22 Crew Missing After Bulk Carrier Sinks Off India's East Coast
Indian agencies search for 22 missing crew after the bulk carrier Ocean Winner sank off the eastern coast; two Chinese nationals rescued.
Indian Coast Guard and Navy vessels are continuing a search-and-rescue operation off the country's eastern seaboard after a Panama-flagged bulk carrier sank on Friday, leaving 22 crew members unaccounted for.
The vessel, identified as the Ocean Winner, was carrying a crew of 24, including 18 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals, and one Bangladeshi. Two Chinese seafarers have been rescued so far.
According to Shyam Jagannathan, Director General of India's Maritime Administration, the rescued sailors reported that the ship developed a list and went under within eight minutes, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel. While he noted that survival chances typically diminish sharply after 12 hours, he confirmed that rescue efforts remain underway.
The Indian Navy stated it is closely coordinating with the Coast Guard in the search. Two Coast Guard vessels have been dispatched from Sri Vijaya Puram, formerly known as Port Blair, to assist in the operation.
The Ocean Winner had departed from Paradip port on Friday, carrying iron ore destined for China. The ship sank approximately 240 nautical miles from the port, according to government sources. The cause of the sinking has not yet been determined.