Indonesian Search Teams Confirm Ferry Wreckage Discovery

JAKARTA, July 14 (Bernama) -- Indonesian authorities have located the wreckage of the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya ferry, which sank on the night of July 2 in the Bali Strait near Ketapang in Banyuwangi, East Java, officials said.

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said plans were underway to salvage the ferry, which was found roughly 3.9 kilometres from its last known position.

“The salvage operation will follow strict procedures to ensure team safety amid strong underwater currents. We hope it proceeds smoothly to support the investigation,” he said in a statement.

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The ferry’s location was officially confirmed on July 12, when divers using modified equipment captured clear images of the overturned wreck on their third attempt, showing the ship’s name, hull and ramp, according to a report from the Naval Information Service.

The discovery followed a search that began on July 9, involving the Navy and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), when the hydro-oceanographic survey vessel KRI Spica-934 detected an underwater object at a depth of 50 metres.

Follow-up scans confirmed the object matched the ferry’s dimensions, but an attempt on July 11 to inspect it with a remotely operated vehicle was hindered by strong currents, the report said.

As of Monday – the final day of the joint SAR operation involving Basarnas, the military, police and local fishing communities – the team had recovered 48 people, including 30 survivors and 18 confirmed dead, one of whom was a Malaysian national.

The ferry, carrying 12 crew members, 53 passengers and 22 vehicles, sailed on July 2 from Ketapang Port to Bali's Gilimanuk Port before issuing a distress call at 11.20 pm and sinking 15 minutes later.

Search efforts will continue under Basarnas and regional authorities from Tuesday, with some passengers, including those not listed, still missing.

-- BERNAMA