OPERATION - 10 March - 7 April 2021

At 13:55, in position 40°16,5’N 010°16,8’E, Ocean Viking stops to conduct a drill. RHIBs Easy 1, Easy 2 and Easy 3 are launched in the water for rescue procedure exercises.

At 13:50, in position 40°18,0’N 010°03,6’E, Ocean Viking stops to conduct a drill. RHIBs Easy 1, Easy 2, Easy 3 and Ocean Viking’s SOLAS FRC (Fast Rescue Craft) are launched in the water for rescue procedure exercises.

At 20:05, in position 39°42,5’N 010°05,4’E, Ocean Viking stops to conduct a night drill. RHIBs Easy 1 and Easy 2 are launched in the water for rescue procedure exercises.

At 15:40, in position 33°25,6’N 012°23,2’E, Ocean Viking stops to conduct a drill. RHIBs Easy 1, Easy 2 and Easy 3 are launched in the water for rescue procedure exercises.

While Patrolling in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region, Ocean Viking (position 33 26.4 N 012 20.5 E) alters her Course Heading towards Case AP115 alerted to by Alarm Phone via email addressed to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTJRCC, with Ocean Viking in copy reporting the position of a grey wooden boat with an engine on fire.

Reported position of the boat in distress: 33°35’2. N 12°11’59.9 E.

Ocean Viking arrives nearby the reported distress position of Case AP115, no wooden boat on fire is located.

GACS patrol vessel P-301 calls Ocean Viking on VHF (Arabic-speaking Ocean Viking’s translator facilitates VHF communications), requesting Ocean Viking to assist a white fibreglass boat, stating there are sick people onboard.

Ocean Viking position: 33°32.6’N  012°13.2’E

Libyan Coastguard patrol vessel P-301 stands nearby.

Ocean Viking reports via VHF to GACS P-301 the medical assessment of the people onboard the fibreglass boat conducted by the medical doctor: two women, two children and one toddler have been repeatedly vomiting. Dehydration and exhaustion, especially concerning the children, is feared.

GACS patrol vessel P-301 instructs Ocean Viking via VHF to provide assistance to the people in distress in the fibreglass boat. (Arabic-speaking Ocean Viking’s translator facilitates VHF communications with Libyan coastguard).

Ocean Viking requests twice to GACS patrol vessel P-301 confirmation of the instruction to recover the people from the fiberglass boat to Ocean Viking.

GACS patrol vessel P-301 states both times to “proceed” and “take them”.  

4 men, 2 women, 3 children and 1 toddler are brought to safety onboard Ocean Viking. During the rescue operation, the aft of the fibreglass boat starts sinking. One person onboard the fibreglass boat expresses the will to go back to Libya and to not be evacuated to Ocean Viking.

Ocean Viking reports to GACS patrol vessel P-301 via VHF the will of the person remaining on the fibreglass boat. GACS patrol vessel P-301 informs Ocean Viking via VHF that they will take over for his evacuation.

Ocean Viking receives an email by Alarm Phone addressed to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTJRCC, with Ocean Viking in copy, reporting two updated positions for the grey wooden boat previously reported in distress.

Updated distress positions: 33°07’51.75” N – 12°20’73.81” E and 33°07’57”N – 12°20’68.05”E.

GACS patrol vessel P-301 informs Ocean Viking via VHF she heads towards the reported position. Ocean Viking follows, ready to provide assistance, informing GACS patrol vessel P-301 accordingly.

Libyan Coastguard patrol vessel P-301 and Seabird airplane report to Ocean Viking via VHF the absence of a wooden boat in distress in the latest position reported by Alarm Phone.

According to the different uncertain reported positions of the open distress case (AP Case 115), Ocean Viking resumes her active search Heading North.

LYJRCC informs Ocean Viking via satellite phone that a shipwrecked boat was intercepted in position 33°04’N 012°12’E (9 NM Northeast of Zuwarah, Libya, in Libyan territorial waters). 45 people were intercepted and 5 people are reportedly missing.

Ocean Viking sends a Maritime Incident Report to LYJRCC via email, with ITMRCC, MTJRCC in copy, requesting a place of safety for the 10 rescued persons onboard.

Ocean Viking sends a second request for a place of safety for the disembarkation of the 10 rescued persons on board via email to the LYJRCC with ITMRCC, MTJRCC in copy.

Dear Sirs / Madams,

Having not received a reply to below email sent on 18/03/2021 at 1703Z, it would be appreciated if JRCC Tripoli could please provide this vessel with a feedback.

MV Ocean Viking requested a place of safety (as defined in the Annex to the 1979 SAR Convention, paragraph 1.3.2 and in the IMO Resolution MSC.167(78)) to promptly disembark all 10 rescued persons who are currently on board.

MV Ocean Viking understands that within the framework of the relevant Conventions and Regulations, the European Commission and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees issued clear positions stating that currently Libya does not meet the criteria for being designated as a place of safety for the purpose of disembarkation following rescue at sea (https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b8d02314.html)

Recalling the Provisions of Chapter 3 of the SAR Convention, MV Ocean Viking kindly invites JRCC Tripoli, as the responsible SAR Authority for the SRR where the rescue operation took place, to co-operate with those other RCCs considered able to assist, to make the necessary arrangements to identify the most appropriate place for disembarking these 10 persons found in distress at sea as soon as reasonably practicable.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message.

Best regards

Bridge

Ocean Viking

Ocean Viking (33 24.6 N 012 25.4 E) receives an email from Alarm Phone, addressed to LYJRCC with Ocean Viking in copy, reporting the position of a white rubber boat in distress (Case AP116) with 110 persons onboard.

Reported position of the boat in distress: “N33 28 809, E012 27 403” at “8.50CET”.

Ocean Viking has visual contact with a white rubber boat about 2 NM away from the ship. The rubber boat is overcrowded and unseaworthy. The occupants have only few lifejackets.

Ocean Viking in position 33 26.0 N 012 25.5 E.

SUBJECT: SAR 20.03.2021 – distress phase (– case AP116)

Dear Sirs/Madams, At 0845 UTC Ocean Viking is  0.5 NM from the overcrowded
rubber boat (Case AP116) previously alerted to by Alarm Phone with email
below.

The boat is overcrowded and unseaworthy; the occupants have only few
lifejacket and are exposed to the elements.

There is a reasonable certainty that the persons on board are threatened by
grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance.

Please be informed that, in accordance with the duty to render assistance to
any person in danger of being lost at sea, as stipulated by the relevant
International Maritime Conventions, MV Ocean Viking will proceed to the
assistance of these persons in distress, in so far as we can do so without
serious danger to our ship, the crew or the passengers, while keeping
competent RCCs duly informed.

MV Ocean Viking in position 33 25 N 012 25 E contacted via sat.phone Tripoli
JRCC to report above situation.

At 0838Z MV Ocean Viking RHIBs are launched. We will keep you informed.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message.

Best regards

Bridge

Ocean Viking

SUBJECT: SAR 20.03.2021 – distress phase (– case AP116)

Follow-up from below email

Dear Sirs/Madams,

Please be informed that it has been ascertained the distress phase for this
SAR case (AP116).

Please be informed that, in accordance with the duty to render assistance to
any person in danger of being lost at sea, as stipulated by the relevant
International Maritime Conventions, MV Ocean Viking is therefore proceeding
with the evacuation of the persons in distress from the rubber boat.

MV Ocean Viking will keep competent RCC duly informed.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message.

Best regards

Bridge

Ocean Viking

The Ocean Viking completes the rescue. The 106 survivors were brought to safety onboard Ocean Viking.Among them are 31 men, 8 women, 67 minors, of whom 51 are unaccompanied.

The rubber boat is marked and destroyed in position 33 27.3 N 012 23.9 E.

SUBJECT: SAR 20.03.2021 – (case AP116) evacuation completed

Follow-up from below email

Dear Sirs/Madams,

Please be informed that, at 1009Z, in position 33 26.9 N 012 24.4 E, MV
Ocean Viking completed the evacuation of the persons in distress from the
white rubber boat.
106 (number to be confirmed) shipwrecked persons have been safely brought on
board MV Ocean Viking.
Among the survivors there are men, women and children.

Upon completion of the evacuation, the white rubber boat was destroyed in
position 33 27.3 N 012 23.9 E

Complete information will be sent asap with Maritime Incident Report

Please acknowledge receipt of this message.

Best regards

Bridge

Ocean Viking

Ocean Viking sends a Maritime Incident Report to LYJRCC via email, with ITMRCC, MTJRCC in copy, requesting a place of safety for the 116 survivors on board.

SUBJECT: SAR 20.03.2021 – Maritime Incident Report – Request for a Place of
Safety

Follow-up from below email

Please find attached the Maritime Incident Report for the SAR operation
conducted by MV Ocean Viking on 20/03/2021.

The breakdown of rescued persons is as follows:
Total 106 persons
31 men
8 women
67 minors, of which 51 unaccompanied

Please note that currently there is a total of 116 rescued persons on board
MV Ocean Viking, including 10 persons rescued on the 18/03/2021 (see
attached MIR previously sent)

MV Ocean Viking is requesting a place of safety (as defined in the Annex to
the 1979 SAR Convention, paragraph 1.3.2 and in the IMO Resolution
MSC.167(78)) to promptly disembark all 116 rescued persons who are currently
on board.

MV Ocean Viking understands that within the framework of the relevant
Conventions and Regulations, the European Commission and United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees issued clear positions stating that currently
Libya does not meet the criteria for being designated as a place of safety
for the purpose of disembarkation following rescue at sea
(https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b8d02314.html)

Recalling the Provisions of Chapter 3 of the SAR Convention, MV Ocean Viking
kindly invites JRCC Tripoli, as the responsible SAR Authority for the SRR
where the rescue operation took place, to co-operate with those other RCCs
considered able to assist, to make the necessary arrangements to identify
the most appropriate place for disembarking these 116 persons found in
distress at sea as soon as reasonably practicable.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message.

Best regards

Bridge

Ocean Viking

Ocean Viking sends a request for a place of safety to ITMRCC and MTJRCC with LYJRCC in copy.

SUBJECT: MV Ocean Viking – SAR – Request for a place of safety

Dear Sirs,

As you have noted from the email correspondence between MV Ocean Viking and Tripoli JRCC, in which your RCCs were in copy, this vessel has been engaged in two SAR operations in the Libyan SRR.

18/03/2021 – 10 rescued persons

20/03/2021 – 106 rescued persons

Full information on the SAR operations carried out can be found in the two Maritime Incident Reports here attached.

Kindly note that we made a correction to the MIR regarding the first SAR operation conducted on March 18th: the on-scene Libyan patrol vessel previously reported as Libyan Coastguard (LYCG) revealed to be part of the General Administration of Costal Security (GACS). One additional picture is also included in the photos of the event.

Currently, there is a total of 116 rescued persons on board MV Ocean Viking, including women, children and unaccompanied minors.

MV Ocean Viking has requested to the competent authorities of the Libyan SRR a place of safety which fulfils all requirements under applicable international law, where the survivors can be safely and promptly disembarked. However, the Libyan RCC has failed in providing the indication of such a place of safety and has been unresponsive.

MV Ocean Viking would now kindly request to IT MRCC and MT RCC, as most able to assist RCCs, the assistance in finding a place of safety and facilitate a prompt disembarkation of all survivors on board.

Please note present weather condition:

NW bf 6 / Sea state 5

Warnings for thunderstorms in progress in the Libyan sea and gale in progress in the Sicilian strait Northerly 8;
Forecast warning for Sicilian Strait: Northerly 8, thunderstorms, very rough sea quickly increasing.

Please note below report from Medical Doctor on board: (…)

Ocean Viking is waiting for further instructions.

Best Regards

Bridge

Ocean Viking

ITMRCC informs Ocean Viking via phone, followed by a confirmation email, of the designation of Augusta, Italy, as a port of disembarkation for the 116 survivors.

Ocean Viking is alongside in Augusta harbour.

Ocean Viking is notified by Augusta Harbour Master of a 14-day quarantine ordered by Italian health authorities from 24/03/2021 until 06/04/2021.