The Indian Coast Guard has launched a large-scale search and rescue operation in the Bay of Bengal after the cargo vessel MV Ocean Winner went down off the eastern coast of India. The ship, registered under the Panamanian flag, sent a distress signal on Saturday while sailing southeast of the port of Paradip in Odisha state, after which all contact was lost.
According to the Coast Guard, the vessel had a crew of 24 people, comprising 20 Chinese nationals, three from Myanmar, and one from Bangladesh. Two crew members have been pulled from life rafts and are receiving medical care; the remaining 22 are still unaccounted for. Three Coast Guard ships have been deployed to scour the area, and aerial surveillance is also being conducted.
Rescue efforts and official response
India's Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, confirmed the incident on social media, stating that all agencies are coordinating closely. "2 survivors have been successfully rescued and are being given medical care; their rank and identity are currently being verified," he wrote. "My prayers for the safety of the remaining crew," he added.
The cause of the sinking remains unclear. The MV Ocean Winner was transporting iron ore from Paradip to China when it encountered difficulties. Paradip is one of India's major ports on the Bay of Bengal, handling significant volumes of bulk cargo, including iron ore destined for steelmakers in East Asia.
Maritime accidents in the region are not uncommon, and the Indian Coast Guard has conducted several high-profile rescues in recent years. In a separate incident, the Mauritanian coastguard rescued over 300 migrants from a drifting boat off West Africa, highlighting the broader challenges of maritime safety across the world's oceans.
The search operation is ongoing, with authorities focusing on the area where the distress signal was received. The crew's nationalities mean that diplomatic channels are likely to be involved, with China, Myanmar, and Bangladesh all expected to seek updates from Indian officials.
While this incident occurred in South Asian waters, it resonates with European maritime concerns. The shift of LNG cargoes to Asia has altered global shipping routes, and European ports are increasingly vigilant about safety standards for vessels operating in busy sea lanes. The European Maritime Safety Agency has been pushing for stricter enforcement of international regulations to prevent such tragedies.
As the search continues, the families of the missing crew members await news. The Indian Coast Guard has not yet provided a timeline for the operation, but officials have indicated that they will continue searching as long as there is any hope of finding survivors.
