Search Continues for 22 Crew After Bulk Carrier Sinks Off Odisha

Indian Navy and Coast Guard vessels continued search operations on Monday for 22 crew members missing after the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Ocean Winner sank in the Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast.

The vessel, carrying about 72,000 tonnes of iron ore fines, left Paradip Port on Friday bound for Singapore or China. It lost contact around 4:45 p.m. local time and developed a heavy list before sinking within minutes, according to the two survivors recovered on Saturday.

The merchant tanker Aisopos, diverted to the area, found two Chinese seafarers on separate liferafts at about 8 p.m. on Saturday. The remaining crew consisted of 18 more Chinese nationals, three from Myanmar and one from Bangladesh.

Coast Guard ships Varad, Anmol and Vijit, along with Navy aircraft, have scoured the area roughly 240 to 310 nautical miles from the coast. Officials noted that survival chances drop sharply after the first 12 hours in open water, yet the search remains active.

The ship had a history of deficiencies flagged in port state inspections, including issues noted by Bangladeshi authorities with its magnetic compass. The precise trigger for the sudden list has not been confirmed. Survivors reported the vessel tilted heavily and went down in under ten minutes.

India’s Maritime Administration is coordinating the response. The incident adds to concerns over bulk carriers loaded with iron ore fines, a cargo known for liquefaction risks when moisture content is high.

Families of the missing await further word. Chinese, Myanmar and Bangladeshi authorities have been informed. No debris field large enough to indicate additional survivors has been reported so far.

The search continues under daylight and with surface vessels. Weather conditions in the Bay of Bengal remain a factor for recovery efforts.