New Delhi, Aug. 25 -- Search and rescue efforts for crew members missing after Panama-flagged merchant vessel MV Ocean Winner sank in the Bay of Bengal were intensified on Tuesday, with additional Indian Coast Guard assets, aircraft and merchant vessels deployed in coordination with MRCC Beijing, officials said.

The vessel, which was carrying 24 crew members, including 20 Chinese nationals, three from Myanmar and one from Bangladesh, had issued a distress alert on August 22 while operating around 300 nautical miles north-northwest of Diglipur in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Following the alert, the Andaman and Nicobar Command, in coordination with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Andaman and Nicobar, Coast Guard Region...