OPERATION - 14 April-16 May 2021

On April 18th, Ocean Viking leaves the port of Syracuse (IT).

On April 22nd, the Ocean Viking witnesses the aftermath of a shipwreck that claimed up to 130 lives in International waters in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region. (Find a recap of events here.)

On April 27th, at 11:45, 236 survivors are rescued from two rubber boats in distress and brought to safety onboard Ocean Viking.

On April 28th, as the team on Ocean Viking prepared for the rescue of a rubber boat in distress, the Libyan Coast Guard arrived on scene and intercepted the boat. A second boat in distress that Ocean Viking was also alerted to was intercepted by the Libyan Coast Guard as well.

On April 30, Ocean Viking receives instructions to proceed to Augusta, Italy, to disembark the 236 survivors.

On May 1, Ocean Viking disembarks 236 survivors in Augusta, Italy.

On May 2, the Augusta Harbour Master notifies Ocean Viking of a 14-day quarantine as ordered by the Italian health authorities.

On May 16, Ocean Viking is granted free pratique by the Port Health Authority of Augusta.

April 14, 2021

08:10 Ocean Viking leaves the port of Augusta, Sicily, to conduct trainings.

At 13:45, Ocean Viking stops in position 37°04,7’N 015°35,4’E to conduct drills at sea. RHIBs Easy 1, Easy 2 and Easy 3 are launched for rescue procedure exercises.

17:25 The drills are completed and all RHIBs recovered.

April 15, 2021

At 9:10, Ocean Viking stops in position 37°06,1’N 015°33,2’E to conduct drills at sea. RHIBs Easy 1 and Easy 2 are launched for rescue procedure exercises.

11:20 The drills are completed and all RHIBs recovered.

At 13:10, the Ocean Viking stops in position 37°08,1’N 015°33,8’E to conduct drills at sea. RHIBs Easy 1, Easy 2 and Easy 3 are launched for rescue procedure exercises.

15:30 The drills are completed and the RHIBs recovered. Ocean Viking starts heading to Siracusa port to shelter from oncoming bad weather.

17:35 Ocean Viking docks in Syracuse, Sicily.

April 18, 2021

13:00 Ocean Viking leaves the port ot Syracuse, Italy, heading south to the central Mediterranean.

April 19, 2021

At 10:00, the Ocean Viking stops in position 34°01,2’N 014°40,0’E to conduct drills at sea. RHIBs Easy 1 and Easy 2 are launched for rescue procedure exercises.

Ocean Viking is in position 34°00,5’N 014°42,0’E.

April 20, 2021

Whilst Patrolling (OV Position: 33°31.06 N 014°40.8 E) the Ocean Viking receives an email sent by Alarm Phone and addressed to LYJRCC, ITMRCC, MTRCC with the Ocean Viking in copy, reporting a wooden boat in distress with engine not working.

42 people reported on board.

Reported position: N33°35.593, E011°50.512 received at 22:28 CEST.

distress Case Num: AP 181.

Ocean Viking is about 140NM from the distress position.

April 21, 2021

The Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC with ITMRCC, MTRCC and Alarm Phone in copy, to inform that she is proceeding towards the distress case.

Ocean Viking calls via LYJRCC via satellite phone. The officer on watch reports that they are preparing to dispatch a patrol vessel from Tripoli. No ETA to the area of the boat in distress is given.

01:41 Ocean Viking receives an updated position of the boat in distress from Alarm Phone (case AP 181).

Ocean Viking, whilst sailing towards the previous case (OV Position: 33 41.1 N 012 32.1 E), receives an email sent by Alarm Phone and addressed to LYJRCC, ITMRCC, MTRCC with the Ocean Viking in copy, reporting a distress call from a white rubber boat carrying around 100 people (including 30 women and 15 children).

GPS Positions: N 33° 01’56”68 E 014° 69’20” (09:00 CEST 21.04.21), N 32°59’ 11’’44 E 014°07’11’’32 (08:00CEST 21.04.21)

Departed at 1000lt on 20/04/2021 from Al Khoms.

distress Case Number: AP 183.

Ocean Viking receives an email sent by Alarm Phone and addressed to LYJRCC, ITMRCC, MTRCC with the Ocean Viking in copy, reporting that they were informed by a fishermen about a possible distress at sea.

Approximately 120 people on board, departed from Al-Khoms on 20/04/2021 at 10 pm CEST.

Position unknown. distress Case Num: AP 182.

09:55 Ocean Viking receives an updated position of the boat in distress (case AP 181, the first distress alert) from Alarm Phone.

The Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC with ITMRCC, MTRCC and Alarm Phone in copy, to inform that she is still proceeding towards the case AP 181.

The unidentified aircraft communicates to a LYCG patrol vessel a distress case in position 33 13 N 014 02E, possibly corresponding to AP Case 182 or 183, the two alerts relayed earlier in the day.

13:58 Ocean Viking alters course going back to the latest known position of case AP 181 to start a new search pattern.

The unidentified aircraft communicates to a LYCG patrol vessel an updated position of a boat in distress at 33 15 N 014 01E (possibly corresponding to AP Case 182 or 183).

LYCG is 2NM away from the position of the boat in distress (possibly corresponding to Alarm Phone case 182 or 183).

16:16 Ocean Viking receives from an updated position of a boat in distress (case AP 182) from Alarm Phone.

17:16 Ocean Viking receives an updated position of a boat in distress (case AP 182) from Alarm Phone.

17:50 As Ocean Viking has not succeeded in finding the first distress case (AP 181), she is now proceeding towards distress case AP 182 and informs relevant authorities. The last known position of AP 182 is 121 NM away from the Ocean Viking’s position.

MAYDAY MAYDAY, boat in distress in position 33 26 N 013 56 E.

NO details about the distress case.

Ocean Viking is 100 NM away from the position.

Ocean Viking sends an email to all authorities, informing them about the mayday message. The coordinates indicate that the boat in distress is AP case 182.

M/V AIK replies and relays the message to Lampedusa Radio requesting instructions. Lampedusa Radio replies that the position is inside Libyan SRR and to contact Ocean Viking.

Ocean Viking informs ITMRCC about the mayday relay and asks ITMRCC to send a NAVTEX message to all ships.

MAYDAY MAYDAY in position 33 28 N 013 53 E.

NO details about the distress case.

The Ocean Viking 87 NM away from the position.

Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC with ITMRCC, MTRCC and Alarm Phone in copy, to inform that at 1825Z, the following message was received via VHF CH 16: ‘MAYDAY MAYDAY for a boat in distress in position 33 28N 013 53E.’ MV Ocean Viking tried to contact via VHF CH16 the station sanding a Mayday Call: No Reply.

21:52 Ocean Viking receives an email from Alarm Phone informing that the people on board are now without battery on their Thuraya phone (Case AP 182). The last call was too short to ask for a new position.

April 22, 2021

Ocean Viking calls via VHF CH 16/6 ALK and MY ROSE asking for an update situation. No updates.

Ocean viking position: 33 30.4 N 013 53.0 E

Sea state: 6; Wind: 6.

Ocean Viking inquires ITMRCC about aerial support via satellite phone. ITMRCC answers that this information cannot be shared with Ocean Viking and that the area of search is out of their competence.

08:55 Ocean Viking calls the Frontex office via satellite phone asking for aerial support in the distress area.

12:24 M/V MY ROSE informs Frontex aircraft Osprey3 via VHF CH 16 that she has visual on 3 bodies in pos 33 34N 013 37E.

Ocean Viking asks for information on the case and on the coordination.

Frontex aircraft Osprey3 replies they are just performing a search and that they are not coordinating the case. Ocean Viking Bridge specifies that Ocean Viking is a rescue vessel, well prepared for rescue operations with a medical team on board.

12:34 Frontex aircraft Osprey3 informs M/V MY ROSE and the other vessels of the position of the shipwreck via VHF CH 16 (grey rubber boat in position 33 44.44N 013 37.57E).

12:45 Ocean Viking alters course to the shipwreck. Ocean Viking position: 33 36.2 N 013 24.6 E. 13 NM to the position of the shipwreck.

13:50 M/V AIK leaves the scene and communicates via VHF CH 16 that Libyan Coast Guard patrol vessel UBARI is the coordinator, meanwhile M/T VS LISBETH left the area.

14:00 Ocean Viking has visual on the shipwreck and several bodies in the water in position 33°45.0’N 013°38.0’E.

Ocean Viking asks for the ETA of LCG patrol vessel Ubari on the scene. The officer on watch confirms that Ubari was going to come on scene. No ETA provided.

17:05 Ocean Viking on scene, 3NM from M/V MY ROSE. Libyan Coast Guard patrol vessel Ubari not yet arrived. Ocean Viking spots several bodies in the water while standing by in the area.

Below the recap of the 22nd of April 2021:

– Ocean Viking starts the search at 0317Z in PoS 33 30.4N 013 53.0E in cooperation with MY ROSE (MMSI: 372505000), ALK (MMSI 304619000), VS LISBETH (MMSI: 2320005015)

– at 1024Z MY ROSE has visual on 3 bodies in PoS 33 34N 013 37E

– at 1042Z Osprey 3 order to MY ROSE to standby in position and wait for Libyan patrol vessel Ubari

– at 1043Z Osprey 3 has visual on the shipwreck (grey rubber boat) in PoS 33 44.44N 013 37.57E

– at 1150Z AIK leaves the scene and communicate via VHF that patrol vessel Ubari is the coordinator, meanwhile VS LISBETH left the area

– at 1200Z Ocean Viking has visual contact on the shipwreck and few bodies in PoS 33 45.0N 013 38.0E. Only the sponsons were remaining afloat, no deck, no transom, no engine and Bow completely under water level. No signs of survivors and MY ROSE is still holding her position in the area.

– at 1206Z Ocean Viking calls via sat phone LYJRCC asking information about ETA of Ubari. The officer on watch confirmed that Ubari was going to come on scene

– at 1323Z Ocean Viking calls via sat phone LYJRCC asking information about ETA of Ubari. The officer on watch confirmed that Ubari was going to come on scene

– at 1505Z Ocean Viking on scene in PoS 33 45.5N 013 40.6E 3nm from MY ROSE. Patrol vessel Ubari is not yet arrived

Ocean Viking while standing by in the area spotted several bodies in the water.

Current weather condition: wind 6 to 7, seastate 5 to 6.

19:00 M/V MY ROSE informs Ocean Viking via VHF that they received permission from a Turkish navy vessel to proceed towards their final destinations Al Khoms, Libya. Ocean Viking alters her course, heading west.

Please be informed that mv MY ROSE left the area at 1700Z and as night is falling, there is no sign of patrol vessel Ubari in the vicinity nor contact established with the Ocean Viking. As my vessel is not able to further provide assistance with this case, we resume Course at 1746Z COG 272 SOG 5kts.

Ocean Viking position 33 40.8N 013 42.2E.

April 25, 2021

The Ocean Viking, while in position 33 21.8 N 012 26.6 E, is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone to the relevant maritime authorities, relaying a distress alert from a boat the Libyan Search and Rescue Region (case AP 186). The position is two hours from the Ocean Viking’s position at the time of reception.

10:28 Ocean Viking calls Alarm Phone via satellite phone to confirm the position of the distress case.

10:33 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from LYJRCC to Alarm Phone. LYJRCC acknowledges the distress message and assumes coordination of the SAR operation.

10:35 Ocean Viking informs relevant authorities that she is heading towards the last known position of distress case AP 186.

The Ocean Viking, while in position 33 25.3 N 012 16.2 E, is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone to the relevant maritime authorities, relaying a distress call from a boat in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region.

12:53 Ocean Viking reaches the last known position of distress case AP 186, no visual contact on any boat in distress.

13:02 Ocean Viking calls LYJRCC via satellite phone to ask for further information about the distress case. LYJRCC has no information on the case.

13:06 Ocean Viking calls Lt. Abdelnaser Ramdan of LYJRCC to ask for further information about the distress case. No updated position is available. Lt. Ramdan informs Ocean Viking that the Libyan Coast Guard patrol vessel cannot leave the port of Tripoli due to bad weather and that he will send an email in case there is new information.

13:47 Ocean Viking informs maritime authorities of ongoing search for distress case AP 186.

14:32 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone to relevant authorities confirming that distress case AP 187 (the second alert of the day) is closed, as the boat drifted back to shore. No update on distress case AP 186.

15:31 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone to relevant authorities informing that according to a relative, the people of distress case AP 186 are back on land. The case is closed.

April 27, 2021

The Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone to the relevant authorities relaying a distress for a rubber boat in distress carrying approx. 125 people (Case AP 188).

06:23 Ocean Viking informs all relevant authorities via email that she is proceeding towards the last known position of the distress case to provide assistance. The position is approx. 36 NM from the Ocean Viking.

The Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone to the relevant authorities relaying a second distress alert (Case AP 189). Both boats are close to each other.

08:57 Ocean Viking establishes visual contact with two rubber boats in distress. 3 RHIBs are launched to assess the situation.

09:21 Ocean Viking informs all relevant authorities of the distress situation of the two rubber boats.

10:15 The evacuation of survivors from the first boat in distress to the Ocean Viking starts.

Latitude: 33.334722
Longitude: 12.6175

12:05 Ocean Viking informs all relevant authorities of completion of rescue.

12:30 All 3 RHIBs are recovered.

15:16 Ocean Viking sends a Maritime Incident Report and requests a Place of Safety to LYJRCC with all relevant authorities in copy.

April 28, 2021

At 3:36, while in position 33°33.1’ N 012°15.6’E, the Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone to the relevant maritime authorities, relaying a distress alert of a white rubber boat carrying approx. 79 people (distress case AP 190). Ocean Viking alters Course to proceed towards the boat in distress.

04:12 Ocean Viking informs relevant maritime authorities of reception of distress alert and intention to provide assistance.

The Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone to the relevant maritime authorities. The position and number of people on this boat are unknown (distress case AP 191).

04:53 Alarm Phone relays an updated position for distress case AP 190 via email to relevant maritime authorities with Ocean Viking in copy.

06:13 Alarm Phone relays an updated position for distress case AP 190 via email to relevant maritime authorities with Ocean Viking in copy.

07:00 Alarm Phone relays a position for distress case AP 191 via email to relevant maritime authorities with Ocean Viking in copy.

07:05 Ocean Viking approaches last known position of distress case AP 190, no sighting of white rubber boat in distress.

07:44 Ocean Viking establishes visual contact with a rubber boat in distress after spotting an echo on the radar. Visibility very poor. SAR team prepares for rescue.

07:54 Ocean Viking informs the relevant maritime authorities (LYJRCC with ITMRCC, MTRCC et al in copy) that visual contact has been established with a rubber boat in distress (case AP 190) and that RHIBs will be launched to assess the situation.

07:55 Libyan Coast Guard patrol vessel Fezzan reaches boat in distress and instructs Ocean Viking via VHF Channel 16 to change course and leave the area. Ocean Viking offers medical assistance if needed.

08:13 Ocean Viking alters course, proceeding to the last known position of second distress case 191.

08:56 Libyan Coast Guard patrol vessel Fezzan reaches second boat in distress (case AP 191).

09:30 Ocean Viking spots and documents wreck of the second intercepted boat in position 33°32.5’N 012°55.5’E.

09:35 Ocean Viking emails relevant authorities to inform about the second operation of Libyan Coast Guard patrol boat Fezzan.

April 29, 2021

00:30 In absence of an answer of LYJRCC to the request for a Place of Safety sent on 27/04/21 at 15:13, Ocean Viking requests ITMRCC and MTRCC to coordinate with able assist RCCs to assign a Place of Safety.

01:20 ITMRCC responds via email, instructing the Ocean Viking to contact her Flag State to “active the procedures of cooperation among States (Chapter 3 of Hamburg ’79 Convention) or the SAR Authority responsible for the area.”

09:15 Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC with her Flag State in copy, informing that both LYJRCC and the Norwegian Flag State authorities were kept informed of all operations at all times and requesting the assistance of ITMRCC in finding a Place of Safety and facilitating a prompt disembarkation of survivors.

April 30, 2021

Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC, with MTRCC and Flag state authorities in copy, to renew the request for assistance in finding a place of safety and facilitating the disembarkation of 236 survivors.

21:30 Ocean Viking receives via a phone call the instructions to disembark the 236 shipwrecked persons in Augusta, Italy.

May 1, 2021

09:35 Ocean Viking is moored in the port of Augusta, Italy.

13:00 Disembarkation of survivors in the port of Augusta starts.

17:40 Disembarkation of 236 survivors in the port of Augusta, Italy, is over.

18:45 Ocean Viking is at anchor at Augusta roadstead, as per Harbour Master’s instructions.

May 2, 2021

09:15 Ocean Viking is notified by Augusta Harbour Master of a 14-day quarantine ordered by Italian health authorities.

May 16, 2021

12:07 Ocean Viking is granted free pratique by the Port Health Authority of Augusta.