Panama-Flagged Cargo Ship Carrying 24 Crew Members Sinks in Bay of Bengal off Odisha; Rescue Operation Underway

A Panama-flagged cargo ship carrying 24 crew members sank in the Bay of Bengal on Saturday, around 240 nautical miles off the coast of Paradip in Odisha, officials said. The vessel was carrying iron ore from Odisha to Singapore when the incident occurred, prompting a joint search-and-rescue operation by the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy, according to a report.

The ship had departed from the Odisha coast and was sailing towards Singapore when it sank in the open sea. Officials have not yet disclosed the exact circumstances that led to the vessel going down. Indian Navy's Missile Corvette INS Prabal Sinks Decommissioned Godavari-Class Frigate During Naval Exercise in Arabian Sea (Watch Video).

Indian Coast Guard, Navy Launch Rescue Operation

Following the sinking, the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy launched a coordinated rescue operation to locate the crew members. Other vessels operating in the vicinity have also been alerted and asked to assist in the search-and-rescue effort.

The operation is being conducted well offshore, with the vessel located approximately 240 nautical miles from Paradip. Authorities are continuing efforts to establish the whereabouts and condition of everyone who was aboard. MV WAN HAI 503 Blast: 4 Crew Members Missing, 5 Injured As Explosion Rocks Singapore-Flagged Cargo Ship Off Kerala Coast, Indian Coast Guard Rushes for Assistance (Watch Video).

24 Crew Members Were On Board

Officials said 24 crew members were aboard the cargo ship when it sank. Reports indicate that the crew was largely Chinese. At the time of the initial reports, authorities had not released a complete account of the crew's status. Later reports said the rescue operation was continuing, with two survivors reportedly rescued while efforts were underway to locate the remaining crew members.

Ship Was Carrying Iron Ore to Singapore

The vessel was transporting iron ore loaded in Odisha and was bound for Singapore. According to reports, the ship had reached Paradip earlier in the week before departing for its destination. It subsequently lost contact while sailing in the Bay of Bengal.

The exact reason for the loss of contact and subsequent sinking has not been established. Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances once the immediate rescue operation is completed.

Focus on Search and Rescue

The priority for the authorities is currently the safety of the crew. The Coast Guard and Navy are coordinating the operation, while nearby ships have been alerted to support the search.

Further details on the condition of the vessel, the cause of the accident and any possible environmental impact are expected as the rescue operation progresses. The incident is being closely monitored by maritime authorities as search efforts continue in the Bay of Bengal.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 22, 2026 11:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).