OPERATION - 11 - 22 May 2024

20:00 Ocean Viking arrives in Syracuse for portcall.

07:30 Ocean Viking leaves Syracuse for training.

10:00 Rhibs are launched for drills.

11:30 Rhibs are recovered.

14:00 Rhibs are launched for more drills.

16:44 Rhibs are recovered.

22:25 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone alerting to a boat in distress about 80NM away.

22:49 Ocean Viking sends an email to Malta RCC with ITMRCC in copy informing about the distress situation and her ability to provide assistance.

04:12 Ocean Viking spots intermittent light matching with estimated position of the boat in distress.

04:41 Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC with Malta RCC in copy to inform about the situation.

“Dear Sirs, Madams,

Please be informed that at 02:40 Z Ocean Viking RHIBs assessed the situation: fiberglass boat is unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, overcrowded with about 35 people on board, including children, 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.

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.”

04:58 Ocean Viking completes the recovery of 35 shipwrecked persons.

Latitude: 36.1833333
Longitude: 16.75

05:02 Ocean Viking calls RCC Malta via Satphone to inform of the rescue operation. Duty officer requested for an email to be sent.

05:12 Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC and Malta RCC to inform about the rescue operation.

05:48 Italian authorities assign Ortona as a Place of Safety for the 35 survivors onboard Ocean Viking.

17:57 Ocean Viking arrives in Ortona.

18:52 The disembarkation of 35 survivors starts.

19:55 The disembarkation is complete.

17:06 Ocean Viking leaves Ortona and is heading to Syracuse.