Bay of Bengal Cargo Ship Sinking: Indian Agencies Expand Search for 22 Missing Crew
The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy have expanded the search area in the Bay of Bengal for 22 crew members missing after their cargo ship sank, with efforts continuing despite the passage of time making rescue increasingly difficult.
The Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV Ocean Winner, carrying iron ore from Paradip to China, sent a distress signal on August 22. Two Chinese nationals were rescued by a nearby merchant vessel that was diverted to the location.
Indian Coast Guard Commandant Amit Uniyal said on Monday that despite days of coordinated searches, no debris or missing crew members have been found. An oil slick and two floating liferafts were spotted by an Indian Navy P-8I maritime patrol aircraft near the vessel's reported position, but no other trace has emerged.
The ship sank approximately 700 km east of Visakhapatnam in an area of the Bay of Bengal that is extremely deep. The search operation is being carried out jointly by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, with the area being expanded as time passes.
MV Ocean Winner had 24 crew members on board: 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals, and one Bangladeshi national. The vessel, 225 metres long with a cargo capacity of around 73,000 tonnes, was owned by a company in Fujian, China.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Vijaya Puram received the distress call and request for search and rescue at 11:48 a.m. on August 22. The rescued crew members were brought to safety, but the fate of the remaining 22 remains unknown.
The vessel is covered by Protection and Indemnity insurance, which provides compensation for loss of life and other liabilities. Search operations continue in the region.
