OPERATION - 22 June-22 July 2020

The Ocean Viking stops to conduct drills at sea about 30 NM SSW Toulon (FR). The two RHIBs are launched.

The Ocean Viking stops to conduct drills at sea about 47 NM West Sardinia (IT). The three RHIBs are launched.

The Ocean Viking stops to conduct drills at sea. The three RHIBs are launched.

The Ocean Viking establishes visual contact with a potential Target. The Ocean Viking is in position 35°14.6’N 012°28.0’E.

The Ocean Viking sends an email to MTJRCC with ITMRCC in copy to inform that visual contact has been established with a boat and that Ocean Viking is going to investigate for assessment.

The Ocean Viking reports overcrowded wooden boat, not making way, to MTJRCC via phone.

The Ocean Viking is launching 2 RHIBs.

The Ocean Viking informs MTJRCC and ITMRCC via email that the overcrowded wooden boat carrying approx. 80 people is slightly listing on one side and that the RHIBs will proceed to life jacket distribution and evacuation to the Ocean Viking.

The Ocean Viking completes the rescue. The 51 survivors are safely brought onto the Ocean Viking.

The Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent from Moonbird to LYJRCC and MTJRCC, informing of a wooden boat in distress sighted at 13.04 in position 34°16N 012°05E with approximately 80 people on board.

The Ocean Viking, in position 35°12.4’N 012°26E, informs MTJRCC and ITMRCC via email that an interception Course to the Target has been set.

The Ocean Viking establishes visual contact with a potential Target. The Ocean Viking is in position 34°41N 012°12.6’E.

The Ocean Viking informs the MTJRCC via phone that visual contact with a potential distress case has been established and that a SAR operation might be initiated.

The Ocean Viking is launching two RHIBs while in position 34°41.23’N 012°13E.

The Ocean Viking completes the rescue. The 67 survivors are safely brought onto the Ocean Viking.

The Ocean Viking completes the rescue. The 47 survivors are safely brought onto the Ocean Viking.

Further to our earlier phone call conversation, please find updated position of the migrant boat at 2200B
Position Lat 34-46N Long 012-14E.
Heading 022 Deg Speed 6 knots.

The Ocean Viking completes the rescue. The 16 survivors are safely brought onto the Ocean Viking.

From: ITMRCC
To: French Embassy in Italy, CROSS, Norwegian Flag state
CC: Gabinetto Esteri, Gabinetto MinInterno, Segreteria Capo di Gabinetto, Guardia Costiera, NCC, Ocean Viking

In this email, ITMRCC states that there had been “absolutely no communication with the Italian Rescue Coordination Center, neither before nor after the operation” for the four rescues the Ocean Viking performed on June 25 and June 30. Further, since the ship flies the Norwegian flag and is allegedly owned by a French citizen, and in light of the decree of April 7, 2020, declaring Italian ports unsafe due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Italy, the Italian authorities request that the French and Norwegian authorities provide a place of safety for the disembarkation of the 180 survivors, suggesting Corsica.

From: Ocean Viking
To: ITMRCC
CC: Gabinetto Esteri, Gabinetto MinInterno, Segreteria Capo di Gabinetto, Guardia Costiera, NCC, French Embassy in Italy, CROSS, Norwegian Flag state

For complete information on the four SAR cases in which the Ocean Viking was involved, I kindly refer you and the other recipients of your message to the four Maritime Incident Reports sent earlier, which I attach again here and I would underline the following:

2. Both RCC Malta and ITMRCC were contacted/informed at every stage of the three other operations as per our strict procedures. Again all emails are available and all calls logged.
3. Our Flag state has been kept informed with each Maritime Incident Report.

Your assistance is greatly appreciated in finding any suitable Port of Safety where survivors can be promptly disembarked as per SAR conventions, including, if you consider it appropriate, with the support from other authorities and further  RCCs.

The 180 survivors we have onboard now have been going through an extensive time at sea, they are exhausted and urgently need to be taken care of by appropriate authorities. The current situation leads to growing tensions onboard which are becoming challenging to manage. We are also monitoring weather conditions over the next couple of days and we can see the situation deteriorating over the Western Med and the Central Med in the coming days.

From: Ocean Viking

To: ITMRCC, MTJRCC

CC: Flag state

“There is a small group currently on board the ship who have threatened to firstly, self-harm and some have started to threaten the crew.
[…]
We request that this group plus a few other individuals from other rescues (39 people total) be evacuated from the vessel asap. Within this group there is a smaller group who are on suicide watch and are being cared for by the medical team.

The remaining people on board are compliant and are not causing any problems though they do continue to suffer as well.”

From: Ocean Viking To: ITMRCC CC: Flag state “Due to the worsening weather conditions we will need to seek Shelter. The only place that offers Shelter is currently to the east of Sicily. The other issue is that if other people jump overboard and the weather is too bad we will not be able to safely launch our rescue boat without risking our crew . Please be advised that we may seek Shelter remaining outside of the 12nm shortly.”

From: ITMRCC

To: Ocean Viking, Flag state, Norwegian Embassy in Italy, French Embassy in Italy, CROSS

CC: Gabinetto Esteri, Gabinetto MinIntero, Segreteria Capo di Gabinetto, Guardia Costiera

“Dear Sirs, Due to the increasing critical situation on board, please find attached email received by mv ocean viking concerning an urgent request for assistance. Please acknowledge theis message, keeping informed this MRCC on the action taken”

From: Ocean Viking

To: ITMRCC, MTJRCC

CC: Flag state

“We bring to your attention an urgent situation on Ocean Viking that requires an immediate large medical evacuation.

We have a group of 44 males who are in acute mental distress and depression. Some of them express suicidal ideas and some have acted upon this. They endanger themselves and the rest of the crew and survivors and need to be evacuated as soon as possible.

Several already attempt suicide since 2 days and are now under medical watch. This morning there was also one medical emergency when one individual became unconscious. He is now being monitored closely in the ship hospital.

The medical team (1 MD, 2 nurses and 1 midwife) does not have the capacity to ensure the individual safety of the 44 survivors.

The weather conditions are worsening and if other people jump overboard we will not be able to safely launch our rescue boat without risking our crew and the lives of rescued people.

Please note the attached general medical report.

For the evacuation, the medical team recommends that there is manpower available to handle potentially agitated people.

Due to the necessity of urgent medical evacuation the Ocean Viking is Heading North East toward Pozzallo and we will be standing by for instructions.”

From: ITMRCC

To: Ocean Viking

CC: MTJRCC

“Sirs following your below email, as reported during your phone call with ITMAS at 0909 utc -and as you certainly know – Malta is the nearest port to evacuate the people who need urgent medevac.”

From: ITMRCC

To: MTJRCC

CC: Ocean Viking

“Following our previous e-mail, this MRCC informs RCC MALTA that at 1120UTC, M/V Ocean Viking called via satphone this MRCC reporting that the ship is sailing towards Pozzallo and not Malta (the nearest port) to evacuate 46 people for urgent MEDEVACs because RCC MALTA doesn’t respond to their calls. For any appropriate action, find attached the email from pv regarding urgent medevac request for 44 ppl due to psychological problems. Please note that at the moment of the first urgent medevac request, the ship was 25nm far from malta and 60nm from pozzallo”

From: Ocean Viking

To: ITMRCC

“Please be advised that we have repeatedly tried to contact RCC Malta and have had no response. As to our medevac request we have had no response from them and they do not even pick up the phone.”

As the situation on deck becomes uncontrollable and the safety of the survivors, crew and personnel can no longer be guaranteed, the Master of the Ocean Viking declares a State of Emergency over the vessel to request immediate support.

From: Ocean Viking

To: ITMRCC

CC: Flag state

“Following our phone conversation, I confirm that Ocean Viking is in no other position than to declare a state of emergency onboard.
 
Ocean Viking has had 180 survivors onboard for several days, including 46 highly psychological unstable individuals who are a risk at any moment to harm themselves, the crew or the vessel. The urgent request to evacuate those people has not led to a positive response yet and we are in no position to control the situation any further.

We are in a state of necessity to reach a port as early as possible. I request all your assistance on this matter.

As per the last call my answers are as follows:

Nature:
Serious psychological issues within some survivors
Continued actions to self harm themselves and aggressions between themselves and more and more threats and aggression towards the crew
6 suicide attempts
2 MOB
3 Stopped from jumping by crew
1 attempt to hang themselves
Situation has been an emergency since we have had no response from any RCC
Situation has been ongoing for hours
We have been alerting about the situation since yesterday as it continued to worsen and before it became an emergency
We proceeded North after there was no response from Malta for several days. They are no longer answering the telephone or they hang up on us and have not responded to any of our emails. We there for contact the next RCC able to assist.”

The Master of the Ocean Viking emails the Flag state authorities to inform of the critical situation on board. As advised by ITMRCC, the Master seeks advise from the Flag state since the request for an urgent medical evacuation has so far gone unanswered.

From: Ocean Viking
To: ITMRCC and Pozzallo Harbour Master
Cc: Norwegian Flag state

“After our conversation I am confirming that we will be in the position requested, to the East of the Vega platform and remaining in Intl waters 11h50 B.
I have spoken to the medical team onboard who have been screening the survivors twice daily as well our crew for symptoms of COVID 19, and I can state that there have been NO symptoms onboard. There was one suspected case that was medevaced to Lampedusa and he has since tested negative for COVID 19.
We will have our RHIB in the water to do transfer of your personnel, 2 pax, to Ocean Viking at 1nm from Ocean Viking.
We are standing by on VHF 16 for contact with CP 325.
We request that CP 325 remains 1nm from Ocean Viking unless there is an emergency. It would be best that they remain astern of Ocean Viking to be able to keep visual in case anyone jumps. Our RHIB, callsign Easy 1 will remain on standby under the instructions of Ocean Viking in case of emergencies.”

From: Ocean Viking
To: ITMRCC, Norwegian Embassy in Italy, French Embassy in Italy, CROSS
Cc: Gabinetto Esteri, Segretaria Capo di Gabinetto, Guardiacostiera

“Please be advised that the only reason that the transfer was postponed at 02h30LT was due to serious safety concerns and in full agreement with ITMRCC and Pozzallo Harbour master. This is fully in keeping with the ongoing emergency and is not contradictory to the ongoing situation. “

On behalf of Pozzallo Harbour Master, the port agent informs the Ocean Viking that it should head to position 36°30’N, Long. 014°39’E and wait for radio contact from the MV CP325. The ship is requested to keep 15 miles off Italian national waters and is not authorized to enter Italian territorial waters.

From: Ocean Viking
To: Pozzallo Harbour Master
Cc: ITMRCC, Catania Sezione Operativa, Prefettura Ragusa, Norwegian Flag

“Your medical team has been disembarked from Ocean Viking to CP325. The situation remains the same onboard as per our email updates from yesterday and this morning with the state of emergency still in place.
We thank you for your assistance and we hope a solution can be found for the survivors quickly.
Please thank the medical team, the crew of CP 325 and Pozzallo Harbour Masters office from the crew of Ocean Viking. “

In an email, the ITMRCC argues that the decision to postpone the transfer of an italian medical team onboard the Ocean Viking was not previously agreed with the ITMRCC.

From: Ocean Viking
To: Pozzallo Harbour Master
Cc: ITMRCC, Catania Sezione Operativa, Prefettura Ragusa, Norwegian Flag state

“After our conversation we would like to inform that weather conditions are getting worse in our current location. Currently F6. Any transfer between vessels would be risky for your personnel right now. We are able to find Shelter to the East of Sicily if requested and can move quickly as there is still the urgency.
We would also request that the crew be tested at he same time. While there are strict protocols in place the crew has been taking care of the survivors on deck and in the clinic constantly so there is added stress of the fear of possibly having something on the ship.
We are standing by.”

From: Norwegian JRCC  

To: ITMRCC 
CC: Ocean Viking

“1. JRCC has spoken to OCEAN VIKING concerning their situation. JRCC ask Master directly following :
a. Has OV at any time issued MAYDAY or activated the SSAS – Masters answer – Negative/No
b. Has OV at any time ask formally MRCC for medevac – Masters answer – Positive/Yes
c. Has OV asked for full medevac of all passenger or only those limited to psychological problem – Masters answer – Only limited number.
2. JRCC urge kindly MRCC to assist in medevac of limited number according to masters need.
3. JRCC considered only the aspect related to medevac iaw SOLAS/SAR Convention and understand the needs from OV to be of pure medical issue.
4. As a result of no medevac this JRCC understands the possible consequence could be a safety aspect – which could escalate to be an issue related to Law of Seas. This JRCC do not relates to this aspect as it falls outside the scope of JRCC responsibility.
5. OV position is in MRCC area of responsibility – As MRCC is already an appropriate RCC, this JRCC cannot assume any responsibility related to OV iaw IAMSAR Vol II 3.6.2 and 3.6.3. This JRCC can only kindly advice/ask MRCC to support request for medevac from OV according to Master needs.
Kind Regards”

From: Ocean Viking
To: Pozzallo Harbour Master
Cc: ITMRCC, Catania Sezione Operativa, Ragusa Prefecture, Norwegian Flag state

“The situation on board the Ocean Viking remains the same as it was since we declared the emergency on board.
There is still a large number of people suffering from psychological distress and who need to disembark as soon as possible.
We continue to thank you for your assistance and we will continue to up date with this email or any new developments as they happen.”

From: Ocean Viking
To: Pozzallo Harbour Master
Cc: ITMRCC, Catania Sezione Operativa, Ragusa Prefecture, Norwegian Flag state

Monitoring. 0450B Update 2
The situation on board the Ocean Viking remains the same as it was since we declared the emergency on board.
The survivors are currently sleeping or are being cared for by the medical team.
There is still a large number of people suffering from psychological distress and who need to disembark as soon as possible.
We continue to thank you for your assistance and we will continue to up date with this email or any new developments as they happen.
GPS Postion Lat. 36°-17.15 N Long. 015° -02.50 E

From: Ocean Viking
To: Pozzallo Harbour Master
Cc: ITMRCC, Catania Sezione Operativa, Ragusa Prefecture, Norwegian Flag

“The survivors are being informed that your medical team is arriving today. Our doctor is requesting that your medical team bring oral diazepam to the ship as we no longer have enough on board. We would need 500 dosages of 5mg.

We are standing by to receive your team like yesterday.”

From: Ocean Viking
To: ITMRCC, Pozzallo Harbour Master
Cc: Norwegian Flag

“After both calls from ITMRCC and Pozzallo HM, Ocean Viking is proceeding to Porto Empedocle where we will contact ITCG/HM on VHF for instructions for disembarkation of survivors. Our ETA is 08h00B
We are advising the survivors now so as to maintain calm and the medical team will continue to treat the cases that need to be cared for. A medical handover will be done upon arrival. “