Search Continues for 22 Crew Members After Vessel Sinks Off Odisha Coast
The search-and-rescue operation has been intensified for 22 crew members who remain missing after the Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV Ocean Winner sank in the Bay of Bengal, around 230–240 nautical miles off Odisha’s Paradip coast. The vessel was carrying 24 crew members when it sank on August 22, 2026.
According to authorities, two crew members were rescued from life rafts by the merchant vessel MT Aisopos after an Indian Navy P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft located the rafts. The remaining 22 crew members are still being traced.
The Indian Coast Guard has deployed three ships—Varad, Anmol and Vijit—to conduct surface searches and strengthen the ongoing rescue mission. The Indian Navy, Coast Guard and nearby merchant vessels are coordinating efforts under the maritime search-and-rescue framework.
The vessel had departed from Paradip Port carrying iron ore and was reportedly bound for Singapore/China. Its crew comprised 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi national. Communication with the vessel was lost before the sinking, while the precise cause of the incident remains under investigation.
The coordinated response highlights the role of India’s maritime safety and emergency-response agencies in handling offshore emergencies. Authorities have also alerted vessels operating in the region to support the search operation.
