A search is continuing in the Bay of Bengal for 22 crew members from the bulker Ocean Winner, which sank after developing a list on Friday.

The 70,000 dwt Ocean Winner had loaded iron ore at Paradip, India, and departed for Singapore on 20 August with 24 crew members aboard. The 1998-built vessel, IMO 9145530, lost its AIS signal at 16:45 GMT on 21 August. A distress alert was transmitted at around the same time.

Two crew members reached a life raft and were later spotted by an Indian Navy patrol aircraft. Another vessel recovered both survivors on Saturday.

The survivors told search and rescue authorities that Ocean Winner began listing on Friday evening and sank in about eight minutes. The crew abandoned the vessel, but 22 people remain missing.

Three ships are taking part in the search, according to the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.

The cause of the sinking has not been established. The rapid loss of the vessel, the reported list before sinking and the iron ore cargo were described in the source as factors consistent with bulk liquefaction, but no cause has been confirmed.

Iron ore fines can present a liquefaction risk when wet. If the cargo shifts during rolling, vessel stability can deteriorate and the list can increase.