2 Chinese vessels join India’s search for crew of sunken ship | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Two Chinese vessels on Tuesday joined the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Navy in a massive search operation for 22 foreign crew members missing after a China‑bound cargo ship, which had departed from Paradip port on Aug 21, sank in the Bay of Bengal the next day. The development coincided with the ICG tracing a damaged lifeboat on Tuesday, though no survivor was sighted.“The search and rescue operation is being intensified in coordination with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Beijing,” a Coast Guard source told TOI.The 28‑year‑old ill‑fated bulk carrier — MV Ocean Winner — was carrying 24 seafarers when it went down, about 700 kilometres east of Visakhapatnam. While two Chinese nationals were rescued on Aug 22 evening, the multi‑agency search mission has since failed to trace the remaining survivors — 18 Chinese nationals, three from Myanmar and one Bangladeshi citizen.“The two Chinese vessels have joined to augment the ongoing search and rescue effort. Additional Coast Guard assets and merchant vessels in the vicinity have been deployed and coordinated to intensify the operation,” the source added.Indian Coast Guard ship Varad, in coordination with merchant vessels in the area, is undertaking an extensive search for the missing crew members.“During an aerial sweep, a naval aircraft detected a distress transmission in the search zone and guided Varad towards the reported location. The ship recovered an emergency beacon from the area, which, upon verification, was confirmed to be associated with MV Ocean Winner,” the source added.Varad subsequently located the damaged lifeboat of MV Ocean Winner in the search area. A boarding team inspected the lifeboat. However, no survivors were found.The search for the remaining crew continues with sustained efforts, as coast guard ships, aircraft and merchant vessels maintain an extensive sweep of the waters.
