Lifeboat and distress beacon found off Odisha as 22 remain missing
Coast Guard vessels recovered an EPIRB and a lifeboat from the Bay of Bengal three days after MV Ocean Winner sank off Odisha. Twenty-two crew members remain missing, with two survivors reported onboard a Coast Guard ship awaiting repatriation to China.
Key takeaways
- A lifeboat and an emergency beacon were recovered in the Bay of Bengal three days after MV Ocean Winner sank off Odisha.
- Two crew members survived and are on a Coast Guard ship, with plans for repatriation to China via Paradip.
- Twenty-two crew members remain missing from a 24-member crew; the majority are Chinese nationals with other nationals represented among the missing.
What Happened
Three days after the Panama-flagged cargo ship MV Ocean Winner sank off the Odisha coast, authorities found a lifeboat and an emergency beacon in the Bay of Bengal. The Indian Coast Guard said an aerial search detected a distress transmission, guiding its vessel ICGS Varad to the location, where the emergency beacon was recovered. The lifeboat was found during a subsequent on-site inspection by a boarding team, with no survivors discovered.
MV Ocean Winner sank off Paradip’s coast, about 230 nautical miles (approximately 425 km) from Paradip, late on Sunday night after succumbing to a tilt that officials described as occurring within eight minutes. The vessel was carrying more than 72,000 tonnes of iron ore from Odisha to China, with a stop planned at Singapore before continuing to its destination. Two crew members were rescued and remain on the Coast Guard ship, being prepared for return to the mainland and eventual repatriation to China in coordination with Chinese authorities.
Immense search and rescue efforts continued as 22 crew members remained missing from a total crew of 24. Officials noted that 20 of the 24 crew members were Chinese nationals, with three from Myanmar and one from Bangladesh. The search involved ICGS Varad, other Coast Guard assets, aerial assets, merchant vessels in the area, and coordination with international search and rescue centers, including MRCC Beijing, which deployed two Chinese-flagged merchant ships to assist.
Why It Matters
The incident highlights ongoing maritime safety and cross-border SAR cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region as authorities strive to account for all crew members of a vessel that sank rapidly after tilting. The recovery of a distress beacon confirms the vessel’s last known signaling, while the presence of survivors aboard a Coast Guard ship indicates some crew members were rescued, though their ultimate fate remains uncertain.
Background
MV Ocean Winner was sailing from Paradip Port, Odisha, when it sank late on a Sunday night amid a voyage to China, with a scheduled stop at Singapore. The sinking occurred approximately 425 km from Paradip as officials described the timeline of events beginning with the ship’s tilt and subsequent submersion within minutes.
Key Facts
- MV Ocean Winner sank off the Odisha coast near Paradip, about 230 nautical miles (425 km) from Paradip.
- The ship was carrying more than 72,000 tonnes of iron ore from India to China, with a planned stop in Singapore.
- The incident occurred late on Sunday night; the vessel sank within eight minutes after tilting.
- Two crew members were rescued and are on a Coast Guard ship; they are slated for repatriation to China via Paradip with Chinese embassy coordination.
- Twenty-two crew members are missing from a crew of 24; twelve are Chinese nationals? (Note: source indicates 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar, one Bangladeshi.)
- ICGS Varad located and recovered an emergency beacon; an aerial search detected the distress transmission guiding the search operation.
- MRCC Beijing and two Chinese merchant vessels are assisting in the search and rescue effort.
What Happens Next
Authorities said the search for the remaining missing crew members continues with support from Coast Guard assets, aircraft, and merchant vessels in the area. There is coordination planned for the return of the rescued crew to China through Paradip, in collaboration with the Chinese embassy and maritime authorities.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
