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JAKARTA, Indonesia — <\/span>Indonesian rescuers launched a search operation Sunday after authorities lost contact with a passenger ship carrying more than 240 people in the Java Sea while traveling from East Java to South Kalimantan province, officials said.<\/p>\n The Search and Rescue Office in the city of Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, which is located on Borneo island, said it received a report two hours after contact was lost with the Virgo Transport 8 at about 2 a.m. Sunday. The ship had departed from Surabaya, Indonesia\u2019s second largest city in East Java province, en route to Banjarmasin.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ship\u2019s operator reported the incident to authorities after receiving information that the vessel had encountered bad weather,\u201d said I Putu Sudayana, who heads the Search and Rescue Office, in a video briefing.<\/p>\n Initial information indicated the vessel\u2019s last known position was in the Java Sea, about 148 kilometers (92 miles) from a pier in Banjarmasin. The ship’s manifest said it was carrying 241 passengers.<\/p>\n There were no immediate reports of casualties.<\/p>\n The vessel\u2019s operator, PT Virgo Yoel Rihi, reported the loss of contact and said the ship departed Surabaya on Saturday at 10:13 a.m. local time. <\/p>\n In response, a rescue team was dispatched to Banjarmasin’s Basirih Search and Rescue pier, and a rescue ship was headed to the Virgo Transport 8\u2019s estimated last known position.<\/p>\n Sudayana, who is coordinating the search, said authorities were mobilizing all available personnel and assets because the vessel was carrying a large number of passengers and crew.<\/p>\n He said the agency was coordinating with maritime authorities and other relevant agencies in the search, while closely monitoring weather conditions in the area.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n