not find any of the 129 people still missing, Syafii said. Similar air and surface searches will take place on Thursday.
The ship capsized around 80 nautical miles (150 km) from Banjarmasin port, and it has since moved around 450 metres (1,500 feet) and is in waters that are around 29 metres deep, Syafii said.
The ferry had lost contact with its shipping company shortly after departing from Surabaya on Java island, headed for Banjarmasin.
Footage released by the rescue agency on Monday showed the capsized vessel with a part of the hull visible above the water line.
Basarnas said that 22 survivors were brought to a harbour in Banjarmasin on Tuesday, after bad weather had prevented their rescue a day earlier.
According to the Maritime Law, the ship's owner is required to remove or tow it if it disrupts shipping lanes, he added.
