Ocean Winner sinks off India, 22 crew missing as rescue effort underway

NEW DELHI: A major search-and-rescue operation was underway off eastern India on Sunday after a Panama-flagged bulk carrier sank in the Bay of Bengal, leaving 22 of its 24 crew members unaccounted for.

The vessel, Ocean Winner, was carrying 24 crew members, including 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi, when communication with the ship was lost, according to the Indian Coast Guard. Two people have so far been rescued from life rafts.

The vessel was transporting iron ore to Singapore after leaving India’s eastern Paradip port on Thursday. It sank about 240 nautical miles from the port, far from the Odisha coastline, prompting Indian authorities to mobilise ships for the rescue mission.

The Coast Guard dispatched vessels from Sri Vijaya Puram, formerly known as Port Blair, to search the waters and locate other survivors. Nearby commercial vessels were also alerted and asked to assist in the operation as authorities raced against time to find the missing seafarers.

The sinking has raised concerns for the safety of the remaining crew, particularly because the incident occurred in open waters. The cause of the vessel’s sinking was not immediately known, and officials had not provided an explanation for why communication with the ship was lost.

The two rescued crew members were found in life rafts, providing a small but significant breakthrough in the search. Authorities continued to scan the surrounding waters for additional rafts, debris or signs of other survivors.

The incident also highlighted the risks faced by seafarers travelling along busy international shipping routes in the Bay of Bengal. The Ocean Winner had departed Paradip carrying a commercial cargo of iron ore and was bound for Singapore when the voyage ended abruptly.

Captain Alekha Charan Sahoo, deputy conservator of the Paradip Port Authority, expressed hope for the safety of those still missing and said he was praying for the crew.

Indian authorities have continued coordinating the operation, with the Coast Guard and other vessels involved in the search. The focus remained on locating the missing sailors and bringing them to safety.

For families and colleagues waiting for news, every hour of the operation carries enormous significance. With two crew members already rescued, authorities are hoping the ongoing search will lead to more survivors as teams continue combing the waters around the sunken vessel.