OPERATION - 03-08 October 2019

22:00 Ocean Viking leaves port of Marseille

10:00 Ocean Viking stops at 42°46’N, 007°15’E position to conduct drills at sea.

Easy 2 and Easy 3 are launched off starboard side to practice rescue manoeuvres

10:00 Ocean Viking stops at 42°00’N 009°50’E to conduct drills at sea

RHIB Easy 1 and Easy 2 are launched off port and starboard side of the ship

07:41 Ocean Viking calls the Italian MRCC to inform of its availability to support ongoing SAR operations

09:25 The Lampedusa Harbour Master requests the Ocean Viking to participate in SAR operations and provides coordinates of the search pattern

09:25 Ocean Viking participates in SAR activities coordinated by Circomare Lampedusa (Coast Guard)

Ocean Viking receives VHF call from Circomare Lampedusa (Coast Guard) and is requested to participate in on-going SAR operations south of Lampedusa.

The search coordinates given are 35°13’N 012°38’E, 35°22N 012°48’E, 35°19N 012°52’E, 35°11’N 012°42’E.

09:33 Moonbird assists Ocean Viking in search operation

Moonbird calls Ocean Viking on VHF and offers assistance. Search coordinates are exchanged and Moonbird commences search for survivors

10:42 Moonbird resumes voyage

Moonbird informs Ocean Viking that it has carried out search pattern. No survivors have been found

10:54 Ocean Viking informs the Lampedusa Harbour Master of beginning of search

10:54 Ocean Viking arrives at designated search area

Ocean Viking arrives at 35°13’N and 012°38’E and starts with search pattern at designated area

12:17 Ocean Viking informs the Italian MRCC of its engagement in the SAR operations

15:56 Ocean Viking finishes search pattern and awaits further instructions by Circomare Lampedusa

Ocean Viking calls
Circomare Lampedusa on VHF and reports completion of search pattern and
requests further instructions

16:13 Ocean Viking requests orders from the Lampedusa Harbour Master and is requested to stand by

16:25 Ocean Viking receives another search area

Circomare Lampedusa  instructs Ocean Viking to search again in same area with different search pattern

19:10 Ocean Viking suspends search

Ocean Viking calls Circomare Lampedusa on VHF and informs that search is suspended during nighttime due to poor visibility and weather conditions.

20:18 Ocean Viking receives new search coordinates for the following day

Circomare Lampedusa calls Ocean Viking on VHF and gives new search coordinates and instructs to resume search in the morning

06:14 Ocean Viking informs the Lampedusa Harbour Master it resumes search pattern in new designated area

06:14 Ocean Viking resumes search in new designated search area

Ocean Viking calls Circomare Lampedusa on VHF and reports start of search in new designated area.

Ocean Viking keeps ITMRCC informed via e-mail

06:33 Ocean Viking informs the Italian MRCC it resumes search

07:48 SAR helicopter is on-scene

09:58 2nd SAR helicopter is on-scene

10:20 First SAR helicopter returns to Lampedusa

11:54 2nd helicopter returns to Lampedusa

13:03 Ocean Viking suspends search pattern

Ocean Viking suspends search pattern due to bad weather (wind NNE 40 kn, wave height ~4 m) and continues search within the area

13:52 Ocean Viking is heading south due to weather conditions

Ocean Viking alters Course to 180° and leaves the area due to weather conditions.

A sharp lookout is maintained at all times.

Circomare Lampedusa and ITMRCC are informed accordingly