Bulk carrier Ocean Winner sinks off the coast of India

On August 22, 2026, the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Ocean Winner sank in the Bay of Bengal, approximately 240 nautical miles off the port of Paradip in Odisha, India. The vessel, which was transporting iron ore to China, lost contact with authorities after rapidly developing a list and sinking within eight minutes. The Indian Coast Guard and Navy have launched a major search and rescue operation, involving assistance from commercial vessels in the area.

The ship carried a 24-member crew consisting of 20 Chinese nationals, three from Myanmar, and one from Bangladesh. Two crew members have been rescued so far after being found in life rafts. According to the Director General of the Indian Shipping Administration, the survivors reported that the crew was forced to evacuate the vessel in a panic during the rapid sinking. While the investigation into the cause of the disaster remains ongoing, authorities acknowledge that the survival window for the 22 missing crew members is closing as over 12 hours have passed since the incident occurred. Search efforts currently continue across a vast maritime area.