Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Two Rescued After MV Ocean Winner Distress Alert Near Andamans
A cargo ship called MV Ocean Winner sent an emergency message near the Andaman Islands.
There were 24 people on the ship.
Indian Navy and Coast Guard teams began looking for the vessel and its crew.
An aircraft spotted two lifeboats floating in the sea.
It also saw oil near the reported location of the ship.
Another ship, MV AOSPOS, rescued two people safely.
Officials are still searching for anyone else who may have survived.
One report described the Navy aircraft as a P-81, while another called it a P-8I.
MV Ocean Winner issued a distress alert on August 22 around 300 nautical miles north-northwest of Diglipur.
The vessel had 24 crew members, while its current status and the whereabouts of others remain under investigation.
Indian Navy ships and maritime patrol aircraft joined a coordinated search with Coast Guard authorities.
An Indian Navy aircraft detected two floating liferafts and an oil slick near the reported location.
Two survivors were rescued by MV AOSPOS as the search for additional survivors continued.
- Who
- The 24 crew members of MV Ocean Winner, Indian Navy and Coast Guard rescuers, and the crew of MV AOSPOS.
- What
- MV Ocean Winner sent a distress alert; two survivors were rescued and a wider search operation was launched.
- When
- The distress alert was received on August 22; officials reported the operation around 12:40 AM on Monday.
- Where
- Around 300 nautical miles north-northwest of Diglipur in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in the Bay of Bengal.
- Why
- Authorities responded to the distress alert to locate the vessel, rescue its crew, and find any additional survivors.
- Vessel
- MV Ocean Winner, a merchant vessel described by the Shipping and Waterways Minister as a Panama-flagged cargo ship.
- Crew
- 24 people were aboard the vessel.
- Rescued
- Two survivors were safely rescued by MV AOSPOS.
- Location
- Approximately 300 nautical miles north-northwest of Diglipur, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- Evidence detected
- Two floating liferafts and an oil slick were found near the reported location.
- Response
- Indian Navy ships, maritime patrol aircraft, and Coast Guard assets participated in the search.
- Search status
- The operation remained underway to locate other survivors and gather further information.
