OPERATION - 22 January-18 February 2023

12:41 Ocean Viking leaves the port of Syracuse, Sicily.

19:24 Ocean Viking starts drills at sea.

36 43N 015 41E

20:36 Rhib drills completed.

36 42N 015 42E

16:17 Ocean Viking starts drills at sea.

34 36 N 015 02 E

17:29 Rhib drills completed.

34 35 N 015 02 E

07:00 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone addressed to Tripoli JRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC alerting to a boat in distress.

Ocean Viking in position 33 03 N 014 42 E receives an email from Alarm Phone addressed to Tripoli JRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC, alerting to a black rubber boat in distress, with the following location: 33 18 N 012 07 E (130 Nm from OV position).

07:30 Ocean Viking calls Geo Barents via Sat Phone.

Geo Barents informs Ocean Viking she intends to provide assistance to the black rubber boat in distress (she is 10 Nm away from distress case).

10:00 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Seabird2 Airbone, to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC alerting to a boat in distress.

Reported distress position: 33 32 N 011 46 E

Ocean Viking position: 33 08 N 014 30 E (140 NM away from the reported distress position)

The Geo Barents informs that she is close to the reported distress position.

10:18 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Geo Barents to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC informing that she altered course towards the reported distress position.

10:23 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Alarm Phone to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC alerting to a second boat in distress.

No clear reported distress position. Ocean Viking doesn’t have enough information to engage in a SAR (Search and Rescue) operation.

10:40 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Alarm Phone to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC alerting to another boat in distress.

Reported distress position: 34 53 41.5 N 011 26 03.1 E

Ocean Viking is more than 150NM away.

10:43 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Alarm Phone to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC alerting to another boat in distress.

No clear reported distress position. Ocean Viking doesn’t have enough information to engage in a SAR Operation.

11:30 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Seabird Airborne to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC alerting to the interception by Libyan CoastGuard of the boat in distress reported at 10:00am

Last Known Position: 33 38 N 011 47 E

13:40 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by SeaBird Airborne to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC reporting the interception of a boat in distress by Libyan CoastGuard.

Reported interception position: 33 23 N 012 07 E

13:45 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Alarm Phone to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC alerting to a boat in distress.

No clear reported distress position. Ocean Viking doesn’t have enough information to engage in a SAR Operation.

04:40 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Alarm Phone to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC alerting to a boat in distress.

Reported distress position: N 033°010’044.449” E012°027’012.455”

Ocean Viking position: 33 15 N 014 03 E (80 Nm away)

05:10 Ocean Viking contacts GeoBarents via Satellite Phone asking for her intentions.

GB is closer to the distress case (50NM away) and altered her Course towards the reported distress position.

07:01 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Alarm Phone to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC alerting to another boat in distress.

Reported distress position: 33 43 38.84 N 012 23 01.39 E

Ocean Viking position: 33 12 N 014 15 E (100 NM away)

07:13 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Geo Barents to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC informing that she is initiating search for the last reported boat in distress alerted to by Alarm Phone.

08:23 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Alarm Phone to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC alerting to another boat in distress.

No reported distress position. OV does not have enough information to engage in SAR Operation.

09:10 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Geo Barents to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC informing of the completion of the evacuation of 67 people (boat in distress alerted to by Alarm Phone at 07:01am)

10:02 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Seabird2 Airborne to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC updating the distress position of the first boat reported in distress by Alarm Phone at 04:40am

Updated distress position: 33 17 N 012 51 E

10:26 Whilst in the Libyan SRR, Ocean Viking receives a call from Aircraft Sea Bird 2 VHF alerting to a “blue rubber boat in distress.

Ocean Viking position: 33 11.6 N 014 16.0 E

Reported distress position: in position 33 29 N 013 59 E.

11:04 Ocean Viking calls LYJRCC to report the distress alert by phone. No answer.

11:18 Ocean Viking receives an email from Seabird2 reiterating the distress alert.

Ocean Viking position: 33 20 N 014 10 E

Reported distress position: 33 29 N 013 59 E

11:26 Ocean Viking calles LYJRCC via Sat Phone. No answer.

11:36 Ocean Viking informs LYJRCC that she is proceeding towards the potential distress case via email.

Ocean Viking is about 15 Nm away from the reported distress case.

11:57 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by SeaBird2 Airborne to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC providing an updated position of the boat reported in distress at 10:26am

Updated distress position: 33 33 N 014 00 E

12:25 Sea Bird 2 updates the distress position on VHF and informs on the boat’s conditions.

Updated distress position: 33 34 N 014 00 E

Boat stationary, unstable, engine stopped, low/minimal Freeboard, pontoons bending with lot of pressure.

12:40 Ocean Viking informs LYJRCC of the situation and that RHIBs are going to be launched for closer assessment.

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

13:15 Ocean Viking RHIBs assessement ascertains that there is a distress situation.

The blue rubber boat is overcrowded, unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, with a very low Freeboard and taking in water, about 85 people on board, presence of at least 2 babies, 4 children, women, no lifejackets, all exposed to the elements and these people are requiring to be rescued.

13:17 Ocean Viking calls the LYJRCC. No answer.

13:30 Ocean Viking informs LYJRCC via email of the ascertained distress phase and that she will proceed to the assistance of the boat in distress.

The persons on board are threatened by grave and imminent danger of being lost and require immediate assistance.

13:34 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Alarm Phone to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC alerting to a boat in distress.

Reported distress position: 33 26 15 32 N 013 59 12 65 E (Blue rubber boat – 85 PoB)

13:35 Libyan patrol vessel 660 arrives on scene. Ocean Viking establishes VHF 16 communication to inform about her capacity to perform the rescue and safely recover everyone.

14:00 All survivors are evacuated on board Ocean Viking’s three RHIBs. Disembarkation of survivors on Ocean Viking not possible due to Patrol Vessel 660 presence on Ocean Viking starboard side.

14:15 All 95 survivors are evacuated on board Ocean Viking. Recovering of the RHIBS impossible due to Libyan Patrol Vessel 660 high speed manoeuvres, generating big waves.

14:30 Evacuation of survivors complete: three RHIBs recovered on board Ocean Viking after several minutes of interference from Libyan Patrol Vessel 660.

Rescue position: 33 34.7 N 014 02.5 E

Ocean Viking has reasons to believe that this case matches open case from Watch the Med Alarm Phone case AP0110 with a similar position and a similar type of boat and PoB.

Latitude: 33.578333
Longitude: 12.041666

14:37 Ocean Viking informs LYJRCC via email, with ITMRCC and MTRCC in copy, of the completion of the evacuation.

15:20 Survivors on Ocean Viking reported that five or six persons fell overboard from the rubber boat in distress prior to Ocean Viking Rhibs arrival on scene. Ocean Viking returns to the rescue position to start a search pattern.

15:25 Ocean Viking calls LYJRCC to report the situation. No answer.

15:30 Ocean Viking reports the situation to LYJRCC via email.

16:16 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Alarm Phone to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC alerting to a boat in distress.

No clear reported distress position.

16:30 Launch of Ocean Viking RHIBs to conduct a search pattern together with the mothership.

Ocean Viking position: 33 28.5 N 014 00.5 E

17:50 Ocean Viking calls LYJRCC to inform that the search is ongoing and asking for their SAR plan. Duty Officer copies the information without providing further instructions.

Patrol vessel 660 and Patrol vessel 648 are in the vicinity of Ocean Viking.

Ocean Viking tries to establish communication on VHF ch16 to request cooperation for the search. No answer.

18:48 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Alarm Phone to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC alerting to a boat in distress.

Reported distress position: 34 ?9.46 N 011 58.85 E (Black plastic)

19:00 Ocean Viking ends the search due to the pitch dark environment and recovers all RHIBs.

Ocean Viking position 33 24.9 N 013 59.0 E.

19:10 Ocean Viking informs LYJRCC of the end of the unsuccessful search via email.

19:36 Ocean Viking calls Alarm Phone via Satellite Phone requesting more information regarding the open distress case. No clear information.

Reported distress position is unclear, with incorrect numbers.

21:55 Ocean Viking sends a request for a Place of Safety for the 95 survivors onboard via email to LYJRCC, with ITMRCC and MTRCC in copy.

23:33 Ocean Viking receives an email from ITMRCC designating Carrara as port of disembarkation for the 95 survivors onboard.

00:39 Ocean Viking informs ITMRCC ETA for Carrara port of disembarkation and change course North

11:11 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Alarm Phone to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC alerting to a boat in distress.

No reported distress position.

11:50 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Alarm Phone to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC alerting to a boat in distress.

No reported distress position.

15:35 Ocean Viking arrives in the port of Carrara, Italy.

17:00 Disembarkation of the 95 survivors onboard Ocean Viking starts in the port of Carrara, Italy.

19:33 Disembarkation in the port of Carrara, Italy, of all 95 survivors onboard Ocean Viking is completed.

13:17 Ocean Viking leaves the port of Carrara for Syracuse.

07:49 Ocean Viking arrives in Syracuse, Italy.

11:35 Ocean Viking leaves the port of Syracuse.

15:10 Ocean Viking starts drills at sea.

17:10 Rhib drills completed.

14:47 Ocean Viking starts drills at sea.

16:49 Rhib drills completed.

20:19 Ocean Viking receives a call via Satellite Phone from a caller not positively identified alerting to a boat in distress with approx. 600 people onboard. Ocean Viking is 120 NM away from the reported distress position. 

Reported distress position: 34 59 N 016 22 E  

Ocean Viking position: 34 22 N 014 06 E 

21:23 After several attempts to obtain coordination of the SAR event from MTRCC via Satellite Phone, Ocean Viking sends an email to MTRCC and ITMRCC seeking information and coordination of the reported distress case. 

21:33 In absence of answer from MTRCC, Ocean Viking alters course towards the reported distress position. Ocean Viking is approximately 120NM away. 

Ocean Viking position: 34 15.2 N 014 03.3 E 

23:35 Ocean Viking establishes contact with a cargo vessel in the vicinity of the reported boat in distress.

While on Course towards the reported distress position, Ocean Viking establishes contact with the ship VSC Triton, in the vicinity of the reported boat in distress. VSC Triton informs Ocean Viking that she is requested by Malta RCC to investigate the reported distress case and provide a situation report. 

Unable to obtain instruction from Malta RCC, Ocean Viking keeps proceeding towards the reported distress position. 

07:27 After several failed attempts to obtain information and coordination of the SAR event by MTRCC throughout the whole night, Ocean Viking calls again MTRCC via Satellite Phone. A duty Officer replies that MTRCC is coordinating the event and that no assistance is required from Ocean Viking.  

08:05 Ocean Viking resumes her course South South West, towards her original area of navigation.  

Ocean Viking position: 34 47.1 N 015 50.0 E 

18:00 Ocean Viking sets sail towards Sicily, to seek shelter from bad weather.

08:29 Ocean Viking starts drills at sea.

10:33 Rhib drills completed.

14:00 Ocean Viking arrives in Trapani, Italy, sheltering from bad weather.

07:04 Ocean Viking leaves the port of Trapani.

15:50 Ocean Viking starts drills at sea.

20:16 Drills completed.

11:37 Ocean Viking sails past a half sunk rubber boat, only the bow is still afloat.

03:35 Whilst in the Libyan SRR, Ocean Viking receives an email from Watch The Med – Alarm Phone alerting to a boat in distress.

Ocean Viking position: 33 17 N 013 58 E

Reported distress position: N 33 081675, E 014 12084

There is a reasonable certainty that the persons on board the case boat are threatened by grave and imminent danger of being lost at sea and require immediate assistance.

04:52 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent to ITMRCC by Alarm Phone with an updated position of the boat in distress.

Updated distress postion: N 33 081675, E 014 12084

05:27 Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC reporting receipt of the distress alert and informing that she is proceeding towards the reported distress position, ready to provide assistance.

Ocean Viking position 33 16 N 014 00 E (approx 20 Nm away from the reported distress case)

06:40 Ocean Viking has visual on the sought-after rubber boat.

Ocean Viking position: 33 13 N 014 14 E

06:48 Ocean Viking calls LYJRCC via Satellite Phone. The line cuts.

06:50 OV is 3 Nm away from the boat potentially in distress and observes that the boat is unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, overcrowded with about 80 people on board, all exposed to the elements, no LSA available.

06:53 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Alarm Phone providing an updated position of the boat reported in distress.

Reported distress position: N 33 092193 E 014 173127

The boat is blue, plastic. There are 5 women, 2 children. The people on the boat are urgently asking for help.

07:00 Ocean Viking RHIBs are being launched for closer assessment of the rubber boat possibly in distress.

07:10 Ocean Viking RHIBs assessed the following situation from the water: the rubber boat is unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, highly overcrowded with about 90 people on board, exposed to the elements, no Life Saving Appliances available. People onboard are requiring to be rescued.

07:14 Ocean Viking calls LYJRCC via Satellite Phone. No Answer.

07:18 Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC, with ITMRCC and MTRCC in copy, to update on the ascertained distress situation and to inform that she will proceed to the assistance of the persons in distress.

Ocean Viking position: 33 11 N 014 16 E

07:55 Ocean Viking completes the recovery operation of all those in distress. 84 survivors are safely brought onboard Ocean Viking.

Rescue position: 33 11 N 014 16 E

Latitude: 33.18333
Longitude: 14.26666

08:19 Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC, with ITMRCC and MTRCC in copy, informing of the completion of the recovery operation and requests for a Place of Safety.

09:25 Ocean Viking sends a MIR and a request for a Place of Safety for the 84 survivors onboard via email to LYJRCC, with ITMRCC and MTRCC in copy.

09:55 Ocean Viking receives an email from ITMRCC designating Ravenna as port of disembarkation for the 84 survivors onboard.

10:45 Ocean Viking informs ITMRCC with ETA for Ravenna port of disembarkation, sends requested information and changes course North

11:50 Ocean Viking arrives in the port of Ravenna, Italy.

12:43 Disembarkation of the 84 survivors onboard Ocean Viking starts in the port of Ravenna, Italy.