The Panama-flagged cargo ship MV Ocean Winner has sunk in the Bay of Bengal, approximately 240 nautical miles off the coast of Odisha in eastern India. Two of the 24 crew members have been rescued, while the remaining 22 are still missing.
According to the Press Trust of India and the Indian Coast Guard, the crew included 20 Chinese nationals, three citizens of Myanmar and one Bangladeshi national. The two rescued sailors are Chinese citizens and are receiving medical treatment.
The vessel was carrying iron ore from the Indian port of Paradip. Reports differ regarding its destination. Maritime tracking information listed Singapore as its next port of call, while Indian officials said the cargo was bound for China.
Vessel reportedly sank within eight minutes
Contact with Ocean Winner was lost on August 22, 2026. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received a request for search-and-rescue assistance from Victory Star Group, a company associated with the vessel.
The nearby tanker MT Aisopos was diverted to the ship’s last known position. Its crew subsequently found two survivors on separate life rafts during the evening.
According to the rescued sailors, Ocean Winner developed a severe list and sank within approximately eight minutes, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel. The cause of the list and subsequent sinking has not yet been officially determined.
Search continues for 22 missing sailors
The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy are conducting a joint search-and-rescue operation. Coast Guard ships Varad, Anmol and Vijit have been deployed, along with naval patrol aircraft.
A Navy aircraft reportedly located life rafts in the search area and relayed their positions to nearby vessels. The operation is complicated by the considerable distance from the coast and difficult conditions at sea.
Indian authorities said the search would continue, although the chances of finding survivors generally decrease significantly as more time passes.
Ocean Winner was built in 1998. The bulk carrier was approximately 225 metres long and had a deadweight capacity of about 73,000 tonnes. Preliminary reports indicate that it was carrying around 72,100 tonnes of iron ore fines when it sank.
Authorities have not yet announced the recovery of the vessel’s main wreckage. An investigation into the cause of the disaster is expected, but its timing will likely depend on the completion of the active search-and-rescue operation.
