Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Chinese Rescue Vessels Join Search for Missing Ocean Winner Crew
A ship called MV Ocean Winner sank near the coast of Odisha.
It had 24 people on board.
Two people were rescued, but 22 are still missing.
Indian ships and aircraft are searching the Bay of Bengal.
Two Chinese rescue ships have now joined them.
A lifeboat was found, but nobody was inside it.
An emergency beacon connected to the ship was also recovered.
Officials think wet iron ore powder may have shifted and made the ship unstable.
Search teams are continuing to look for the missing crew around the clock.
Two Chinese rescue vessels joined Indian Navy and Coast Guard efforts to find 22 missing crew members.
MV Ocean Winner sank off Odisha’s Paradip coast on August 22 while carrying iron ore powder.
The vessel had 24 crew members: 20 Chinese nationals, three from Myanmar and one from Bangladesh.
Two crew members were rescued, while a lifeboat and emergency beacon were found without locating additional survivors.
Officials said cargo shifting caused by excessive moisture may have destabilized the vessel, though the cause was not confirmed.
- Who
- The missing crew included Chinese, Myanmar and Bangladeshi nationals; Indian and Chinese rescue teams are conducting the search.
- What
- MV Ocean Winner sank, leaving 22 of its 24 crew members missing.
- When
- The vessel sank on August 22; the intensified search was reported on Wednesday.
- Where
- Off the Paradip coast in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district, in the Bay of Bengal.
- Why
- Officials said the ship may have become unstable after its iron ore powder cargo shifted, possibly because of excessive moisture.
- Missing crew
- 22 people remain unaccounted for.
- Total crew
- MV Ocean Winner was carrying 24 crew members.
- Crew nationalities
- 20 Chinese nationals, three people from Myanmar and one from Bangladesh.
- Rescued
- Two crew members have been rescued.
- Search forces
- The Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and two Chinese rescue vessels are involved.
- Recovered items
- A lifeboat and an emergency beacon linked to the vessel were found.
- Possible cause
- Cargo shifting caused by excessive moisture may have destabilized the ship; officials have not confirmed the cause.