Panama-Flagged Cargo Ship Sinks Off Odisha, 24 Crew Missing; Massive Rescue Op Underway

A Panama-flagged cargo ship, MV Ocean-Winner, has sunk approximately 240 nautical miles off the Odisha coast in the Bay of Bengal, prompting a joint search and rescue operation by the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy. The vessel was carrying 1,700 tonnes of iron ore from Paradip Port to Singapore when it went down on Saturday.

The ship had 24 crew members on board — 20 from China, three from Myanmar and one from Bangladesh. According to officials, the vessel departed Paradip Port at around 10:30 pm on 20 August with its cargo of iron ore. Communication with the ship was lost, leading to an alert being issued to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Sri Vijaya Puram on 22 August at 11:48 am.

The alert came from Victory Star Group Co Ltd, the company operating the vessel, along with a formal request for search and rescue assistance. Within hours, the Indian Coast Guard dispatched two ships — Varad and Anmol — to the location, while a third vessel, Vijit, was also deployed from Sri Vijaya Puram to assist in the operation. In addition, the Indian Navy has been involved in coordinating the rescue efforts.

Authorities have also alerted other commercial ships in the vicinity and requested them to keep a lookout for any survivors or debris from the sunken vessel. A senior police officer, speaking to PTI on condition of anonymity, said: “We are not sure how many of the crew members have been rescued.” He added that efforts are ongoing and that every possible resource is being utilised to locate the missing crew.

The sinking of a cargo vessel in international waters off the Odisha coast is a serious maritime incident. The Bay of Bengal, particularly this stretch, is a busy shipping lane, and the Indian Coast Guard and Navy are well-equipped to handle such emergencies. However, due to the vast search area and the distance from the shore, rescue operations could take time.

The MV Ocean-Winner was a general cargo ship, and iron ore is a common export from Paradip Port. The exact cause of the sinking is not yet known. Maritime authorities are likely to launch an investigation once the immediate rescue phase is complete. Family members of the crew are being informed through the respective shipping company and diplomatic channels.

This incident highlights the risks faced by seafarers and the importance of international maritime safety protocols. The Indian Coast Guard and Navy have a strong track record of carrying out such operations in the region, and efforts are continuing to bring the crew to safety. Officials have not provided a timeline for when the operation might conclude, but they have assured that all possible measures are being taken.