BANJARMASIN (TABIRkota) – The Banjarmasin Class A Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas) in South Kalimantan is conducting a search operation for the vessel Virgo Transport 8, which went missing while en route from Surabaya to Banjarmasin on Sunday (Sept 13).
The Head of Basarnas Banjarmasin, I Putu Sudayana, acting as the SAR Mission Coordinator (SMC), stated that information regarding the incident was received at 04:10 WITA from Yoel Rihi, the General Manager of PT Virgo.
"Based on the information received, the Virgo Transport 8, carrying 243 people, lost contact around 02:00 WITA after previously reporting that it was encountering adverse weather conditions during the voyage to Banjarmasin," he said in a written statement received by TABIRkota.com.
The vessel, which departed from Surabaya on Saturday (Sept 12) at 10:13 GMT, remained unreachable, and its whereabouts were unknown at the time the report was received. Its last recorded position was in the waters of the Java Sea, approximately 80 nautical miles from the Basirih SAR Pier in Banjarmasin.
In response to the report, the SAR office dispatched a six-person rescue team in a D-Max rescue vehicle to the Basirih SAR Pier at 04:30 WITA.
The team will proceed to the vessel’s estimated last known location aboard the KN SAR Laksmana 241, with an estimated travel time of five hours.
Sudayana stated that his office is coordinating the search operation with several relevant agencies, including the Banjarmasin Harbormaster and Port Authority (KSOP), the Banjarmasin Naval Base (Lanal), the South Kalimantan Regional Police Water and Air Police Directorate (Ditpolairud), the Banjarmasin Navigation District, PT Pelindo Banjarmasin, and the Virgo shipping agency’s Banjarmasin branch.
“A range of equipment has been prepared to support the operation, including the KN SAR Laksmana 241, a D-Max rescue vehicle, water rescue gear, two sets of diving equipment, communication devices, Starlink, and other supporting equipment,” he said.
Weather conditions in the area covered by the Banjarmasin SAR Office are reported to be clear, while the team continues to monitor weather developments in the search zone. Sudayana added that the search would be conducted optimally involving all relevant agencies.
“Given the significant number of passengers and crew members, we are optimizing coordination with all relevant parties to expedite the search process and ensure the safety of everyone on board,” he added.
Basarnas Banjarmasin urges the public and the passengers’ families to remain calm and await official information from the authorities.
The joint SAR team will continue monitoring and searching based on the situation on the ground and will provide updates as significant developments occur. (ra)
