Basarnas Defends Virgo Transport 8 SAR Strategy as Internationally Compliant - Tempo.co English
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Basarnas (the National Search and Rescue Agency) emphasized that the entire search and rescue (SAR) operation following the KM Virgo Transport 8 accident in the Java Sea has been conducted in accordance with international regulations and a sound legal basis—particularly regarding the determination of search patterns and sectors.
"The operations we are conducting adhere to established international regulations. Search patterns vary daily because the team adjusts operations based on various field factors," said the Head of Basarnas, Air Marshal Mohammad Syafii, during a press conference on the third day of the KM Virgo Transport 8 SAR operation at Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Tuesday evening, Sept. 15, 2026.
He explained that on the first day, the search covered eight sectors based on predetermined coordinates, whereas on the second and third days, operations were conducted across six sectors each; these locations were subject to shifting based on calculations and evolving field conditions.
According to Syafii, sector adjustments are necessary because current movements can affect the search datum (reference point); consequently, the SAR team modifies the sweep area to increase the chances of locating victims who may have drifted away from the initial accident site.
Nevertheless, the SAR team continues to search around the wreckage, as there is a possibility that victims could have exited the vessel's hull following previous operations, making the area surrounding the wreck a crucial component of the search strategy.
"So, I can assure you that the operation is never static—especially since we are utilizing specialized software applications," he stated.
Syafii emphasized that every decision within the SAR operation rests on technical and legal grounds; this applies to plans for righting the vessel or raising the KM Virgo Transport 8 wreckage, neither of which would be undertaken haphazardly or without due consideration.
He added that Basarnas undergoes annual audits by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), ensuring that operations strictly adhere to international regulations and are legally sound. "This does not mean we are attempting to follow every piece of information or suggestion that comes our way. Our actions are strictly guided by legal principles that are legally defensible," he stated.
The Head of Basarnas also urged the public and the victims' families to obtain information regarding the operation's progress directly from Basarnas. Furthermore, Basarnas requested prayers that weather conditions and field circumstances would allow all search efforts to proceed smoothly.
As of Tuesday (Sept. 15) at 10:00 PM Central Indonesian Time (WITA), Mohammad Syafii confirmed that all 114 victims of the KM Virgo Transport 8 maritime accident who had been located had successfully arrived in Banjarmasin.
This group comprised 108 survivors and six deceased victims. It is estimated that 129 victims remain missing.
The KM Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 people and was reported to have lost contact in the waters of Masalembo, Java Sea, early Sunday morning (Sept. 13) at approximately 2:00 AM WITA, while en route from Surabaya to Banjarmasin—a journey that began on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026.
