The bulk carrier Ocean Winner sank in the Bay of Bengal, leaving 22 crew members missing. Search operations are underway to locate them.
70,000 DWT Bulk Carrier Sinks in the Bay of Bengal: 22 Crew Members Missing
Search efforts are ongoing for the 22 crew members missing from the 70,000 DWT bulk carrier named Ocean Winner, which capsized and sank suddenly in the Bay of Bengal on Friday.
Built in 1998 and registered under IMO number 9145530, the Ocean Winner set sail for Singapore with 24 crew members after loading iron ore at Paradip Port in India on August 20.
The ship's AIS signal was lost in the middle of the Bay of Bengal at 16:45 GMT on August 21. It was reported that the crew sent out a distress signal at the same time.
The ship sank in approximately 8 minutes.
After the incident, two crew members managed to reach a lifeboat. The two individuals were spotted by a patrol aircraft belonging to the Indian Navy and were rescued by a ship in the area on Saturday.
According to information provided by the survivors to the search and rescue teams, the Ocean Winner began to list on Friday evening and sank completely within about eight minutes. While the crew attempted to abandon the ship, 22 individuals went missing.
The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have announced that efforts are ongoing to locate the missing crew members, with three ships participating in the operation.
Possibility of Iron Ore Liquefaction
The exact cause of the accident has not yet been determined. However, the ship's rapid sinking, the initial listing, and the characteristics of the iron ore cargo it was carrying raise the possibility of a liquefaction scenario.
Particularly, fine-grained iron ore cargoes containing moisture carry the risk of liquefaction, which can cause the cargo to shift suddenly to one side during the ship's movements. Such a situation can significantly disrupt the ship's stability, leading to an increase in the list and potentially causing the vessel to capsize.
In the maritime industry, liquefaction is considered one of the most serious cargo-related hazards. While the risk is primarily associated with nickel ore, it is noted that iron ore fines can also be dangerous.
Reports indicate that 29 seafarers lost their lives in accidents related to iron ore transportation between 2007 and 2019.
Search and rescue teams are continuing their efforts to reach the 22 missing crew members in the Bay of Bengal. The reason for the ship's rapid capsize and sinking will become clear after the completion of the investigation.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
