Two Chinese survivors rescued days after cargo ship sinks near Odisha | India News - Hindustan Times
Two Chinese crew members of the sunken MV Ocean Winner were rescued after three days at sea by the Indian Coast Guard near Paradip, Odisha. Indian authorities have opened an investigation into the cause of the vessel’s sudden sinking, coordinating with Chinese officials and adhering to international SAR protocols.
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Two Chinese crew members of the sunken MV Ocean Winner were rescued after three days at sea by the Indian Coast Guard near Paradip, Odisha. Indian authorities have opened an investigation into the cause of the vessel’s sudden sinking, coordinating with Chinese officials and adhering to international SAR protocols.
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**Two Chinese crew members rescued after MV Ocean Winner sinks off Odisha**
A Panama‑flagged bulk carrier, MV Ocean Winner, began taking on water on the night of 19 May 2024 while sailing approximately 30 nautical miles east of Paradip, Odisha, in the Bay of Bengal. The vessel, en route from Singapore to the United Arab Emirates with a cargo of steel coils, sent a distress signal at 22:30 IST after its crew reported a severe list. Within hours, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Indian Navy launched a coordinated search‑and‑rescue (SAR) operation, deploying patrol aircraft, surface vessels and helicopters. By the next morning the ship had broken apart and sank, leaving its 20‑member multinational crew—predominantly Chinese nationals—unaccounted for.
On 22 May, after three days of intensive searching, two Chinese sailors were located clinging to floating debris by a Coast Guard helicopter operating from the Eastern Naval Command. The survivors, identified as 32‑year‑old Li Wei and 28‑year‑old Zhang Jun, were hoisted aboard the ICG patrol vessel *ICG Sadhana* and air‑lifted to the naval hospital in Paradip, where they received medical attention for hypothermia and dehydration. The rescue was aided by local fishermen who reported spotting the men’s life‑rafts and relayed the coordinates to authorities, underscoring the crucial role of civilian participation in SAR missions in international waters.
The incident has triggered a formal investigation by the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) in conjunction with the ICG, the Ministry of Shipping and the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi. Preliminary inquiries focus on possible structural failure exacerbated by rough sea conditions, while the authorities are also reviewing compliance with the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR Convention). The sinking adds to a series of recent maritime mishaps in the Indian Ocean, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of safety standards for foreign‑flagged vessels operating in the region’s busy shipping lanes.
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