Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Search Underway After Indonesian Passenger Ship Loses Contact
An Indonesian passenger ship called Virgo Transport 8 stopped communicating with authorities.
It was traveling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin through the Java Sea.
Contact was reportedly lost early Sunday after the ship encountered bad weather.
Rescue teams and a rescue ship were sent toward its last known location.
That location was about 148 kilometers from Banjarmasin.
Different reports gave different numbers for the people aboard.
Most reports said no casualties had been immediately confirmed.
One report said a person had died and the ship might have overturned, but that claim was not confirmed by the other reports.
The Virgo Transport 8 lost contact in the Java Sea early Sunday while traveling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin.
Reports variously said 240, 241, or 243 people were aboard, including passengers and crew.
The vessel departed Surabaya at 10:13 a.m. Saturday, with contact reportedly lost around 2 a.m. Sunday.
Its last known position was about 148 kilometers from a pier in Banjarmasin, and rescuers were sent to the area.
Officials cited bad or poor weather as a possible factor, while most reports said there were no immediate casualty reports; one report claimed one death and feared the ship had overturned.
- Who
- The Virgo Transport 8, its passengers and crew, and Indonesian search-and-rescue personnel.
- What
- The passenger ship lost contact and its location became unknown while traveling toward Banjarmasin.
- When
- Contact was reportedly lost around 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, September 13, after the ship departed Saturday morning.
- Where
- The vessel was last known to be in the Java Sea, about 148 kilometers from a pier in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.
- Why
- Authorities said the operator reported a communication failure after the vessel encountered bad or poor weather; the exact cause remained unconfirmed.
Official and Agency Reports
Unconfirmed Report
Casualties and vessel condition
Official and Agency Reports
Most reports said there were no immediate reports of casualties and described an ongoing search for the vessel.
Unconfirmed Report
One report claimed at least one person had died and that the ship was feared to have overturned, but this was not confirmed by the other reports.
Number of people aboard
Official and Agency Reports
The ship’s manifest was reported to list 241 passengers, while other reports cited 240 people.
Unconfirmed Report
Another report said 243 people were aboard, creating an unresolved discrepancy over the total.
Possible cause
Official and Agency Reports
Officials said the operator reported bad weather, and other reports referred to poor weather or a communication failure.
Unconfirmed Report
The available reports did not establish whether weather caused the loss of contact or whether the vessel overturned.
- Vessel
- Virgo Transport 8
- Route
- Surabaya, East Java, to Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan
- Departure
- Saturday at 10:13 a.m. local time
- Contact lost
- Around 2 a.m. Sunday
- People aboard
- Reports cited 240 people, 241 passengers, or 243 people including passengers and crew
- Last known position
- About 148 kilometers (92 miles) from a pier in Banjarmasin
- Rescue response
- Indonesian rescuers dispatched personnel and a rescue ship to the estimated last known position
- Reported casualties
- Most reports said there were no immediate casualty reports; one report claimed one death
Sources
Search underway for Indonesian passenger ship carrying 240 people after it loses contact
Indonesian passenger ship carrying 240 people loses contact
Indonesian Ship With 240+ Passengers On Board Goes Missing In Java Sea
Indonesian ship carrying 241 people loses contact in Java Sea, search underway
Indonesian Ship Carrying 240 Passengers Loses Contact In Java Sea, Search On
