Passenger missing after alleged fall from KMP Cemerlang 55 in Bali Strait

Gilimanuk — A 23-year-old passenger from Jombang, East Java, was reported missing after he allegedly went overboard from KMP Cemerlang 55 in the Bali Strait on Sunday evening, September 27, 2026.

Why it matters: The incident prompted a search operation near Gilimanuk, a ferry gateway used by passengers travelling between Java and Bali.

The incident occurred at about 6:50 p.m. local time near the red buoy at Gilimanuk port, according to Detik Bali. The ferry had sailed from Ketapang, Banyuwangi, and was waiting to berth at Gilimanuk when another passenger reportedly saw the man enter the water.

The missing passenger was identified by authorities and local media as Rizki Firmansyah, 23. He had been travelling in a black Toyota Avanza with two relatives and the vehicle’s driver, according to reports. His destination was Tabanan, Bali, where he was due to work.

Crew members of KMP Cemerlang 55 coordinated an initial search by radio with nearby ferries, including KMP Gilimanuk 1 and KMP Surya Perkasa 1. The passenger was no longer visible on the surface by about 7:05 p.m.

The search continued after the ferry reached and berthed at Gilimanuk port, but the passenger had not been found by Monday morning, Bali Post reported. Personnel from the Gilimanuk naval post conducted an overnight search, while a joint operation with the police water unit and the National Search and Rescue Agency was planned for Monday.

Gilimanuk naval post commander First Lieutenant Aditya Nur Pratama said investigators were examining how the passenger reached the stern before the suspected fall. Detik Bali reported that authorities were also considering a possible family-related problem as a preliminary explanation, while the circumstances remained under investigation.

What happened

• The passenger was reported missing after an alleged fall from KMP Cemerlang 55 near Gilimanuk on September 27.
• An initial search by nearby vessels did not locate him by 7:05 p.m.
• A joint search involving naval, police and search-and-rescue personnel was planned for September 28.

Sources

• Bali Post
• Detik Bali