PARADIP: The two Chinese survivors of the Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV Ocean Winner, which sank in the Bay of Bengal with 22 crew members still missing, were brought to Paradip onboard Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship Varad on Thursday.
The survivors, identified as Pan Tonglai and Chen Jianhe, were rescued by the merchant vessel MT Aispos on August 22 after being found adrift on a life raft during search and rescue operation.
They were provided medical assistance during their journey to Paradip and subsequently handed over to the shipping agency, James Mackintosh and Co. Pvt. Ltd, in the presence of Paradip additional SP Ajinkya Mane and DSP, Immigration Saroj Kant Behera. Later, both the Chinese nationals were admitted to the Paradip Port hospital for treatment.
During initial questioning, the survivors were unable to provide information about the cause of the vessel’s sinking due to language barrier. Interpreters are expected to arrive in Paradip on Thursday night to facilitate their interrogation.
Mane said the two survivors were safely handed over to the shipping agency concerned after their treatment at the port hospital. “The cause of the sinking of the vessel has not yet been ascertained as we were not able to interrogate the survivors due to language barrier. They will be questioned again with the help of an interpreter,” he said.
The police officer said so far, no FIR had been registered as the incident occurred in international maritime waters, although the search and rescue operation was conducted off Odisha coast.
“Passports and visas of the two Chinese survivors were washed away at sea. Steps are being taken to prepare the necessary travel documents. After completion of formalities, they will be deported to China via Kolkata within next two to three days,” Mane added.
Meanwhile, the ICG has deployed additional ships and aircraft for coordinated sea and air searches to locate the sunken vessel and the missing 22 crew members.
The 28-year-old MV Ocean Winner, carrying around 71,000 tonnes of iron ore from Paradip Port to China, sank in the Bay of Bengal on August 22 under circumstances that are yet to be established. The vessel had 24 crew members onboard, including 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi national.