A Panama-registered cargo ship carrying 24 crew members sank off India’s eastern coast, prompting an extensive search operation for the 22 sailors still missing. Two crew members were rescued from liferafts as authorities intensified efforts in the Bay of Bengal.
The Indian Coast Guard lost contact with the vessel Ocean Winner on Saturday after it encountered difficulties. The ship’s crew consisted of 20 Chinese, three Myanmar, and one Bangladeshi national. The vessel had departed from Paradip port in Odisha on Thursday, transporting iron ore destined for Singapore.
Officials stated the ship sank approximately 240 nautical miles (444 kilometers) from Paradip. The exact cause of the sinking remains unknown at this time. The Ocean Winner was reported to be about 225 meters long and carrying over 72,000 tonnes of iron ore when it went down.
Following the loss of communication, the Indian Coast Guard immediately dispatched two vessels from Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair) to begin search and rescue operations. The mission was later expanded to include additional Coast Guard and naval units to cover a wider search area.
Communication with the vessel was lost before its sinking was confirmed, leading authorities to seek assistance from nearby ships. A merchant vessel diverted to aid in the search and helped recover the two survivors from liferafts.
The incident occurred far offshore, complicating rescue efforts due to the remote location and challenging sea conditions. The Coast Guard indicated that the search area might be extended depending on weather and operational factors.
Captain Alekha Charan Sahoo, deputy conservator of Paradip Port Authority, expressed optimism about rescuing more crew members. An investigation into the circumstances of the sinking will commence once the rescue operations conclude.
Among the 22 missing are 19 Chinese nationals and three Myanmar nationals. The two rescued include one Chinese crew member and the Bangladeshi sailor. The Indian Coast Guard and Navy continued their search on Sunday, racing against time to locate the missing sailors in the Bay of Bengal.
