Cargo Ship Sinks in Bay of Bengal; 22 Crew Members Missing: Two Rescued
BHUBANESWAR, August 23: A Panama-flagged cargo vessel carrying 24 crew members sank in the Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast on Saturday, triggering a major search and rescue operation by the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy. Two crew members have so far been rescued from life rafts, while efforts are continuing to locate the remaining 22 people.
The vessel, MV Ocean Winner, went down approximately 240 nautical miles from Paradip in Odisha. According to reports, the ship was carrying iron ore and was sailing from the Odisha coast towards Singapore when the incident occurred.
The crew comprised 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi, according to Indian Coast Guard officials. The international composition of the crew has prompted authorities to maintain close coordination with relevant agencies as the rescue operation continues.
The incident came after communication with the vessel was lost. A distress alert was received before contact with the ship was severed, prompting Indian maritime authorities to launch an immediate search and rescue mission. The circumstances that led to the sinking remain unclear, and officials have not yet established whether mechanical failure, weather conditions, structural problems or another factor was responsible.
Two survivors were located in separate life rafts and rescued on Saturday evening. They were taken for medical treatment, while authorities worked to verify their identities and assess their condition. The rescue of the two crew members has raised hopes that others may also have managed to abandon the vessel before it sank.
The Indian Coast Guard and Navy have intensified the operation, deploying multiple ships to conduct surface searches over a wide area. A nearby commercial vessel, MT Aisopos, was also requested to assist in the search. Authorities have alerted other ships operating in the region to remain vigilant and report any signs of survivors or liferafts.
The sinking occurred far offshore, making the rescue operation particularly challenging. Search teams must cover a large area of the Bay of Bengal while dealing with sea conditions, limited visibility and the possibility that survivors may have drifted away from the vessel’s last known position.
Reports have differed on the precise quantity of iron ore carried by the vessel, with some accounts saying it was transporting a substantial iron-ore cargo from Odisha. The ship had reportedly departed the Paradip area shortly before the accident.
The incident has once again highlighted the importance of rapid maritime distress communication and coordinated search and rescue capabilities in the Bay of Bengal, one of the world’s busiest maritime regions. The Indian Coast Guard and Navy regularly respond to emergencies involving commercial vessels operating in and around Indian waters.
For the families of the missing crew, however, the immediate priority remains locating their loved ones. Search operations were continuing on Sunday, with authorities using ships and other available resources to scan the sea around the reported sinking location.
Investigators are expected to examine the vessel’s voyage, cargo, maintenance records, weather conditions and communications before determining the cause of the disaster. Until that assessment is completed, officials have not attributed the sinking to any particular cause.
As the search enters a critical phase, Indian maritime authorities remain focused on finding the 22 missing crew members and bringing any possible survivors to safety. The rescue effort is being closely monitored as ships continue their search across the Bay of Bengal.
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