Ocean Winner Sinking Leaves 22 Seafarers Missing in Bay of Bengal

Twenty-two seafarers remain missing after the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Ocean Winner sank in the Bay of Bengal, triggering a major search and rescue operation involving the Indian Coast Guard and passing merchant ships.

India’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at Sri Vijaya Puram launched the search on August 22 after receiving a distress alert and losing contact with the vessel approximately 230 nautical miles southeast of Paradip.

The Ocean Winner was carrying 24 crew members, including 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi national.

A distress message broadcast through the International Safety Net prompted vessels in the area to divert