22 Seafarers Missing After Bulker Sinks in Bay of Bengal

Twenty-two seafarers are missing after the Panamax bulk carrier Ocean Winner sank in the Bay of Bengal, prompting a joint search and rescue operation involving the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy.

The 72,928 dwt Panama-flagged vessel sank on Saturday approximately 240 nautical miles off Paradip on India’s east coast.

The bulk carrier had departed Paradip on Aug. 20 carrying approximately 72,000 tonnes of iron ore fines. AIS information reportedly listed Singapore as the ship’s destination, although Indian shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the vessel was bound for China.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at Sri Vijaya Puram was alerted at approximately 11:48 a.m. local time on Saturday after communications with Ocean Winner were lost.

An Indian Navy P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft was diverted to the location, where it spotted life rafts and coordinated rescue efforts with the nearby tanker Aisopos. At approximately 8 p.m., the tanker rescued two survivors who had been located in separate life rafts.

Indian Coast Guard vessels have also been sent to the area to conduct a surface search, while other ships operating nearby have been requested to assist with the rescue effort.

The Ocean Winner was carrying 24 crew members when it sank. The crew consisted of 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi national.

The nationalities of the two rescued seafarers have not been revealed. Both survivors are receiving medical treatment as authorities continue searching for the other 22 crew members.

Vessel databases identify Fuzhou-based Ocean Winner Shipping as the registered owner, commercial manager and ISM manager of the bulk carrier. The business is recorded as a single-ship company.

Victory Star Group, meanwhile, submitted the request for search and rescue assistance and has been identified by Indian media reports as the vessel’s operator.

The 225-meter Ocean Winner was built by Hudong-Zhonghua in 1998. The vessel previously sailed as Tiara Globe as part of the Globus Maritime fleet. The Greek shipowner sold the vessel for $5.5 million in 2015, after which it was renamed Sun Winner II. It received its current name in late 2023.

The cause of the sinking has yet to be determined and as the search for the missing crew is ongoing, this story may change quickly as Indian authorities release further information.