Archive · 25 Aug 2026
India, China Intensify Search for Missing Ocean Vessel
A cargo ship called MV Ocean Winner stopped communicating in the Bay of Bengal.
There were 24 people on the ship.
Most of them were from China, while others were from Myanmar and Bangladesh.
A tanker found two people in life rafts and rescued them.
The other 22 crew members are still missing.
Indian Coast Guard ships, aircraft and nearby merchant ships are searching for them.
A distress signal, an emergency beacon and a lifeboat were found.
India and China are working together to coordinate the rescue effort.
MV Ocean Winner lost contact in the northern Bay of Bengal on 22 August.
The vessel carried 24 crew members, including 20 Chinese, three Myanmar and one Bangladeshi national.
Tanker MT Aisopos rescued two survivors from separate life rafts on 22 August.
Indian Coast Guard ships, aircraft and merchant vessels are searching for the remaining 22 crew members.
Indian authorities are coordinating with Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Beijing after finding an emergency beacon and an empty lifeboat.
- Who
- The 24-member crew of MV Ocean Winner, including 20 Chinese, three Myanmar and one Bangladeshi nationals; Indian and Chinese maritime authorities are conducting the search.
- What
- A search-and-rescue operation is under way after MV Ocean Winner lost contact; two crew members were rescued and 22 remain missing.
- When
- The loss of communication was reported at 1148 hrs on 22 August; an empty lifeboat was located at approximately 0700 hrs on 25 August.
- Where
- The vessel was last reported about 310 nautical miles northwest of the northern tip of the Andaman Islands in the northern Bay of Bengal.
- Why
- The vessel’s operator requested assistance after communication was lost.
- Vessel
- MV Ocean Winner, IMO 9145530
- Crew
- 24 people: 20 Chinese, three from Myanmar and one from Bangladesh
- Survivors
- Two rescued from separate life rafts by MT Aisopos on 22 August
- Still missing
- 22 crew members
- Search assets
- Indian Coast Guard ships, aircraft, merchant vessels and other maritime assets
- Evidence found
- An emergency beacon linked to MV Ocean Winner and an empty lifeboat
- Coordination
- Indian authorities are working with Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Beijing