A Panama-flagged cargo ship sank off the eastern coast of India, leaving 22 of its 24 crew members missing and prompting a major search-and-rescue operation.
The MV Ocean Winner was carrying 72,100 tonnes of iron ore fines when it sank about 445km from Paradip port in Odisha, the Indian Coast Guard said.
The crew comprised 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi. Two Chinese crew members were rescued from lifeboats, while a search for the remaining 22 was under way.
The vessel had departed Paradip, a major port on India’s east coast, on Friday, carrying iron ore bound for China, according to an initial report prepared by India’s Maritime Administration. The ship lost contact with maritime rescue authorities on Saturday before sinking in the Bay of Bengal.
The Coast Guard sent the ships Anmol, Varad and Vijay to the area, alongside Indian Navy vessels and aircraft, to assist with the search.
The two survivors were recovered from lifeboats by the commercial vessel MT Isopos, according to Indian media reports. The pair said the vessel began listing on Friday and sank within eight minutes, forcing the crew to abandon ship, Shyam Jagannathan, director general of India’s Maritime Administration, told Reuters.
Mr Jagannathan said the chances of finding survivors generally fall sharply after 12 hours, but rescuers were continuing the search.
The Indian Navy said it was closely co-ordinating with the Coast Guard to locate the remaining crew.
The Coast Guard sent two vessels from Sri Vijaya Puram, formerly known as Port Blair, a representative said.
Government sources said the vessel sank about 445km from Paradip port.
The cause of the sinking was not immediately known. Indian authorities have not said whether the vessel encountered severe weather, mechanical problems or other difficulty before it went down.
Capt Alekha Charan Sahoo, deputy conservator of the Paradip Port Authority, said he was praying for the safety of the crew and hoping for the best.
The vessel’s operator, Victory Star Group, contacted Indian authorities after communication with the ship was lost, according to Indian media reports. The ship’s ownership could not immediately be independently established.