Empty lifeboat found as Indian coast guard searches for 22 missing crew in Bay of Bengal

Indian Coast Guard and Navy teams are searching for 22 missing seafarers after the Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV Ocean Winner sank in the Bay of Bengal, Marine Insight reports. An empty lifeboat and the ship’s emergency beacon have now been found, but there is still no information about the missing crew.

The search is taking place about 290 nautical miles from Paradip. Coast Guard and Navy units, merchant ships and two Chinese vessels are taking part in the operation.

The Coast Guard vessel Varad found the empty lifeboat early Tuesday. A team checked it but found no survivors. A naval aircraft later detected a distress signal and helped locate an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), which was confirmed to belong to Ocean Winner.

The 28-year-old bulk carrier sank on August 22 while carrying about 71,000 tonnes of iron ore from Paradip to China. There were 24 crew members on board. Two Chinese sailors were rescued from liferafts, while 22 remain missing. The crew included 20 Chinese nationals, three from Myanmar and one from Bangladesh.

The cause of the sinking is still unknown. Indian authorities have expanded the search area because waves and currents may have moved the missing seafarers away from the sinking location.

The two rescued crew members are receiving medical care and are expected to be taken to Paradip.

Following the incident, Paradip Port has also introduced stricter safety measures during rain. Cargo operations are being stopped and vessel hatches kept closed to prevent water from entering cargo holds.

 

Picture: Express