Photographs from the search operation show the orange-coloured lifeboat floating in the sea, with a portion of it visibly damaged. In another photograph, personnel from ICGS Varad can be seen approaching and inspecting the lifeboat.
The discovery has assumed significance as 22 crew members of MV Ocean Winner remain missing. There were 24 crew members aboard the vessel when the incident occurred. Two crew members were rescued earlier from liferafts, while the search for the remaining 22 continues.
The Indian Coast Guard is continuing its search and rescue operation across the sea in an effort to locate the missing crew. The area around where the lifeboat was found is also being searched for possible clues about the whereabouts of the missing seafarers.
Despite the recovery of the lifeboat, there has so far been no breakthrough in locating the 22 missing crew members, and the search operation remains underway.