ONGOING

07:55 Ocean Viking departs from Syracuse.

12:56 Ocean Viking starts drills at sea.

15:30 RHIB drills are complete.

07:54 Ocean Viking receives an Email from Alarm Phone about a distress case.

08:46 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Triploi via Sat Phone. No answer.

08:47 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Triploi via Sat Phone. No answer.

08:53 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli and ITMRCC, informing about the situation.

09:57 Ocean Viking is approached by GASC asset at a distance of 7 nm.

10:07 GASC is leaving the area.

14:02 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC and JRCC Tripoli, informing that no distress case has been found.

The Email states the follwing:
Dear Sir, Madams,

Ocean Viking informs that no distress case has been spotted that could match the information reported by Watch the Med Alarmphone regarding the previously shared alert.

Considering that no updated information has been provided in relation to the mentioned distress case.
Considering that over 5 hours have past since last updated position from distress case.
Considering that no distress case has been spotted from this ship while proceeding to last known position.

This vessel considers itself relieved from the obligations towards this distress case but remains available to any further developments on it or any other cases in the area.

Please acknowledge the receipt of this email and inform this vessel of any updates on this SAR event.

07:53 Ocean Viking receives a Mayday relay by an unidetified vessel about a boat in distress.

08:00 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Triploi via Sat Phone. No answer.

08:01 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Triploi via Sat Phone. No answer.

08:06 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli to inform about the overheard Mayday Relay.

08:22 Ocean Viking receives a Mayday relay by an unidetified vessel about a boat in distress.

09:01 Ocean Viking receives a Mayday relay by an unidetified vessel about a boat in distress.

09:48 Ocean Viking spots a boat.

09:49 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Triploi via Sat Phone. No answer.

09:52 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli to inform about the situation.

09:52 RHIBs are launched.

10:06 RHIBs inform about the first assessment of the boat.

First assessment: Rubber boat, presence of fuel smell, about 35 people onboard.

10:06 All RHIBs are off the ship.

10:07 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Triploi via Sat Phone. No answer.

10:09 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC and MRCC Malta in cc) to inform about the boat in distress.

The email states the follwoing:
Please be informed that Ocean Viking RHIBs assessed the situation: the rubber boat is unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, overcrowded with about 30 people on board, including women, all exposed to the elements, no Life Saving Appliances available.
These people are requesting to be rescued.
It is ascertained that the distress phase exists as the persons on board are threatened by grave and imminent danger of being lost and require immediate assistance.
Ocean Viking tried to contact competent authority to report above situation via SAT Phone.
This is a case of force majeure (ref. SOLAS Art. IV (b)) imposing to retrieve persons in danger of being lost at sea, as stipulated by the relevant International Maritime Conventions, therefore MV Ocean Viking will proceed to the assistance of these persons in distress, while keeping competent RCCs duly informed.
Please acknowledge receipt of this message.
Ocean Viking has no information on any other vessels in the area which are capable/available to promptly recover these persons in distress and deliver them to a Place of Safety.
Relevant shipboard safety and environmental elements have been assessed and it is ascertained Ocean Viking has the capacity to recover all of these persons without creating serious danger to the ship and the persons thereon - in line with the provisions of Art. 98 of the UNCLOS Convention - nor to the environment.

10:31 Ocean Viking completes the recovery operation of the persons in distress. 34 shipwrecked persons have been safely brought on board Ocean Viking.

Latitude: 33.3186111
Longitude: 13.734166666666665

10:33 Ocean Viking relays a SECURITE message via VHF to inform about the black rubber boat left adrift.

10:35 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC and MRCC Malta in cc) to inform about the rescue and request a place of safety.

10:58 All RHIBs are recovered.

11:15 Ocean Viking receives an email from ITMRCC, assigning Ravenna as the place of safety.

11:17 Libyan Coast Guard vessel is approaching.

11:31 Ocean Viking receives a VHF-call from the Libyan Coast Guard vessel in arabic, identifying themselves as Libyan Coast Guard.

11:33 Ocean Viking receives a VHF-call from the Libyan Coast Guard vessel, requesting Ocean Viking to leave the area. Ocean Viking explains that she peformed a rescue in international waters, that relevant authorities are informed, and that she is now proceeding North to the PoS Ravenna.

11:54 Ocean Viking observes Libyan Coastguard asset leaving the area without further communication.

12:10 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC to request a closer place of safety.

The email states:

Dear duty officer,

Ocean Viking acknowledges your indication of RAVENNA as the Place of Safety for all 34 survivors currently onboard.
This vessel observes that the assigned port of RAVENNA is located at considerable distance from the area where the rescue operation took place; reaching such port entails a prolonged permanence of the survivors on board, with significant impact on the survivors well-being and this assisting vessel.
In light of the IMO Guidelines On The Treatment Of Persons Rescued At Sea and § 3.1.9 of 1979 SAR Convention, Ocean Viking invites your RCC and the national competent authority to make every effort to minimize the time survivors remain aboard this assisting ship and assign an alternative Place of Safety, closer to the area where the rescue operation took place and with minimum further deviation from the ships’ intended voyage, for the disembarkation of survivors to be effected as soon as reasonably practicable, while ensuring that this vessel is not subject to undue delay, financial burden or other related difficulties after assisting persons at sea.
It is observed that adverse weather conditions are forecasted during the next days along the route from this vessel current position to RAVENNA, the POS assigned by Italian authorities.
This vessel is to face wave height up to of 2.0 m on the voyage to RAVENNA, forcing this ship and the persons thereon to endure hardship, while delaying unnecessarily survivors' access to assistance & reception services on land.

Therefore, this vessel invites your RCC and the national competent authority to reassign the POS to a different port, the closest possible from Ocean Viking current position.

14:56 Ocean Viking receives an email from ITMRCC, refusing a closer place of safety.

15:26 Ocean Viking spots a white fiberglass boat.

15:28 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC to inform about the white fiberglassboat and request authorisation to investigate.

15:34 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC a summary of the previous call.

16:02 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC via SAT Phone to inform duty officer that the fiberglass boat is capsized and asks to launch the RHIBs to investigate. Duty officer authorises the launch.

16:09 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Triploi via Sat Phone. No answer.

16:14 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC to inform about the launch of the RHIBS.

16:14 Ocean Viking emils JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC and MRCC Malta in CC) to inform about the capsized white fiberglass boat.

16:22 All RHIBS are in the water.

16:25 RHIBs confirme two engines are still attached to the capsized fiberglass boat.

16:25 RHIBs start search pattern.

16:35 Ocean Viking calls ITRMCC via SAT Phone to inform about the situation and request authorisation for a search pattern.

16:52 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC to confirm the previous call.

The email states the following:

As per our call Ocean Viking’s RHIBs have approached capsized vessel and can report the following: it’s a white fiber glass boat, still with engine attach and no markings. Nothing on the boat confirms its occupants have been rescued.

As per your instructions Ocean Viking RHIBs are proceeding to perform a search patter around the casualty boat to search for any possible people in the water.

We will keep your MRCC duly informed.

17:28 Ocean Viking receives and email in cc from Louise Michel, informing about a potential distress case Louise Michel is proceeding to.

17:55 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC via SAT Phone to inform the search was unsuccessfull.

18:00 RHIBs are recovered.

18:08 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli to inform about the unsuccessfull search.

18:09 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC to inform about the unsuccessfull search.

21:09 Ocean Viking receives and email in cc from Louise Michel, informing she has visual contact with the distress case and launched fast rescue boat.

22:56 Ocean Viking receives and email in cc from Louise Michel, informing that the rescue of 35 people is completed.

23:39 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC to offer assistance for a transfer of the rescued people from Louse Michel to her, as Ocean Viking has more medical and shelter capacities.

23:51 Ocean Viking receives acall from ITMRCC via SAT Phone, requesting to proceed to Ravenna without delay and with maximum speed. Officer on duty does not authorises the transhipmment.

07:02 Ocean Viking overhears a Mayday Relay via VHF from an unidentified asset about a boat in distress.

07:17 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC via SAT Phone about the Mayday relay to inform that Ocean Viking can offer her assistance. The officer on duty copies the information and request to alter course towards the last known position of distress case.

07:20 Ocean Viking calls MRCC Malta via SAT Phone to inform about the Mayday Relay.

07:35 Ocean Viking sends an email to MRCC Malta to inform about the Mayday Relay.

07:40 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC to inform that she is altering the cours towards the Mayday Relay, as intructed by the ITMRCC.

07:47 Ocean Viking receives an email from ITMRCC, authorizing the postponment of navigating to Ravenna and instructing to assess the distress case once arriving on scene.

14:22 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC to inform that she is starting search pattern.

14:27 Ocean Viking calls nearby vessel SAN FELIX on VHF asking if she spotted any target as San Felix is very close to the LKP of the distress case. San Felix reports that nothing was spotted.

14:34 Ocean Viking emails MRCC Malta (ITMRCC in cc) to inform that she has arrived at the last known location of the distress case and started a search pattern.

14:34 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC via SAT Phone. Duty officer informs that the distress case is being rescued and that Ocean Viking can resume her course to POS Ravenna.

14:43 Ocean Viking emails MRCC Malta to inform about the rescued distress case and that she will resume her course.

14:45 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC to acknowledge the rescue of the distress case and inform that she will resume her course.

07:10 Ocean Viking receives a VHF call from an Italian coastguard unit requesting Ocean Viking to check possible distress case.

07:17 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC to inform of previous communication with italian Coastguard. No answer.

07:18 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC to inform of previous communication with italian Coastguard. ITMRCC instructs to proceed to the last known position.

07:32 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC to confirm she is proceeding to the last known position.

08:36 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC via Sat Phone to ask for updated information regarding the distress case. Officer on duty informs Ocean Viking that the boat in distress is believed to be north of Ocean Viking and informs it’s a Black Fishing Vessel. ITMRCC informs that CP311 is also searching the area.

09:02 Ocean Viking receives a VHF call from CP311 to ask if Ocean Viking has any object on the radar. Ocean Viking informs that no object can be seen on radar for now.

09:10 Ocean Viking calls Italian Coastguard via VHF, informing about a visual on the radar. Italian Coastguard instructs Ocean Viking to standby.

09:18 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC via SAT Phone to inform about the situation and that Ocean Viking is searching the area after instructions from the Italian Coastguard. ITMRCC instructs to follow the orders from the Italian Coastguard.

09:20 Ocean Viking receives a VHF call from the Italian Coastguard, asking Ocean Viking to standby and follow the distress case on radar.

09:21 Ocean Viking receives a call on VHF from the Italian Coastguard asking to proceed to the distress case on the radar and to report back with first assessment of the situation.

09:30 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC to update about the situation.

09:46 Ocean Viking receives a VHF call from the Italian Coastguard, asking to standby for the recovery of the people in distress and not to intervene before her arrival on scene.

10:04 Ocean Viking recieves a VHF call by the Italian Coastguard, requesting a first assessment after Ocean Viking arrives on scene. Due to poor visibility, Ocean Viking is allowed to launch RHIBs for the first assessment.

10:07 Ocean Viking receives a VHF call from a Rescue Maritime Aircraft on scene confirming greenlight to launch RHIBs.

10:18 Ocean Viking receives a call on VHF from Italian Coastguard to confirm greenlight to perform the rescue if the situation is critical upon arrival.

10:18 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC to update about the situation.

10:31 All RHIBs are launched.

10:39 Ocean Viking receives a VHF call from Italian Coastguard, requesting Ocean Viking to perform the rescue together with Italian Coastguard and to recover all survivors on Ocean Viking.

10:48 RHIBs make a first assessment of the boat in distress.

First assessment: the wooden boat is unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, overcrowded with about 60 people on board, including children, all exposed to the elements, no Life Saving Appliances available. Weather conditions are bad with sea state around force 4 and wind gusting up to 27kn.

10:50 Italian Coast Guard arrives on scene.

10:55 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC to update on the situation and relay the first assessment.

11:05 Ocean Viking observes the Italian Coastguard evacuating children from the boat in distress.

11:15 Ocean Viking takes over the evacuation of the people in distress under instructions from the Italian Coastguard.

12:17 RHIBs complete the recovery of 111 shipwrecked persons and confirm distress case is empty.

12:26 Ocean Viking under instructions of Italian Coastguard, transfers 18 shipwrecked persons from Istalian Coastguard vessel onto Ocean Viking’s RHIBs.

12:34 Ocean Viking completes the recovery all 129 shipwrecked persons.

Latitude: 37.9338889
Longitude: 17.800833333333333

12:39 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC to inform about the rescue and requests a place of safety to promptly disembark the survivors.

13:10 All RHIBs recovered.

13:16 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC via Sat Phone to inform on the situation onboard. Communication broken.

13:17 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC via Sat Phone to inform on the situation onboard. Communication broken.

13:20 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC via Sat Phone to inform on the situation onboard. Communication broken.

13:23 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC via Sat Phone to inform on the situation onboard. Communication broken.