Date: August 23, 2026
Reporter: Ifeanyi Ejiofor
NEW DELHI, India — Indian rescuers continued a major search-and-rescue operation on Sunday after a Panama-flagged bulk carrier sank off India's eastern coast, leaving 22 crew members missing.
The vessel, Ocean Winner, was carrying 24 crew members when it sank on Friday. Two Chinese nationals have been rescued, while the remaining crew members — 18 Chinese nationals, three from Myanmar and one from Bangladesh — remain unaccounted for.
The ship had been transporting iron ore to China after departing from India's eastern port of Paradip. It sank approximately 240 nautical miles from the port, according to Indian government sources.
Vessel Sank Within Minutes
According to India's Maritime Administration, the two rescued Chinese crew members told authorities that the vessel developed a severe list on Friday before sinking in approximately eight minutes. The rapid sinking left the crew with little time to respond and forced them to abandon the vessel.
Indian Maritime Administration Director General Shyam Jagannathan said that, generally, the likelihood of finding survivors falls sharply after the first 12 hours. Despite the difficult circumstances, rescue agencies continued searching the waters for the missing seafarers.
Indian Navy and Coast Guard Lead Search
The Indian Coast Guard and Navy have been coordinating the operation. Two Coast Guard vessels were dispatched from Sri Vijaya Puram, the capital of India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to assist in the search. The Indian Navy said it was working closely with the Coast Guard to locate the missing crew members.
India's Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, said government agencies were coordinating closely in the search-and-rescue effort. The operation is being conducted over a large area of ocean, making the search particularly challenging.
Two Crew Members Rescued
Two Chinese nationals were rescued after the Ocean Winner went down. Their accounts have provided investigators with important information about the final moments of the vessel and the circumstances surrounding its sinking.
However, the remaining 22 crew members have not yet been located. Authorities have not announced whether additional survivors have been found since the initial rescue.
Cause of Sinking Remains Unknown
The cause of the Ocean Winner's sinking has not yet been established. Indian authorities are expected to examine the vessel's condition, its cargo, weather and sea conditions, and other circumstances surrounding the accident.
At this stage, there is no confirmed indication that the vessel was attacked or deliberately damaged. The ship was carrying iron ore and had been sailing toward China when it sank.
International Crew Among Those Missing
The multinational composition of the crew has prompted concern in several countries. The missing crew members include 18 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi national.
China is therefore expected to closely monitor India's rescue efforts, while authorities in Myanmar and Bangladesh are also awaiting information about their citizens. The rescue operation is now a race against time as search teams attempt to locate lifeboats, life rafts or survivors who may have become separated from the vessel.
For the families of the missing sailors, the uncertainty is particularly distressing. With 22 people still unaccounted for, relatives are waiting for official information about whether their loved ones survived the sinking. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the identities of the missing crew members.
The Indian rescue operation is therefore being closely watched by the families and governments of all three countries represented among the missing sailors.
Search Continues Despite Difficult Conditions
The location of the sinking presents significant challenges for rescuers. The Ocean Winner went down far from India's eastern coastline, roughly 240 nautical miles from Paradip.
Search teams must cover a wide area of open water while looking for survivors and rescue equipment that may have drifted away from the site of the sinking. Despite the difficulties, Indian authorities have continued the operation.
“All agencies are coordinating closely and actively doing search and rescue efforts,” Sonowal said in a social media post.
Maritime Safety Questions
The sinking is likely to prompt further questions about the vessel's condition and the circumstances leading to its rapid loss.
Investigators will need to determine why the Ocean Winner developed a severe list and sank in such a short period.
The investigation could examine the ship's structural integrity, cargo loading, ballast systems, weather conditions and whether any mechanical or operational problems contributed to the accident. However, officials have not yet identified a definitive cause.
Rescue Effort Remains the Priority
For now, authorities are focused on finding the 22 missing sailors rather than determining responsibility for the accident.
Indian naval and Coast Guard vessels remain involved in the search, while officials are coordinating information from the rescued crew members.
The successful rescue of two sailors offers some hope that others could still be located, although officials have acknowledged that the chances of survival decline significantly as time passes.
Conclusion
The sinking of the Ocean Winner has triggered a major international search effort off India's eastern coast. Of the 24 people aboard the Panama-flagged bulk carrier, only two have been rescued so far, leaving 22 crew members missing.
The missing sailors include 18 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi. As Indian authorities continue searching the waters, the cause of the ship's rapid sinking remains unknown.
The operation is being closely followed by the families of the missing crew and governments in China, Myanmar and Bangladesh, all hoping for a breakthrough in the search.
Dalena Reporters will continue to monitor the rescue operation and provide updates as Indian authorities release further information.