New Delhi: Two survivors have been rescued from the Panama-flagged cargo vessel carrying 24 people on board, which sank in the Bay of Bengal, and search operations are underway, said Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, on Sunday.
The Panama-flagged vessel, which was carrying iron ore from Paradip Port in Odisha to China, sank around 230 nautical miles from the coast.
"Deeply concerned by the unfortunate incident involving MV OCEAN WINNER off the coast of Odisha. The Panama-flagged vessel was carrying iron ore from Paradip Port to China," Sonowal said in a social media post on X.
All agencies including The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) have intensified search and rescue operations, he added.
"2 survivors have been successfully rescued and are being given medical care; their rank and identity are currently being verified," the minister noted.
Deeply concerned by the unfortunate incident involving MV OCEAN WINNER off the coast of Odisha. The Panama-flagged vessel was carrying iron ore from Paradip Port to China.
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) August 23, 2026
All agencies are coordinating closely and actively doing search and rescue efforts. 2 survivors have been…
The MV Ocean Winner was carrying 20 Chinese, three Myanmarese and one Bangladeshi on board.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) diverted MT Aisopos, a commercial vessel that was in the vicinity, to search for the vessel or liferafts and render assistance, and the vessel recovered two survivors from two liferafts at about 2000 hrs.
The ship was heading to Singapore carrying 72,100 mt of iron ore fines from Odisha. It had left the Paradip coast at 10.42 p.m. on August 20, officials said.
