Indonesian police name KM Virgo Transport 8 captain as suspect as 57 remain missing

Indonesian police have named the captain of the KM Virgo Transport 8 as a suspect over the sinking of the passenger vessel in the Java Sea, as search and rescue teams continue looking for 57 people still missing from the disaster.

The Water Police Directorate of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) identified the captain, referred to by his initials AY, as a suspect after the investigation was transferred from the South Kalimantan Police to the National Police headquarters.

Senior Commissioner Kukuh Prabowo, head of the Law Enforcement Sub-directorate of the Water Police Directorate, said on 30 September that AY had been detained.

“We have named the captain as a suspect and he has been detained,” Kukuh said, according to the National Police.

Police said AY was being investigated under Article 302(3) of Indonesia's Law No. 17 of 2008 on Shipping and/or Article 474(3), in conjunction with Article 20, of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code.

Investigators have not publicly detailed the alleged criminal acts forming the basis of the suspect designation. Kukuh said the investigation was continuing to determine whether other parties could also be held responsible.

Investigation transferred to national police

The case had initially been handled by the South Kalimantan Police before being transferred to the National Police's Water Police Directorate.

The National Police said the transfer followed earlier examinations of people connected with the incident. Those questioned included the captain, surviving crew members and other relevant parties.

The vessel was travelling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin when it encountered trouble in the Masalembo waters of the Java Sea on 13 September.

The ship subsequently sank, prompting a large-scale search involving Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the Indonesian Navy, Air Force, police, local authorities and other search-and-rescue personnel.

The operation was still active on its 18th day on Wednesday, 30 September, with Basarnas deploying more than 1,000 personnel and multiple air, sea and land assets.

1,041 personnel deployed on Day 18

I Putu Sudayana, head of the Banjarmasin Class A SAR Office and the designated SAR Mission Coordinator, said 1,041 personnel were involved in the Day-18 operation.

The joint force included personnel from Basarnas, the Air Force, Navy, South Kalimantan Police's Water and Air Police, and support vessels from the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, along with other search-and-rescue groups.

The maritime operation was supported by 11 vessels, while three helicopters were deployed for the aerial search. On land, 42 ambulances were prepared to support the operation.

Basarnas also prepared 63 divers for the underwater search.

Putu said the joint team would continue using the available personnel and assets on the 19th day of the operation, with the 63 divers scheduled to support the underwater search.

No victims were recovered during underwater diving operations on Day 18.

78 people confirmed dead, 57 still missing

As of 10pm Central Indonesian Time (WITA) on 30 September, Basarnas said 186 of the 243 people listed on the vessel's manifest had been found.

The figure comprised 108 survivors and 78 fatalities, while 57 people remained missing.

The latest figures represent an increase from the previous day's tally, when the joint team had reported 182 people found, including 108 survivors and 74 deaths.

Search teams have been conducting operations both at sea and underwater, while also extending searches towards coastal areas where victims may have been carried by currents.

The operation involves personnel and assets from multiple Indonesian agencies, reflecting the scale of the search across the Java Sea.

Police continue victim identification

The police are supporting the operation through marine and aviation assets as well as their Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) teams.

The DVI process involves comparing ante-mortem data collected from victims' families with post-mortem data obtained from recovered bodies. The process can include fingerprints, dental records, medical information, physical characteristics and DNA samples.

The identification process is being conducted alongside the search operation, with police personnel working with families to obtain information and biological samples needed to identify recovered victims.

Meanwhile, the criminal investigation into the sinking is continuing. Police have said investigators will examine the circumstances of the accident and determine whether other parties may also face responsibility.

The search for the 57 people still missing is expected to continue on the 19th day of operations, with Basarnas and the joint team maintaining underwater, maritime and aerial searches.