ICG deploys ships for search-and-rescue after Panama-flagged cargo ship with 24 crew sinks in Bay of Bengal

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has deployed three of its ships for a search-and-rescue operation after a Panama-flagged bulk carrier carrying 24 crew members sank in the Bay of Bengal, about 240 nautical miles from the Paradip coast of Odisha, on Saturday, officials said.

The bulk carrier, MV Ocean Winner, was carrying 20 Chinese, three Myanmarese and one Bangladeshi national on board, an ICG spokesperson said. The vessel's last port of call was Paradip and its next port of call was Singapore, the official added.

The ICG's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Sri Vijaya Puram received information from a company associated with the vessel at 1148 hours regarding loss of communication with MV Ocean Winner (IMO 9145530), along with a request for search-and-rescue assistance, the spokesperson said.

The ship was carrying 72,100 metric tonnes of iron ore fines from Odisha. It had left the Paradip coast at 10.42 pm on August 20, officials had earlier said.

The ICG and the Indian Navy have launched a coordinated rescue operation. The MRCC diverted MT Aisopos, a commercial vessel in the vicinity, to search for the vessel or liferafts and render assistance. The vessel recovered two survivors from two liferafts at about 2000 hours, the ICG spokesperson added.

ICG ships Varad and Anmol have been deployed for the search-and-rescue efforts, while Vijit has also been deployed from Sri Vijaya Puram to augment the operation, the official added. Other vessels in the vicinity have been alerted to assist in the rescue effort, officials said.

The search continues for the remaining crew members. Officials have not yet confirmed the status of all 24 crew members, and the exact cause of the sinking remains under investigation, media reports said.

(With inputs from PTI)