OPERATION BEGINS TO RIGHT THE SHIP
Indonesia began the operation to right the ship that had sunk to the seabed after staying partially afloat for days, authorities said.
The aim is to pull the ship into shallower water before pulling it right side up, said Galih Nurna Putra, a Navy commander in Banjarmasin.
„The salvage operation is already underway,“ he added, following observation carried out on Thursday. „Today the team will likely move toward the location (of the ship).“
The operation will be led by the ship’s owner, as Indonesian law requires, and backed by the rescue agency, the navy, and maritime police, said I Putu Sudayana, the head of the Banjarmasin rescue agency.
Indonesia sent eight ships and two helicopters on Friday to scour the waters for survivors, Putu said, although strong winds, currents and waves still hamper the effort.
Two representatives of victims‘ families were also allowed to join the effort in order to experience firsthand the harsh weather at the site and the technical challenges of the search, he added.