Indonesia Ferry Salvage Operations Begin in Java Sea as 126 Remain Missing

Indonesian salvage teams and specialist divers have begun operations to right a passenger ferry that capsized in the Java Sea, according to reporting by Al Jazeera, AFP, and Reuters. The renewed efforts come after severe weather, strong currents, and large waves limited rescue operations for five days following the disaster.

The vessel, named the Virgo Transport 8, was carrying 243 people when it capsized in bad weather early Sunday during a 20-hour voyage from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. Following the accident, a large-scale search effort involving approximately 1,100 rescuers was repeatedly hindered by rough seas and unstable underwater conditions.

On Friday, authorities shifted tactics to begin salvage operations aimed at righting the ship. Local navy commander Galih Nurna Putra told reporters that an expert team had been brought in to assist with the complex undertaking. "The salvage operation is under way," Galih stated, adding that preliminary observations had been conducted the previous day.

During Friday's operations, specialist divers managed to enter the submerged vessel and recovered the bodies of two men and a woman. However, strong underwater currents soon forced officials to halt the interior search for safety reasons. With these latest recoveries, the confirmed death toll has risen to nine people, while 108 survivors have been rescued. A total of 126 passengers and crew members remain unaccounted for.

Officials explained that the capsized ferry has presented significant hazards for rescue personnel because it remains unstable due to trapped air and empty compartments, which can cause the hull to shift unexpectedly. The head of the Banjarmasin search and rescue agency, I Putu Sudayana, emphasized that divers face severe risks if they attempt to enter the upside-down ship before the righting process is completed. Sudayana noted that recovery teams will be able to resume searching the interior for bodies once the vessel is safely righted.

To accomplish this, the salvage team plans to tow the vessel into shallower waters before attempting to right it. The operation is being led by the ship's owner, in accordance with Indonesian law, with backing from the national search and rescue agency, the navy, and maritime police.

The accident site is located approximately 80 nautical miles, or 148 kilometers, from the main command center at Trisakti port in Banjarmasin, leaving the wreck difficult to access, according to Arianto Ardi, an official at the rescue agency. Specialist divers capable of operating at depths exceeding 100 meters, or 328 feet, have been deployed to support the difficult mission.

Water transport is a vital mode of connectivity across Indonesia's vast archipelago of roughly 17,000 islands, where sea travel is frequently more affordable and accessible than aviation. The ongoing salvage and recovery efforts in the Java Sea continue as authorities coordinate specialized maritime resources to locate the remaining missing individuals.