September 15, 2026 | 06:57 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - KRI Canopus vessel will be deployed for the underwater search for victims of the KM Virgo Transport 8 ship accident during the third day of the Search and Rescue (SAR) operation on Tuesday, following bad weather that hindered the deployment of divers on the second day, according to Basarnas (Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency).
Basarnas Head Mohammad Syafii stated that the prepared dive teams—comprising Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) Kopaska personnel, specialized Navy divers, and Basarnas personnel—could not yet be deployed because weather conditions at the site did not permit underwater searching.
"KRI Canopus is en route and will arrive at the site on Tuesday (Sept 15) morning to support the underwater search using the ship's onboard technology, serving as an alternative to overcome weather constraints that have limited diver deployment," Syafii said during a press conference regarding the second day of the KM Virgo Transport 8 SAR operation at Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Monday evening.
KRI Canopus-936 arrived at Kolinlamil Pier, Jakarta, on May 11, 2026. ANTARA/Muhammad Adimaja
He noted that the technology aboard KRI Canopus includes underwater drones, multibeam echo sounders, and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), which can assist in detecting and mapping underwater conditions to locate victims and parts of the vessel targeted in the search.
Basarnas stated that the deployment of KRI Canopus is part of efforts to bolster the SAR operation on the third day by expanding underwater search capabilities; however, divers remain on standby for deployment should weather conditions allow for safe operations.
As of Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at 10:00 PM Central Indonesian Time (WITA), Basarnas Head Mohammad Syafii confirmed that 114 victims had been found—comprising 108 survivors and six deceased individuals—leaving 129 people still missing out of a total of 243.
Of the 114 victims found, 86 have arrived at Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin, consisting of 85 survivors and one deceased victim.
A second deceased victim was evacuated to the Syamsudin Noor Air Force Base in Banjarbaru and has been handed over to the National Police Headquarters' Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team for further medical examination. Subsequently, one survivor arrived at Syamsudin Noor Air Force Base after being evacuated by a Basarnas helicopter from the crash site, while 26 other victims—comprising 22 survivors and four deceased individuals—are currently being transported from the site to Trisakti Port.
The Virgo Transport 8 vessel was carrying 243 passengers and reportedly lost contact in the waters of Masalembo, Java Sea, around 02:00 WITA on Sunday (September 13), having departed from Surabaya for Banjarmasin on Saturday (September 12).
Read: Indonesian House Speaker Urges Govt to Strengthen Maritime Safety System
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