A Panama‑flagged cargo vessel, MV Ocean Winner, sank in the Bay of Bengal on Saturday after losing communication with shore authorities, officials said. The ship went down approximately 240 nautical miles from the Paradip coast in Odisha while on a voyage carrying iron ore to Singapore. Two sailors were located alive on life rafts on Saturday night; the remaining 22 crew members are missing and search-and-rescue operations continue.
Vessel details and timeline
The vessel, identified as MV Ocean Winner, had sailed from Paradip late on August 20 at about 10:42 pm bound for Singapore with a cargo of iron ore. The ship was Panama‑flagged and carried a complement of 24 crew: 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi, the Indian Coast Guard said.
The ship lost communication with its base before it sank. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) at Sri Vijaya Puram received a request for assistance and information about the loss of communication at around 11:48 am, according to officials. Commercial vessels in the area were alerted to render assistance.
“Authorities were initially unsure how many crew members had been rescued,” an official was quoted as saying.
Search-and-rescue response
The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy launched a joint search-and-rescue operation immediately after receiving information about the vessel. The Coast Guard said two survivors were recovered from liferafts at about 8 pm on Saturday night. The survivors were found on separate life rafts and were brought aboard a responding ship.
ICG ships Varad and Anmol were deployed for the operation, while Vijit was sent from Sri Vijaya Puram to augment the search, officials said. In addition, the MRCC diverted a nearby commercial tanker, MT Aisopos, to help locate liferafts and render assistance.
| Asset | Deployed/Action |
|---|---|
| ICG ship Varad | Deployed for search |
| ICG ship Anmol | Deployed for search |
| ICG ship Vijit | Sent from Sri Vijaya Puram |
| MT Aisopos (commercial) | Diverted to assist |
Cargo, tracking and unknowns
Sources said the ship was carrying a large consignment of iron ore—reported in media as 72,100 tonnes—from Paradip to Singapore. MV Ocean Winner reportedly disappeared from tracking systems roughly two days after leaving Paradip, raising concerns about a technical failure, disabling of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) or an onboard emergency. Authorities are following standard procedures to determine whether the loss of the vessel’s tracking signal resulted from technical malfunction or a deliberate disabling of equipment.
The exact cause of the sinking has not been established. Officials said enquiry into the circumstances that led to the vessel’s loss and subsequent sinking is under way.
Local and regional implications
The incident underscores the hazards of long-haul bulk shipping in the northern Bay of Bengal and will be closely watched by port authorities at Paradip and shipping companies operating in the region. Vessels in the area were alerted to assist in the search for survivors and liferafts; the Coast Guard and Navy continue to coordinate the operation over a wide search area.
- Two crew rescued from liferafts so far.
- 22 crew still missing and presumed at sea.
- Joint ICG–Navy search ongoing; commercial ships in the vicinity asked to assist.
Practical advice for mariners and families
For shipping companies and seafarers, the event highlights the importance of maintaining redundant communication and tracking systems, ensuring life‑saving appliances are serviceable and that crew training for abandon‑ship and survival at sea is regularly conducted and certified.
Families of seafarers and the shipping company will need timely, verified updates from official agencies. Relatives should seek information through the vessel’s operator, the port authority at Paradip and the Indian Coast Guard’s MRCC channels rather than relying on unconfirmed reports on social media.
The Coast Guard and Navy have not released details about the condition of the two rescued crew members publicly. Further official updates on the search area, assets involved and any findings are expected as agencies continue to comb the designated zone.
This developing story will have implications for maritime safety reviews and for procedures followed after loss of communication. Authorities have committed to continuing efforts to locate the missing crew and determine the cause of the incident.
