The plan was confirmed by Hartanto, head of the Surabaya Tanjung Perak Navigation District at the Ministry of Transportation, during a press conference on Sunday.
"The ship's location is now confirmed, and our next step is to install markers at the site," he said.
A specialized team tasked with marking the wreck site and conducting the refloating operation is en route to Banyuwangi, East Java, ahead of their deployment to the Bali Strait. Coordination with relevant agencies, including the Sea and Coast Guard Unit (KPLP), will support the operation.
"We will continue to coordinate and carry out our duties according to standard procedures. This operation will take time. As of today, the special team is on its way here," Hartanto added.
According to the joint SAR team’s operations center at Ketapang Port in Banyuwangi, 30 survivors have been rescued as of Sunday, while 17 remain missing. The death toll stands at 18, with three victims still being identified.
The roll-on/roll-off ferry was carrying 53 passengers, 12 crew members, and 22 vehicles when it departed Ketapang Port in Banyuwangi, East Java, at 10:56 p.m. on July 2. It sank en route to Gilimanuk Port in Bali around 11:35 p.m.
In response to the tragedy, President Prabowo Subianto has instructed all relevant government agencies to make every effort to locate and rescue the remaining missing passengers and crew.
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Translator: Novi Husdinariyanto, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Anton Santoso
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