A major maritime emergency unfolded in the Bay of Bengal on Saturday after the Panama-flagged cargo vessel MV Ocean-Winner, carrying 24 crew members and a large consignment of iron ore, sank off the Odisha coast. The incident triggered an urgent search-and-rescue operation involving the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy.
The vessel reportedly went down several hundred kilometres offshore after losing communication, raising serious concerns about the safety of those aboard. Initial reports from authorities and maritime sources differed on the vessel’s precise destination, with some describing it as China-bound and others reporting that it was sailing towards Singapore.
Cargo Ship Lost Contact After Leaving Paradip
According to preliminary information, MV Ocean-Winner departed Paradip Port in Odisha at around 10:30 pm on August 20. The ship was carrying approximately 1,700 tonnes of iron ore loaded in Odisha.
The vessel subsequently sailed into the Bay of Bengal before communication with it was lost on August 22. Hindustan Times reported that the ship was around 200 nautical miles from Paradip when contact was lost, while other reports placed the sinking at approximately 240 nautical miles offshore.
The distance from the Odisha coast has made the rescue operation particularly challenging, with maritime agencies working to locate survivors in a vast area of open sea.
24 Crew Members Were on Board
Preliminary information indicates that the vessel had 24 crew members, including 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi national.
However, authorities initially said the exact status of the crew could not be immediately confirmed. The circumstances surrounding the sinking also remained unclear as search operations continued.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Sri Vijaya Puram received information at approximately 11:48 am on Saturday that communication with the vessel had been lost. The alert and request for search-and-rescue assistance were reportedly made by Victory Star Group Co Ltd, the company operating the ship.
Coast Guard and Navy Launch Massive Rescue Mission
Following the emergency alert, Indian maritime authorities moved quickly to begin a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.
Coast Guard vessels Varad and Anmol were deployed to assist in the search, while Vijit was also sent from Sri Vijaya Puram to support the operation. Other vessels operating in the surrounding waters were alerted and asked to assist in locating possible survivors.
The Indian Navy is also supporting the operation, underlining the seriousness of the maritime emergency and the difficulties involved in reaching the reported sinking location.
A senior official said that authorities were still working to establish how many crew members, if any, had been rescued. The search was continuing as rescue teams attempted to locate liferafts, debris or other indications of the crew’s whereabouts.
Destination Reports Remain Conflicting
One of the notable aspects of the incident has been the conflicting information regarding the vessel’s intended destination.
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Hindustan Times described MV Ocean-Winner as a China-bound vessel, while other reports, citing officials and vessel-tracking information, said the ship was travelling towards Singapore after leaving Paradip with its iron-ore cargo.
Authorities have yet to provide a definitive public explanation for the discrepancy. The immediate priority remains locating the crew and determining their condition rather than establishing the vessel’s commercial route.
Cause of Sinking Yet to Be Established
The exact reason behind the sinking has not been officially established.
Investigators are expected to examine several possibilities, including mechanical problems, structural failure, cargo stability, weather and sea conditions or other operational factors. At this stage, there is no confirmed information establishing what caused MV Ocean-Winner to go down.
The vessel’s loss also highlights the risks faced by commercial shipping in the Bay of Bengal, where rescue operations can become difficult because of distance, weather, sea conditions and the vast area that must be searched.
Search Operation Continues in Bay of Bengal
The immediate focus of Indian authorities remains the safety and rescue of the 24 crew members. Coast Guard and Navy assets are continuing efforts to locate the vessel’s survivors, while nearby ships have been asked to remain alert and provide assistance.
A separate report said two survivors had been rescued from liferafts by around 8 pm, although the overall status of all 24 crew members remained subject to further confirmation.
Officials are expected to release more information as the search progresses. A detailed investigation will ultimately be required to establish the precise circumstances that led to the sinking of MV Ocean-Winner.
For now, the incident remains a major maritime emergency off Odisha, with Indian agencies racing against time to locate the missing crew and bring them to safety.
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