China-Bound Cargo Ship Sinks Off Odisha Coast Hours After Departure, 24 Crew Missing At Sea

Bhubaneswar: A Panama-flagged cargo vessel bound for China sank in mid-sea off the coast of Odisha's Paradip on Saturday, leading to a major maritime emergency in the Bay of Bengal. As per reports, the vessel, identified as M/V Ocean Winner, was heavily laden with iron ore and was en route to China after departing from Paradip Port. According to preliminary information shared by sources, the ship went down around 200 nautical miles from the port.

There were 24 crew members on board at the time of the incident, with sources indicating that most of them are Chinese nationals. The circumstances leading to the sinking are to be officially ascertained.

Reports said that the iron-ore-laden cargo ship had just left Paradip port and was bound for China when it encountered distress at sea. The Panama-registered ship, MV Ocean Winner, reportedly lost stability and eventually sank in deep waters.

The distance of nearly 200 nautical miles from the coastline has made immediate access challenging for rescue teams, even as maritime agencies have been alerted. The sinking of a large bulk carrier carrying iron ore raises concerns over both the safety of the crew and possible environmental impact, given the nature of the cargo and the deep-sea location.

As of now, the officials have not released an official statement on the condition of the 24 crew members or the success of any rescue operation. The fact that most of the crew are said to be Chinese nationals has added a diplomatic dimension to the incident.

The port authorities in Paradip and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) are expected to coordinate search and rescue operations, though official confirmation regarding deployment of assets is awaited. Further details regarding the cause of the sinking, whether it was due to technical failure, weather disturbance, or cargo shift, will only be clear after a detailed inquiry.