Paradip: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday expressed deep concern over the sinking of Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV Ocean Winner off the Odisha coast, even as the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Indian Navy intensified multi-agency search and rescue operations to trace the remaining 22 crew members in the Bay of Bengal.
“Deeply concerned by the unfortunate incident involving MV OCEAN WINNER off the coast of Odisha. The Panama-flagged vessel was carrying iron ore from Paradip Port to China. Search & rescue operations are underway in close coordination with all agencies. 2 survivors have been successfully rescued and are being given medical care; their rank and identity are currently being verified. Prayers for the safety of the remaining crew,” the Union Minister wrote on X.
Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) reported that three ships have been deployed to conduct surface searches for the remaining crew members. ICGS Varad and ICGS Anmol were sent directly to the scene, while ICGS Vijit was dispatched from Sri Vijaya Puram to support the operation alongside naval aircraft and nearby commercial vessels.
The cargo vessel departed Paradip Port carrying over 70,000 metric tons of iron ore fines, heading toward China via Singapore, before losing contact with maritime tracking systems. Aboard the vessel were 24 crew members, comprising 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmarese nationals, and one Bangladeshi national. Following a distress alert, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) at Sri Vijaya Puram initiated international safety protocols and diverted a nearby commercial tanker, MT Aisopos, to the search zone, which recovered two survivors from separate life rafts.
“The IN aircraft located geographically dispersed life raft in the area and soon coordinated with MT AISOPOS, which was transiting nearby, with a request for the merchant vessel to render assistance. By late evening on 22 Aug, MT AISOPOS had rescued two of the 24 crew members from the life rafts,” Eastern Naval Command posted on X.
