Day after ship sank off Odisha coast, search intensifies

The Indian Coast Guard along with the Eastern Naval Command and other agencies have launched an intensive search and rescue operation to trace 22 crew members, who have been missing since Saturday after a Panama-flagged cargo ship sank in the Bay of Bengal. MV OCEAN WINNER sank around 230 nautical miles from the Paradip coast of Odisha late on Saturday.

While two crew members were rescued, Coast Guard authorities stated at least three ships were conducting surface searches for 22 others. The Eastern Naval Command has also deployed an aircraft – P8I – on surveillance sortie to help the Coast Guard. Authorities stated rough sea conditions in Bay of Bengal were hampering the search operation.

Key Analysis and Detailed Timeline

Speaking to The Indian Express, Coast Guard spokesperson Commandant Amit Uniyal stated the two crew members, rescued with the help of life rafts, have been brought to the Coast Guard ship and are under medical care. They are being brought to the mainland, he added.

“Details of their identity, rank and health updates are being verified and currently not known as they are in the middle of the ocean.

All efforts are being made to trace others,” stated the Coast Guard spokesperson. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal stated all agencies are coordinating closely and actively involved in search and rescue efforts. “Deeply concerned The Panama-flagged vessel was carrying iron ore from Paradip Port to China.

All agencies are coordinating closely and actively doing search and rescue efforts,” Sonowal wrote on X. “2 survivors have been successfully rescued and are being given medical care; their rank and identity are currently being verified. My prayers for the safety of the remaining crew,” he added.

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Broader Impact and Sector Outlook

The cargo ship, carrying more than 72,000 tonnes of iron ore from Odisha to China with a suspend at Singapore, left Paradip Port on Friday early earlier today. It had 24 crew members aboard, two of whom were rescued The reasons behind the mishap are yet to be ascertained.

According to authorities, 20 of the 24 crew members are Chinese nationals, three are from Myanmar and one is from Bangladesh.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) at Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair) initiated a swift search and rescue operation following a distress alert and loss of contact with MV OCEAN WINNER. The Merchant vessel was built in 1998 and had a deadweight capacity of about 73,000 tonnes, according to available details.

Earlier matter In September 2009, Mongolian ship MV Black Rose, carrying 24,000 tonnes of iron ore, sank 3 km off the coast, hours after it anchored at the Paradip port.

Authorities stated due to a technical snag, the vessel tilted and sank. All crew members, except the chief engineer of the vessel, were rescued. The body of the chief engineer, a Ukrainian national, was found a week later.

Paradip is a major port in the country that handles large volumes of cargo, especially mineral products from Odisha headed to far-off destinations.