Ocean Winner’ Ship Sinks in Bay of Bengal: 22 of 24 Crew Members Missing; Coast Guard and Navy Rescue Operation Underway

New Delhi. The Panama-flagged cargo ship MV Ocean Winner sank in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Odisha on Saturday after contact was lost. There were 24 crew members on board, comprising 20 Chinese nationals, three nationals from Myanmar, and one from Bangladesh. The Indian Coast Guard has rescued two individuals so far, while the search for the remaining crew members continues.

According to the Indian Coast Guard, contact with MV Ocean Winner was lost before the vessel sank. Officials stated that the ship went down approximately 240 nautical miles off the Paradip coast in Odisha.

The vessel had departed from the Paradip coast in Odisha on the night of August 20 and was en route to Singapore. Initially, the situation regarding the number of rescued crew members was unclear; however, the Coast Guard later confirmed that two individuals had been safely rescued.

Rescue Operation Underway
Following the loss of contact and the sinking of the vessel, the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy launched a joint search and rescue operation. Other ships in the vicinity have also been alerted and asked to assist in the search for the missing crew members. The primary objective of the rescue operation is to locate the remaining crew members and ascertain their status. The exact cause and circumstances surrounding the sinking of the ship have not yet been determined.

According to the Coast Guard, a total of 24 crew members were on board MV Ocean Winner. Following the sinking of the ship—located about 240 nautical miles from Paradip—the Coast Guard, the Navy, and nearby vessels are engaged in the rescue operation. While two people have been rescued so far, the search for the remaining crew members is ongoing. Further information is awaited regarding the circumstances of the ship’s sinking and the status of the missing persons.