The captain of the Virgo Transport 8 has been arrested and formally named a criminal suspect after the ferry capsized in the Java Sea on Sept. 13. The vessel was carrying 243 people; 108 were rescued, 78 have died and 57 remain missing. Divers are continuing search operations amid strong currents and an unstable wreck. Police suspect the captain knowingly operated an unseaworthy vessel, an offence that can carry up to 10 years in prison.
Captain Arrested After Virgo Transport 8 Ferry Capsizes in Java Sea; 78 Dead, 57 Missing
Rescuers in hazmat suits carry a body bag of a victim recovered from the Virgo Transport 8 ferry, which capsized in the Java Sea while sailing from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, to be transported to the hospital for identification, upon arrival at Sjamsudin Noor airbase in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan province, Indonesia, September 28, 2026. REUTERS/Abdulrahman Muda Sagala
An Indonesian police spokesman said on Thursday that the captain of the Virgo Transport 8 ferry has been arrested and formally named a criminal suspect following the vessel's capsizing in the Java Sea on Sept. 13.
Incident Details
The ferry was carrying 243 people when it overturned in rough weather during a voyage from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. Authorities have confirmed 108 survivors. The official death toll stands at 78, and 57 people remain missing, Indonesia's search and rescue agency said late on Wednesday.
Rescuers in hazmat suits move a body bag of a victim to an ambulance, recovered from the Virgo Transport 8 ferry, which capsized in the Java Sea while sailing from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, to be transported to the hospital for identification, upon arrival at Sjamsudin Noor airbase in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan province, Indonesia, September 28, 2026. REUTERS/Abdulrahman Muda Sagala
Search and Rescue Efforts
Divers continue to work around the wreck, contending with strong sea currents and the unstable structure of the vessel as they search for those still unaccounted for on deck. The search operation is ongoing.
Legal Action and Investigation
National police spokesman Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko confirmed the captain has been detained and named a criminal suspect. Senior police official Kukuh Prabowo told state news agency Antara that investigators suspect the captain of knowingly operating an unseaworthy vessel, which under Indonesia's shipping law can carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison if it causes deaths and property damage. Neither official provided additional details about the alleged violations.
Authorities say the case remains under investigation as search teams continue their work amid challenging conditions at the scene.
Reporting: Stanley Widianto and Ananda Teresia. Editing: David Stanway.
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