Two Chinese sailors rescued after Panama-flagged vessel sinks off Odisha coast

Two Chinese crew members from the sunken Panama-flagged cargo vessel MV Ocean Winner have been rescued and brought to Paradip in Odisha, marking the first recoveries from the maritime incident. The vessel, which departed from Paradip port on August 20 with a full cargo of iron ore destined for China, encountered difficulties that led to its sinking in the Bay of Bengal.

The ship was carrying a multinational crew of 24 seafarers at the time of the incident. The complement comprised 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals, and one Bangladeshi national. The circumstances surrounding the vessel's loss remain under investigation, with search and rescue operations continuing for the remaining crew members.

The MV Ocean Winner was operating under a Panama flag registry. The loss of the iron ore cargo, sourced from Odisha's mining-rich hinterland, represents a significant maritime loss along India's eastern shipping lanes. Authorities have launched coordinated efforts to locate additional survivors and assess the full extent of the incident.