A Panama-flagged cargo vessel carrying iron ore from Odisha to Singapore sank in the Bay of Bengal on Saturday, triggering a major search and rescue operation by the Indian Coast Guard and Navy. The vessel, MT AISOPOS, had 24 crew members onboard, most of whom were reportedly Chinese nationals.

The ship sank around 240 nautical miles, or nearly 444 km, from the Paradip coast, officials said. The vessel had arrived at Paradip Port on August 20 and departed the Odisha coast on Friday after loading iron ore for Singapore. The circumstances surrounding the sinking have not yet been established.

The Indian authorities have deployed multiple vessels to locate the crew members and assist survivors. The Coast Guard sent ICGS Varad and ICGS Anmol to the area, while ICGS Vijit was dispatched from Sri Vijaya Puram to support the operation. Other vessels sailing in the region have also been alerted and asked to assist in the search.

Two Crew Members Rescued

Officials said two survivors were located and rescued from two lifeboats associated with the vessel. However, the status of the remaining crew members was not immediately clear, with authorities continuing efforts to establish how many people have been rescued and whether others may have reached lifeboats or been picked up by nearby vessels.

The search is being conducted over a large stretch of the Bay of Bengal, making coordination between the Coast Guard, Navy and commercial ships in the area crucial. Weather and sea conditions could also affect the pace of the operation.

Vessel Had Left Paradip

According to the information available so far, MT AISOPOS had reached Paradip on August 20 before sailing for Singapore the following day with its cargo of iron ore. The vessel subsequently encountered difficulties and sank offshore on Saturday.

Authorities have not yet released details about what caused the vessel to sink. Investigators are expected to examine the ship's condition, weather and sea conditions, cargo and other operational factors as part of efforts to establish the circumstances of the incident.

The sinking occurred far from the Odisha coastline, approximately 444 km offshore, placing the rescue operation in challenging open-sea conditions.

Search Operation Underway

The Indian Coast Guard and Navy are continuing the coordinated search for the remaining crew. Additional vessels in the vicinity have been asked to keep watch for survivors and lifeboats.

Officials are expected to provide further information as rescue teams establish the whereabouts of the crew and assess the situation at sea. For now, the primary focus remains on locating and rescuing those who may still be missing.

The incident is developing, and details regarding casualties, the condition of the rescued crew and the exact cause of the sinking are awaited.