The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has intensified search and rescue operations after the Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV Ocean Winner sank in the Bay of Bengal on August 22, officials said on Sunday. The vessel went down around 230 nautical miles from the Paradip coast of Odisha with 24 crew members on board.
The crew comprised 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmarese and one Bangladeshi, officials said.
The ICG and Indian Navy launched a joint rescue operation after the vessel sank, while nearby commercial ships were alerted to assist in locating survivors, news agency PTI reported.
Two crew members rescued
An ICG spokesperson said MT Aisopos rescued two crew members from separate liferafts at around 8 pm on Saturday.
Sharing an update on the rescued personnel, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal said two survivors have been rescued and were being given medical care. "Their rank and identity are currently being verified," PTI quoted the minister as saying.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) diverted MT Aisopos, a commercial vessel operating in the area, to support the operation. The vessel was tasked with searching for the missing ship and any liferafts in the vicinity.
{{/usCountry}}The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) diverted MT Aisopos, a commercial vessel operating in the area, to support the operation. The vessel was tasked with searching for the missing ship and any liferafts in the vicinity.
{{/usCountry}}Also read | China-bound vessel with 24 crew members sinks 200 nautical miles off Odisha’s Paradip port
3 ships deployed
The ICG said on Sunday that three of its ships have been deployed to continue the search for the remaining crew members.
ICG shared a post on X and wrote, “Search & Rescue Operation Underway. On 22 Aug 2026, MRCC #SriVijayaPuram initiated a swift #SAR effort following a distress alert and loss of contact with MV #OceanWinner (230 NM Southeast off Paradip), carrying 24 crew members (20 Chinese, 03 Myanmarese, 01 Bangladeshi). Diverted via International Safety Net (ISN), MT AISOPOS successfully rescued 02 survivors from life rafts. We have deployed three ships to conduct surface searches for the remaining crew members.”
ICG ships Varad and Anmol are carrying out search operations, while Vijit has been sent from Sri Vijaya Puram to reinforce the mission.
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The MV Ocean Winner was carrying iron ore from Odisha to China. It had reportedly departed Paradip Port at around 10.30 pm on August 20 with 1,700 tonnes of iron ore fines on board, HT earlier reported.
The vessel was last reported to be sailing around 200 nautical miles from Paradip when communication was lost, sources at the Paradip Port Authority said. Initial reports had described the ship as missing.
(With inputs from PTI)