MV Ocean Winner rescue operation: India searches for 22 missing crew after beacon, lifeboat found in Bay of Bengal
MV Ocean Winner rescue operation. (Image courtesy: X/@IN_HQENC)
New Delhi: Indian authorities have intensified the search for the 22 crew members still missing from the Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV Ocean Winner after the vessel sank in the Bay of Bengal last week. The Indian Coast Guard is expanding the search-and-rescue operation as naval and maritime assets continue efforts to locate the missing seafarers.
Authorities have recovered an emergency beacon and located a lifeboat linked to the vessel, but no survivors were found at either site, while additional assets are being deployed to reinforce the search, Reuters reported on Tuesday. The developments have provided rescuers with fresh points to investigate as the operation continues across the waters around the suspected sinking area.
The 225-metre bulk carrier was carrying 24 crew members and a cargo of iron ore when it sank about 240 nautical miles off Odisha’s Paradip coast while sailing towards Singapore. The vessel had departed Paradip Port on Thursday and was scheduled to reach Singapore on August 27, but communication with the ship was lost on Saturday after it was last reported more than 200 nautical miles off the Odisha coast.
The crew comprised 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi national. Two crew members were rescued earlier from separate life rafts, leaving 22 people still unaccounted for.
Following the loss of communication, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Sri Vijaya Puram activated the international safety net and alerted vessels in the area to assist with the search. An Indian Navy P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft was also diverted from a surveillance sortie to join the operation.
RNA Media had earlier reported that the Indian Navy’s P-8I aircraft located a geographically dispersed life raft and coordinated with the nearby merchant vessel MT AISOPOS, which moved in to assist. The merchant vessel later rescued two crew members from separate life rafts at around 8pm.
The Indian Coast Guard subsequently deployed ICGS Varad, ICGS Anmol and ICGS Vijit to strengthen the search. Varad and Anmol were tasked with the search effort, while Vijit was deployed from Sri Vijaya Puram to augment the operation.
The cause of MV Ocean Winner’s sinking remains unknown. Indian Navy, Coast Guard and other vessels involved in the operation continue to search for the missing seafarers as additional assets are brought in to widen the search.
