The Indonesian Navy has deployed its newest large survey ship to assist in the search for the 129 people who have gone missing after a local passenger ferry capsized in the Java Sea over the weekend.
Local search and rescue (SAR) agency Basarnas said the navy survey ship KRI Canopus will participate in the effort to locate the missing passengers and crew of the Ro-Pax ferry Virgo Transport 8.
The ferry encountered bad weather while sailing from Surabaya to the city of Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan province while carrying 243 people and 89 vehicles on Sunday, September 13.
The vessel later sank, though 108 of those on board have been rescued while six others are confirmed to have died. The latter figure included an individual who was pulled out of the water along with other survivors but was later pronounced deceased.
Canopus is scheduled to arrive in the area on the morning (local time) of Tuesday, September 15. The ship will deploy unmanned vehicles to take over the underwater phase of the SAR effort after weather conditions impeded the deployment of divers on the second day of the operation.
Delivered earlier this year, Canopus is purpose-built for supporting unmanned vehicle operations in addition to conducting geological, hydrographic and oceanographic operations throughout the waters of Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone.
Her deck equipment includes an A-frame for the launch and recovery of autonomous underwater vehicles and remotely operated vehicles.
The vessel's onboard electronics include sensors for mapping the seabed at depths of as much as 11,000 metres.
