A cargo ship flying the Panamanian flag, MV Ocean Winner, sank in the Bay of Bengal, leaving 24 crew members missing. Following a loss of contact with the vessel, a search and rescue operation was launched, resulting in the rescue of two crew members alive. The ship, carrying raw materials used in iron production, went missing from tracking systems while en route from Paradip, Odisha, to Singapore.
Near India’s eastern coast in the Bay of Bengal, rescue efforts continue for the 24 missing crew of the Panamanian-flagged cargo ship. The MV Ocean Winner had 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar citizens, and one Bangladeshi on board. After contact was lost with the ship on Saturday night, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) initiated the search and rescue operation.
The ship’s operating company, Victory Star Group Company Limited, requested assistance, prompting Indian authorities to expedite the rescue mission. Following the rescue of two crew members, the MRCC activated the international safety network and dispatched another vessel, MT Isopos, to the site. The rescue team retrieved the two survivors from two liferafts. The identities of the rescued crew members have not yet been disclosed.
The Indian Coast Guard has intensified search operations for the remaining crew. Initial information indicates that the MV Ocean Winner lost track while sailing from Paradip port in Odisha towards Singapore. The vessel was located more than 200 nautical miles from the Paradip coast. Officials reported that the ship’s last known position was approximately 310 nautical miles from East Island Light. The cause of the ship’s sinking has not been determined yet.
