Two Chinese mariners rescued from the bulk carrier MV Ocean Winner after it capsized off the Odisha coast were safely brought to Paradip Port on August 27 by the Indian Coast Guard vessel ICGS Varad. The survivors, identified as Pan Tonglai and Chen Jianhe, were pulled from a drifting life raft on August 22 following the vessel's sinking in the Bay of Bengal. After receiving emergency medical care and remaining under continuous health monitoring aboard the Coast Guard ship, both crew members were handed over to authorized representatives of their shipping company upon arrival at Paradip.
Vessel Details and Status of the Missing Crew
The cargo vessel MV Ocean Winner was carrying a dense consignment of iron powder when it encountered severe instability and sank near Paradip port on August 22. A total of 24 crew members were on board the ship at the time of the incident. The crew comprised 20 Chinese nationals, 3 nationals from Myanmar, and 1 Bangladeshi national. With only two sailors rescued so far, 22 crew members remain missing in the sea, prompt safety agencies to conduct intensive round-the-clock search operations.
Multi-Agency Search Operation Supported by Chinese Vessels
A massive search and rescue operation combining aerial and maritime surface surveillance is currently underway, coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Sri Vijaya Puram. The Indian Coast Guard has deployed ICGS Varad and ICGS Vishwast to scan expanded search zones, supported by Indian Navy maritime reconnaissance aircraft. During aerial patrols, a naval aircraft picked up a distress signal that led rescue teams to recover an emergency locator beacon confirmed to belong to MV Ocean Winner. Search crews also inspected a drifting empty liferaft found in the area. To amplify rescue efforts, two Chinese search and rescue ships have joined the operation in the Bay of Bengal, working in coordination with Indian naval and coast guard assets.
Preliminary Findings on the Cause of Sinking
Initial debriefs from the two rescued mariners indicate that the vessel suffered a severe list before capsizing. Maritime officials suspect that the cargo of iron powder absorbed excessive moisture during the voyage. As the ship rolled continuously in rough seas, the heavy cargo shifted dynamically to one side. This sudden displacement altered the vessel's center of gravity, causing an unrecoverable tilt and rapid loss of buoyancy. Official investigations remain ongoing to confirm the precise technical sequence of events leading to the disaster.
