Jakarta. Indonesian police have named the captain of the KM Virgo Transport 8 a suspect in the investigation into the shipwreck in the waters off Masalembo in the Java Sea, while investigators continue to examine whether other parties may also be held responsible.

The case has entered the investigation phase after being transferred from the South Kalimantan Police to the Water Police Directorate of the National Police’s Security Operations Command.

Kukuh Prabowo, deputy director of law enforcement at the Water Police Directorate, confirmed the captain’s designation as a suspect. The captain is being held at the South Kalimantan Police headquarters.

“We are currently handling it, and for the time being, we have designated the captain as a suspect and taken him into custody,” Kukuh said Wednesday.

Police have not disclosed the specific actions or alleged negligence that led to the captain being named a suspect.

Kukuh said investigators were still questioning several people and reconstructing the sequence of events leading to the accident.

“Preliminary investigations are still ongoing to identify the parties who can be held accountable,” he said.

The investigation could therefore extend beyond the captain, as police examine whether other individuals or parties may have legal responsibility for the shipwreck.

“We will wait until the entire investigation is complete before issuing an official statement,” Kukuh said.

Surabaya-Banjarmasin Voyage

Before the case was transferred to police headquarters, South Kalimantan Police had questioned the captain, several surviving crew members, and other relevant parties.

The KM Virgo Transport 8 was involved in an accident in the waters off Masalembo in the Java Sea on Sept. 13, 2026. The vessel was sailing from Surabaya to Banjarmasin.

According to the passenger manifest, 243 people were aboard the vessel at the time of the accident.

The National Police said the investigation involved several relevant agencies and stakeholders. Investigators are continuing to examine the sequence of events, identify potential violations, and determine who may be held legally responsible.

The captain’s designation as a suspect is therefore part of an ongoing investigation. Police have yet to release a full account of the alleged violations or disclose the results of their questioning of other parties involved in the accident.

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