The KM Virgo Transport 8 has capsized in the Java Sea after losing contact during a voyage from Surabaya to Banjarmasin, according to official reports issued on September 13, 2026. Carrying a total of 243 people, the vessel encountered severe weather conditions before the incident, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation in the region.
According to Kantor Pencarian dan Pertolongan Kelas A Banjarmasin, the vessel lost contact at approximately 02:00 WITA on Sunday, September 13, after departing from Surabaya on Saturday, September 12, at 10:13. The initial report of the lost contact was received by the SAR office at 04:10 WITA from Yoel Rihi, General Manager of PT Virgo. Data from vessel tracking platforms Vessel Finder and Marine Traffic indicate that the ship was positioned in the Java Sea, roughly 80 nautical miles from the SAR Basirih Wharf in Banjarmasin, and was scheduled to dock on Sunday afternoon at 14:00.
Rescue efforts mobilized quickly following the alert. I Putu Sudayana, SAR Mission Coordinator (SMC) and head of the Banjarmasin SAR office, stated that a six-person rescue team deployed at 04:30 WITA aboard the KN SAR Laksmana 241 to reach the estimated coordinates. Concurrently, passing commercial vessels aided survivors at the scene. Data compiled from official sources shows that 86 people were initially rescued across three ships—specifically, 16 individuals aboard the TB Mauhaw IX, 38 on the TB TCP, and 32 on the MV Haida—while broader regional counts from Dani Rahmat, General Manager of Pelindo Kotabaru Port, indicate that 115 individuals have been safely recovered overall. Operations remain active to locate the remaining passengers and crew.
Did You Know?
Did You Know? The ship involved in the incident, KM Virgo Transport 8, was originally named the Ferry Kurushima and was built in 1987 at the Shin Kurushima Onishi shipyard in Japan, where it operated regional passenger routes until mid-2025.
Expert Insight
Expert Insight: Maritime incidents involving passenger ferries during severe weather underscore the critical reliance on multi-vessel coordination in open waters. When primary communication is lost, passing commercial tugboats and motor vessels often serve as the first line of emergency response before dedicated state search and rescue assets arrive on site.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people were on board the Virgo Transport 8?
The vessel was carrying a total of 243 passengers and crew members when it undertook the voyage from Surabaya to Banjarmasin.
What was the condition of the vessel when rescuers located it?
According to officials, the ship was found upside down in the middle of the sea after encountering bad weather in the Java Sea.
Where are families receiving updates about the incident?
Families of the passengers and crew have gathered at a dedicated SAR operations post established on Sunday morning at the Trisakti Port area in Banjarmasin.
What steps do you think transport authorities should take to improve passenger manifest tracking during severe weather events?
Worth a look