Puan urges maritime safety review after KM Virgo Transport 8 sinks off Java

Labuan Bajo — House Speaker Puan Maharani has urged Indonesia to strengthen maritime safety after the sinking of KM Virgo Transport 8 in the Java Sea’s Masalembo waters on Sept. 13, an accident that left six people dead and 129 others still missing, according to Tempo English and RRI.

The vessel was traveling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin and was carrying 243 people when it lost contact and capsized, the reports said. Tempo English said 108 people were rescued, while RRI and other local reports said 107 survivors had been confirmed at one point before the toll was updated to 108.

Puan said she wanted a comprehensive improvement in the national maritime safety system so similar incidents would not cost more lives, according to Tempo English. She also called on the government to determine the cause of the sinking and said the House of Representatives would oversee the investigation using its legislative powers.

Investigation under KNKT

Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said the government would investigate the accident through the National Transportation Safety Committee, or KNKT, according to RRI and Metro TV. He said the process would be carried out within KNKT’s mandate and should be handled independently and professionally.

KNKT chairman Soerjanto Tjahjono separately said the committee had begun collecting technical data and interviewing survivors and crew members to help reconstruct the sequence of events, according to RRI and Metro TV. The early focus of the inquiry includes vessel specifications, witness statements and other material needed for the investigation.

Search-and-rescue teams continued their work after the sinking. Basarnas, as reported by several Indonesian outlets including Okezone and Reuters, said 114 people had been found by Sept. 14, including 108 survivors and six people who died, with 129 still missing.

The reports also said the rescue operation involved sea and air assets, while the vessel’s route was Surabaya-Banjarmasin and the incident took place around 2 a.m. local time in the Masalembo area. Reuters said rough weather hampered efforts to reach the wreck and continue the search.

What officials have confirmed

• KM Virgo Transport 8 carried 243 people.
• Six people were confirmed dead.
• At least 108 people were rescued by Sept. 14.
• Authorities said 129 people were still missing.
• The ship was sailing from Surabaya to Banjarmasin.
• KNKT is leading the investigation.

The incident has renewed scrutiny of passenger-ship safety in Indonesia, where maritime travel remains essential for inter-island transport. The government has not yet published any new regulatory package tied to the accident, and officials have so far framed their response as an investigation followed by possible recommendations from KNKT.

South Kalimantan Governor Muhidin also called for a broad evaluation of maritime transport safety, according to Tempo English. He said vessels serving the province must meet seaworthiness standards and follow required procedures.

Authorities continued to search for the missing passengers after the initial rescue phase, with the casualty figures still the subject of updates as the operation progressed. The investigation is expected to determine whether weather, technical failure, human error or a combination of factors caused the sinking.

Sources

• Tempo English
• RRI English
• Reuters
• Metro TV