BANJARBARU (TABIRkota) – The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) of Indonesia is deploying the KRI Canopus to optimize the search operation for victims of the KM Virgo Transport 8, which sank in the Java Sea early Sunday morning (Sept 13).
Basarnas Head, Air Marshal Mohammad Syafii, stated that the KRI Canopus is scheduled to arrive at the site this Tuesday morning (Sept 15).
"The operational phase involves conducting an underwater search utilizing the technology possessed by the KRI Canopus," he said during a press conference at the Trisakti Port Command Post in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan (Kalsel), on Monday evening (Sept 14).
According to him, the technology aboard the KRI Canopus—such as underwater drones, multibeam echo sounders, and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs)—can be used to help detect and map underwater conditions in the effort to locate victims and wreckage.
"The KRI Canopus is being deployed to reinforce the SAR operation and expand sub-surface search capabilities," he said.
However, he added, divers remain on standby for deployment once weather conditions allow for safe operations.
"Surface sweeps will also be maximized across six operational sectors; their positions will be adjusted based on the latest SAR Map data from the Basarnas Command Center," he added.
KRI Canopus (936) is the Indonesian Navy’s newest and most advanced ocean-going hydro-oceanographic (BHO) support vessel. It serves three primary functions: deep-sea surveying and mapping, underwater rescue operations, and military operation support.
Meanwhile, the team of divers—comprising Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) Kopaska personnel, specialized Navy divers, and Basarnas personnel—has not yet been deployed because weather conditions at the site do not currently permit underwater search operations.
Earlier, the KM Virgo Transport 8, carrying 243 passengers, was reported to have lost contact in the Java Sea on Sunday (Sept 13) at approximately 02:00 WITA, having departed from Surabaya for Banjarmasin on Saturday (Sept 12).
Of the 243 persons on board (POB) recorded, 114 individuals have been located: 86 survivors were evacuated to Trisakti Port in Banjarmasin, two were confirmed dead, and another 26 were evacuated during the initial response operations, while a search remains ongoing for the remaining 129 missing passengers. (ra)
