2 Survivors From MV Ocean Winner Sinking Identified As Chinese, Search On For 22 Seafarers Still Missing

Twenty-two seafarers are missing after the Panama-flagged cargo ship MV Ocean Winner sank in the Bay of Bengal, around 230 nautical miles off Odisha’s Paradip coast, officials said on Sunday. Two Chinese crew members have been rescued, while the Indian Coast Guard and Navy are conducting an intensive search for the remaining seafarers.

Rescue Operation Underway

The China-bound vessel, carrying more than 72,000 tonnes of iron ore, left Paradip Port on Friday and reportedly sank on Saturday. Its 24-member crew comprised 20 Chinese nationals, three from Myanmar and one Bangladeshi national.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Sri Vijaya Puram launched a search-and-rescue operation after receiving a distress alert and losing contact with the vessel.

Coast Guard spokesperson Commandant Amit Uniyal said the distress alert was received at 11.48 am on Saturday. The MRCC diverted tanker MT Aisopos to the area, and the vessel rescued two survivors from separate liferafts at around 8 pm.

Coast Guard ships Varad and Anmol have been deployed for the search, while Vijit was sent from Sri Vijaya Puram to reinforce the operation. Merchant vessels operating in the region have also been alerted.

Ship Sank Within Eight Minutes

A report prepared by the Directorate of Maritime Administration said the MV Ocean Winner developed a list before sinking within around eight minutes. The account was based on information provided by the two rescued crew members, Chen Jianhe and Pan Tonglai, to Capt Silviu Vllad, the master of MT Aisopos.

The Indian Navy has also deployed a Boeing P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to assist the search. Navy officials said the aircraft located liferafts around 435 miles east of Visakhapatnam and guided MT Aisopos towards them.

The Navy is coordinating with the Coast Guard and MRCC Sri Vijaya Puram to locate the remaining crew members.

Cause Of Sinking Under Investigation

Director General of Shipping Shyam Jagannathan said the two rescued seafarers are Chinese nationals and warned that survival chances decline significantly after 12 hours. The rescued crew members are being brought to the mainland for medical treatment.

Rough sea conditions in the Bay of Bengal have hampered the search, according to the Coast Guard. The cause of the sinking has not yet been established.

The Mercantile Marine Department (MMD), Kolkata, has been tasked with conducting a preliminary investigation. Authorities are expected to examine possible factors including adverse weather and sea conditions, cargo-related problems, mechanical failure and other circumstances surrounding the sinking.

Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said all agencies were coordinating the search and rescue operation.

The MV Ocean Winner was built in 1998 and is registered to Ocean Winner Shipping Co Ltd of Fuzhou, Fujian, China, which is also listed as its commercial manager and International Safety Management manager.