The Indian Coast Guard (ICG), in close co-ordination with the Indian Navy and other maritime agencies, is conducting an extensive search and rescue operation following the disappearance of Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV Ocean Winner in the Bay of Bengal.
On August 22, 2026, the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC), Sri Vijaya Puram, received a distress communication from Victory Star Group Co. Ltd, reporting the loss of communication with the vessel. The bulk carrier was located approximately 230 nautical miles southeast of Paradip while underway from Paradip to Singapore.
The 225-metre-long and 32-metre-wide vessel, carrying approximately 71,000 metric tonnes of iron ore, had a multinational crew of 24 personnel, comprising 20 Chinese, three Myanmarese and one Bangladeshi national.
Following receipt of the distress message, the Indian Coast Guard, as the national maritime search and rescue service provider, activated a coordinated response with the Indian Navy and other maritime agencies. An Indian Navy P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft was diverted to the area to undertake aerial reconnaissance and search operations.
During the aerial search, the P-8I aircraft sighted three life rafts adrift in the area, prompting the maritime rescue authorities to intensify the co-ordinated search.
MRCC Sri Vijaya Puram subsequently activated the International Safety Net, calling upon merchant vessels operating in the vicinity to assist in the rescue effort. Two merchant vessels, MT Aispos and MT MOL Azure, responded and altered their course to assist the search operation.
On August 22, MT Aispos rescued two survivors from one of the life rafts. The survivors were identified as Pan Tonglai and Chen Jianhe, both Chinese nationals.
The rescued personnel were subsequently transferred to Indian Coast Guard Ship Varad and safely brought to Paradip on August 27. During the passage, the survivors received medical attention from the Coast Guard. On arrival, they were handed over to authorised representatives of the vessel’s company in the presence of officials from the Bureau of Immigration and local police authorities.
Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard has intensified the search for the remaining crew members. Additional Coast Guard ships and aircraft have been deployed to undertake coordinated surface and aerial search operations across the designated area.
MRCC Sri Vijaya Puram continues to coordinate the multi-agency search and rescue mission, with maritime and aerial assets maintaining sustained efforts to locate the remaining crew of MV Ocean Winner.
The operation highlights the critical role of India’s maritime security and search-and-rescue architecture, including close co-ordination between the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, merchant shipping community and other maritime agencies, in responding to emergencies in the country’s vast maritime domain.
