55 Missing: Why Indonesia Is Raising a Sunken Ferry Against All Odds
Indonesia approves a rare whole-ship raising to recover the remains of 55 people trapped inside the inverted wreck of.
The insurer and owner of the sunken ferry Virgo Transport 8 have agreed to attempt a full salvage of the wreck, a rare operation that could allow the recovery of 55 missing passengers and crew members still believed to be trapped inside. The decision follows pressure from Indonesian authorities and growing public concern over the delay in retrieving the remains.
The ferry capsized and sank in shallow waters, but its inverted position—resting on its superstructure—poses major challenges. Strong currents at the site have severely limited diver access, while the vessel’s debris-filled interior, now upside down, has made underwater searches hazardous. Salvage teams have struggled to navigate the confined, dark compartments, complicating efforts to locate victims.
Technical Hurdles and Administrative Delays: Ferry
Raising the wreck intact would be an exception in maritime salvage, where such operations are typically reserved for vessels of environmental or historical importance. The process is both costly and complex, as demonstrated by the 2017 recovery of the Sewol ferry in South Korea, which took far longer than expected and exceeded its budget by three times.
Despite the difficulties, the shallow depth of the wreck offers a potential advantage, as it allows commercial divers to operate without specialized deep-water techniques. If the salvage succeeds, an interior search would become far more manageable, increasing the chances of recovering the missing individuals.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation, National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), and the Harbor Master and Port Authority have all approved the operation. However, a final contract with an international salvage firm has yet to be signed. Simson Fransiscus Rihi, spokesperson for the ferry’s operator, PT Virgo Karya Shipping, confirmed that administrative procedures are still underway.
“God willing, there will be a signing in the next few days. There remain several issues that need to be resolved; we are still working to provide supporting data to the decision-makers at P&I.”
Simson Fransiscus Rihi·Spokesperson, PT Virgo Karya Shipping
Rihi emphasized the company’s commitment to the operation, stating it was part of their responsibility to the victims and their families. The salvage team is expected to arrive on-site by the end of October, though the success of the mission will depend on overcoming the wreck’s treacherous conditions.
Public Pressure and the Race Against Time
With no new victims recovered in the past two days, public frustration has grown. Social media users, including the account jktlife (@joneshop), have questioned the delay, asking, “Where are the remaining 55 victims? No new bodies have been found for two days. Source: Basarnas.”
Basarnas Chief Mohammad Syafii previously confirmed that underwater search efforts were suspended after 21 days, citing the extreme risks posed by the wreck’s conditions. The agency has since supported the decision to raise the vessel, hoping it will provide closure for the families of those still missing.
If the salvage proceeds as planned, it could mark a rare success in recovering victims from a capsized ferry. However, the operation’s outcome remains uncertain, given the technical and logistical challenges ahead.
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