OPERATION - 16 - 26 February 2025

07:30 Ocean Viking departs from Syracuse.

09:00 Ocean Viking starts drills.

10:55 Ocean Viking completes drills.

02:46 Ocean Viking spots an overcrowded fiberglass boat from the bridge.

03:02 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli. No answer.

03:05 RHIBS complete the first assessment.

The assessment is the following:
fiberglass 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.

03:07 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC and MRCC Malta in cc) to inform about the distress case.

03:20 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli via Sat Phone. No answer.

03:21 Ocean Viking completes the recovery operation of the persons in distress. 25 persons have been safely brought on board Ocean Viking.

Latitude: 34.1
Longitude: 12.6

03:28 Ocean Viking recovers all RHIBs.

03:30 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC and MRCC Malta in cc) to inform about the recue and request a place of safety.

07:53 Ocean Viking receives an email from ITMRCC, assigning Livorno as the place of safety.

08:06 Ocean Viking spots an overcrowded wooden boat.

08:07 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC via Sat Phone to inform about above situation. Officer on duty authorizes the delay of the arrival to Livorno and to proceed for a proper assessment of the distress case.

08:13 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli via Sat Phone. No answer.

08:19 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC and MRCC Malta in cc) to inform about the distress case.

08:26 Ocean Viking conducts a first assessment.

The first assessment is as follows:
the wooden boat is unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, overcrowded with about 40 people on board, including children, women, all exposed to the elements, no Life Saving Appliances available.

08:30 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC and MRCC Malta in cc) to inform about the first assessment.

08:32 Ocean Viking launches RHIBs for further assessment.

08:38 Ocean Viking spots an unidentified patrol vessel 7nm away from her position. Ocean Viking tries to establish contact several times on VHF ch. 16 without success. No answer.

08:42 Ocean Viking observes on its Radar the unidentified Patrol Vessel heading North at 10kn, heading away from distress case scene.

08:43 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli via Sat Phone. No answer.

08:48 Ocean Viking receives an assessment of the boat in distress from the RHIBs.

The assessment is as follows:
the wooden boat is unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, overcrowded with about 100 people on board, all exposed to the elements, no Life Saving Appliances available. It is ascertained that distress phase exists and there is danger of loss of life.

08:50 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC via Sat Phone; Duty officer instructed this vessel to follow international maritime regulations and try to contact competent authority.

08:55 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli via Sat Phone. No answer.

08:58 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC and MRCC Malta in cc) to inform about the situation and the RHIBs assessment.

09:13 Ocean Viking completes the recovery operation of the persons in distress. 87 persons have been safely brought on board Ocean Viking

Latitude: 34.1833333
Longitude: 12.183333333333334

09:29 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC and MRCC Malta in cc) to inform about the rescue.

07:50 Ocean Viking arrives in Livorno.

09:32 Disembarkation of the 112 survivors starts.

12:19 Disembarkation is complete.