Cargo ship sinks off India, 22 crew members missing

NEW DELHI: A Panama-flagged cargo vessel carrying 24 crew members sank off India’s eastern coast, with two sailors rescued while authorities continued a search for the remaining 22.

The Indian Coast Guard said it lost contact with the Ocean Winner on Saturday after the vessel encountered trouble in the Bay of Bengal.

The ship was carrying 20 Chinese, three Myanmar and one Bangladeshi crew members. It had departed from Paradip port in Odisha on Thursday carrying iron ore to Singapore.

The vessel sank around 240 nautical miles, or 444 kilometres, from Paradip. The cause of the incident was not immediately known.

Two crew members were rescued from liferafts after the Coast Guard launched a search operation. Coast Guard and naval vessels were deployed to locate the remaining sailors.

A merchant vessel was also diverted to assist in the rescue operation, with the two survivors later found aboard liferafts.

The Ocean Winner was reportedly around 225 metres long and was carrying more than 72,000 tonnes of iron ore.

Authorities said the vessel disappeared from maritime tracking systems before its sinking was confirmed.

Read More: JI announces nationwide wheel-jam strike after 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal

Paradip Port Authority deputy conservator Captain Alekha Charan Sahoo expressed hope that more crew members would be found alive.

The Indian Coast Guard and Navy continued the search operation on Sunday, with officials saying the area could be expanded depending on sea conditions.

The circumstances surrounding the sinking will be investigated after the search-and-rescue operation is completed.