A Panama-flagged cargo ship sank on Saturday in the Bay of Bengal, approximately 240 nautical miles off the Paradip coast in Odisha, according to officials. The vessel was transporting iron ore from Odisha and was en route to Singapore.
There were 24 crew members on board the ship when the incident occurred. Following the sinking, the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy launched a coordinated rescue operation to locate and secure the crew.
A senior IPS officer told PTI that authorities are currently uncertain about the exact number of crew members who have been successfully rescued. Officials noted that the majority of the crew members are of Chinese nationality.
As part of the emergency response, other vessels operating in the vicinity have been alerted to assist in the ongoing search and rescue efforts. According to officials, the cargo ship had departed from the Odisha coast on Friday.
"Maritime logistics and the safe transport of commodities like iron ore form a critical backbone of regional trade and supply chains. Incidents of this nature highlight the inherent operational risks in maritime freight transport and the vital role of rapid, coordinated inter-agency disaster response. Ensuring robust safety protocols and continuous vessel tracking remains essential for maintaining supply chain resilience and safeguarding human life at sea." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes
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