A joint search and rescue (SAR) team has detected a large object below the sea surface in the Bali Strait, which is suspected to be the wreckage of the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya ferry boat.
The ferry boat sank on Wednesday evening.
At a press conference at Ketapang Port, East Java, on Saturday, the National SAR Agency’s deputy for SAR operation and readiness, Ribut Eko Suyanto, said the object, which was identified by the Transport Ministry’s Navigation Office, is located around 40–60 meters below the sea surface.
The physical characteristics of the large object bear similarities to the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, he said.
“However, we need more time to verify the object with a remote-operation vehicle (ROV) and sonar equipment available with KRI Pulau Fanildo,” Suyanto said.
KRI Pulau Fanildo is a naval ship deployed by the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) for the operation.
The agency official said he expects KRI Pulau Fanildo to help the joint SAR team verify and determine the underwater object. “Hopefully, tonight, we can verify the current data we have,” he added.
Meanwhile, Commander of the Indonesian Navy’s 2nd Fleet Command, Rear Admiral I Gung Putu Alit Jaya, informed that KRI Pulau Fanildo arrived in Banyuwangi waters at 8 p.m. local time on Saturday.
“This very night, the ship will commence its duty from the datum point, and it will deploy its sonar to detect underwater objects and its magnetometer to detect metal objects,” he said.
The ship’s ROV will also be deployed to obtain an underwater visual of the object suspected to be the sunken KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, he added.
The KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya roll-on/roll-off vessel, carrying 12 crew members, 53 passengers, and 22 cars, capsized in the rough waters off Bali Island at 11:35 p.m. local time on July 2, 2025.
Following days of search operations, at least 30 people have been evacuated alive, 6 have been found dead, while 29 others remain unaccounted for. Meanwhile, on its third day, the SAR operation had yet to yield any results.
Related news: Minister directs KNKT probe into Bali ferry tragedy
Related news: SAR team to deploy larger vessels in Tunu Pratama Jaya ferry search
Translator: Novi Husdinariyanto, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
