New Delhi, August 23 (TNA) A Panama-flagged cargo ship carrying 24 crew members sank near India’s east coast in the Bay of Bengal, prompting a search-and-rescue operation by the authorities.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received information late Saturday about the loss of contact with the vessel and a request for search-and-rescue assistance from Victory Star Group Co. Ltd.
The ship had 24 crew members on board, including 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi national.
Following the distress alert, MRCC activated the International Safety Net and diverted the merchant vessel MT AISOPOS to the area to search for MV Ocean Winner and any life rafts.
The merchant vessel subsequently rescued two survivors from separate life rafts at around 8 p.m. The Indian Coast Guard also mobilised ICGS Varad and ICGS Anmol for the rescue operation, while ICGS Vijit was deployed from Sri Vijaya Puram to reinforce the search.
Officials said efforts were continuing to locate the remaining crew members.
The circumstances that led to the vessel losing communication and sinking were not immediately clear.