Twenty-two seafarers went missing while two have been rescued after a Panama-flagged cargo ship carrying more than 72,000 tonnes of iron ore from Odisha to China sank in the Bay of Bengal , about 230 nautical miles off the eastern coast, officials aware of the matter said on Sunday, adding that an intensive search is underway for the remaining seafarers.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair) launched a search-and-rescue operation after receiving a distress alert and losing contact with the vessel. The cause of the sinking has not been established. Authorities are expected to examine whether adverse weather and sea conditions, problems involving the cargo, mechanical failure or other factors contributed to the incident. The loss of the vessel from tracking systems before it sank is also likely to form part of the investigation.
Ports, shipping and waterways minister Sarbananda Sonowal said all agencies were coordinating the search and rescue efforts. “Deeply concerned by the unfortunate incident involving MV OCEAN WINNER off the coast of Odisha,” Sonowal said in an X post.
Investigation and rescue efforts
The account was based on information shared by the two survivors—Chen Jianhe and Pan Tonglai—with Capt. The Mercantile Marine Department (MMD), Kolkata, has been tasked with conducting a Preliminary Investigation (PI) into the incident, the report added. Also Read I 2 rescued, 22 missing after China-bound iron ore vessel sinks off Odisha coast
Indian Coast Guard ships and a Navy maritime surveillance aircraft have been deployed, while merchant vessels in the area have been alerted to assist in the search, according to officials. “MRCC Sri Vijaya Puram initiated a swift search and rescue effort following a distress alert and loss of contact with MV Ocean Winner at 11.48 am Saturday, nearly 230 nautical miles south east off Paradip,” Coast Guard spokesperson Commandant Amit Uniyal said. A report prepared by the Directorate of Maritime Administration said the MV Ocean Winner developed a list and sank within about eight minutes. Silviu Vllad, a Romanian national, the master of MT Aisopos, the report said.
