A major search-and-rescue operation is underway in the Bay of Bengal after the Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV Ocean Winner sank off the eastern coast of India, leaving 22 of its 24 crew members missing. The vessel sank approximately 240 nautical miles from Paradip Port in Odisha after communication with the ship was lost. The crew comprised 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi national. Two crew members were rescued from life rafts, while the remaining 22 were still being sought by Indian authorities.
The incident triggered a coordinated response involving the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy, with three Coast Guard vessels Varad, Anmol and Vijit deployed to conduct surface searches. A nearby commercial vessel, MT Aisopos, was also diverted to assist and recovered two survivors from life rafts. The vessel had departed from Paradip, carrying iron ore, and the cause of the sinking had not been established at the time of reporting.
The sinking places crew safety and maritime risk at the center of attention for commercial shipping in the Bay of Bengal. Beyond the immediate search for the missing seafarers, the incident demonstrates the operational importance of rapid distress response, coordinated search-and-rescue capabilities and continuous monitoring of vessels operating on major regional trade routes. Authorities continue to search for the remaining crew while the circumstances surrounding the sinking remain under investigation.