OPERATION - 25-30 December 2023

07:17 Ocean Viking leaves the port of Syracuse.

00:45 Whilst in the Libyan SRR in position 33 30 N 012 37 E, Ocean Viking receives a distress alert by VHF16 from asset identified as LYCG first and then with no identification stating to a boat in distress.

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.

01:06 Ocean Viking calls via Sat Phone Tripoli JRCC. No Answer.

01:17 Ocean Viking contacts via email Tripoli to update on the distress situation and inform Ocean Viking RHIBs are being launched for closer assessment.

01:31 Ocean Viking has 3 RHIBs launched and receives a new VHF 16 call from asset identifying as Libyan Coast Guard stating: “the boat in distress is in 33 32 N 012 36 E, my rubber boat does not work please make the rescue”. Ocean Viking proceeding towards the said position at 1,4 NM away.

01:50 Ocean Viking contacts via email Tripoli to update about the situation.

02:20 Ocean Viking RHIBs in position 33 34 N 012 34 E assesses the situation: there is Patrol Vessel from LYCG engaging on VHF16 asking Ocean Viking to perform the rescue. The assessment on scene is that there is a wooden boat, unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, very overcrowded with approximately 120 persons onboard, no Life Saving Appliances available. These people are requesting to be rescued.

It is ascertained that the distress phase exists and as instructed by the LYCG Patrol Vessel, 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 Ocean Viking will proceed to the assistance of these persons in distress, while keeping competent RCCs duly informed.

03:40 Ocean Viking completes the recovery operation of the persons in distress. 122 shipwrecked persons have been safely brought on board Ocean Viking. Empty wooden boat left adrift in this position, LYCG patrol vessel still on scene and in its vicinity.

Ocean Viking in position 33 35 N 012 33 E.

03:40 Ocean Viking emails Tripoli to inform about the recovery operation being completed. Ocean Viking is requesting a Place of Safety.

As defined in the Annex to the 1979 SAR Convention, paragraph 1.3.2 and in the IMO Resolution MSC.167(78) to promptly disembark all 122 survivors who are currently on board.

09:00 The Italian authorities assign Bari as a Place of Safety.

11:35 While proceeding to Bari, Ocean Viking bridge have visual contact with an overcrowded blue wooden boat which seems unseaworthy and inapt for navigation in high seas. Apprehension exists as to the safety of the persons on board.

11:44 Ocean Viking calls via SatPhone ITMRCC to report the situation. Duty officer copies the information and authorizes Ocean Viking to lower its RHIBs for closer assessment. Also requests to send this information by email.

12:03 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC following the Sat Call.

12:10 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Pilotes Volontaires about a wooden boat in distress in position 33°53’N12°47’E at 10:48 UTC.

12:15 Ocean Viking RHIBs assess the situation: the wooden boat is unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, overcrowded with about 80 people on board, including children, women, all exposed to the elements, no Life Saving Appliances available. We believe this distress cases also matches open Distress case 271223DCPV01 from Colibri 2 aircraft- Pilotes Volontaires.

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.

12:18 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC via Sat phone informs the Officer on Duty. Ocean Viking receives authorization to proceed with the rescue. Duty officer requests to send this update by email.

12:28 Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC with the information about the assessment and the instruction to proceed with the rescue.

13:24 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Pilotes Volontaires alerting to a boat in distress in position 34°09’N 12°52’E at 11:57 UTC.

13:28 Ocean Viking completes the recovery operation of the persons in distress. 106 shipwrecked persons have been safely brought on board Ocean Viking.

Ocean Viking in position 33 56 N 012 46 E.

13:29 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC via SatPhone to update on recovery and request permission to proceed with Rhibs in the water for further assessment of open Distress case 271223DCPV02, 12NM away from current Ocean Viking position. Duty officer copies the information and gives authorization to proceed with RHIBs in the water for further assessment and send an email with this information.

13:47 Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC to inform that Ocean Viking completed the recovery operation of the persons in distress. 106 shipwrecked persons have been safely brought on board Ocean Viking. Also to inform, as requested by the RCC, that Ocean Viking is proceeding towards open Distress case 271223DCPV02 for further assessment.

14:45 Ocean Viking RHIBs assessed the situation: the fiberglass boat is unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, with about 16 people on board, 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.

14:49 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC via SatPhone to relay the assessment. Duty officer copies the assessment and authorized to proceed with the rescue and requests to send an email.

15:06 Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC with all the information requested.

15:40 Ocean Viking completes the recovery operation of the persons in distress. 16 shipwrecked persons have been safely brought on board Ocean Viking.

Ocean Viking in position 34 11 N 012 50 E

Latitude: 34.11
Longitude: 012.50

15:43 Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC to inform about the recovery operation of the persons in distress and to inform Ocean Viking is resuming its course towards assigned Place of Safety Bari to disembark the 244 survivors currently onboard.

12:50 Ocean Viking moors in the port of Bari.

13:08 The disembarkation of 244 survivors in the port of Bari begins.

17:10 The disembarkation of 244 survivors in the port of Bari is complete.