OPERATION - 25-30 June 2023 - SOS MEDITERRANEE

SITUATION RECAP

All times are in UTC +2.

On June 25, Ocean Viking leaves the port of Syracuse, Sicily.

On June 27, Ocean Viking evacuates 86 persons from a blue rubber boat in distress. Shortly after, ITMRCC designates Bari, Italy, as a place of safety.

On June 30, Ocean Viking completes the disembarkation of all 86 survivors in the port of Bari, Italy.

June 25, 2023

12:50 Ocean Viking leaves the port of Syracuse for Rhibs trainings.

Ocean Viking position: 37 08N 015 37E

17:52 Ocean Viking receives an email from Alarm Phone, previously sent to relevant authorities, alerting to a rubber boat in distress.

19:42 End of drills. All Rhibs are recovered on Ocean Viking.

Alarm Phone hasn’t received any new information.

June 26, 2023

The officer on duty answers that the distress case is in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region and instructs Ocean Viking to send an email with all the information in our possession.

Ocean Viking reports that at 0601Z in position 35 18N 015 40E, the Bridge called ITMRCC by phone, asking for information about the distress case AP0923 as there are the two vessels, NISSOS PAROS and MAERSK VALLETTA, standing by in position 34.26N 017.64E, and that during the call ITMRCC instructed to send an email.

“Please find below all information about DC 949:

in position 3412 / 01744 at 0742UTC
white fiber glass boat
apx. 25 people on board
stationary
one outboard engine
no life saving equipment
people are waving in distress
The merchant vessel NISSOS PAROS (MMSI 241212000), as well as merchant vessel MEARSK VALETTA (MMSI 563154500) are in vicinity and are both approximately 3-5nm away from the people in distress.”

The Greek company “Kyklades Mar” says that MV Maersk Valletta was the first to arrive on-scene, following a call from a Frontex Airplane and that Maersk Valletta is in charge of the distress case. The Greek duty officer adds that MV Maersk Valletta had also been contacted by the Libyan Coastguard who reportedly said they will send a patrol vessel from Bengazi, adding that the weather was good and the people onboard the boat in distress were not in danger for the moment. The Kyklades Mar Greek duty officer explains that in the meantime, ITMRCC took charge of the distress case. Finally, he offers their disponibility for any information.

11:13 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli. No answer.

Ocean Viking is about 100NM away from the AP923 coordinates.

Ocean Viking explains that it appears that two Merchant vessels (NISSOS PAROS and Maersk Valletta) are sheltering the potential distress case in position 34.26N 017.64E (Libyan SRR). The Ocean Viking is about 100NM from the position and able to assist if needed.

The duty officer speaks arabic. Ocean Viking provides an interpretor. The duty officer doesn’t provide clear answer, only saying that the Libyan Coastguard is informed of the distress case and asking to call later.

12:19 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC via phone. No answer.

12:20 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC via phone. No duty officer is available.

The duty officer confirms that ITMRCC is informed of the distress case AP0923, reiterates that this case is in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region and that they cannot share any information.

MV Nisso Paros affirms that ITMRCC has the command of the rescue operation and that JRCC Tripoli might be sending a rescue vessel. MV Nissos is standing close to the boat in distress.

13:53 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli. No answer.

13:56 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli. The phone number is inactive.

13:57 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli. No answer.

13:59 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli. No answer.

JRCC Tripoli does not share any update.

Ocean Viking confirms the reported distress position to be 34 12N 017 44E @0744Z.

15:15 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli. No answer.

15:17 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli. No answer.

15:18 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli. No answer.

15:19 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli. No answer.

15:21 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli. No answer.

15:22 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli. No answer.

15:23 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli. No answer.

The duty officer asks again for the coordinates of distress case. He affirms that they are from the Western area of the Libyan Search and Rescue Region (SRR) and that they do not have any coordination plan for the distress case at moment with the Eastern sector of the Libyan SRR.

15:32 MV Nissos Paros calls Ocean Viking via phone, informing that ITMRCC instructed MV Maersk Valletta to perform the rescue of the boat in distress.

16:36 MV Nissos Paros calls Ocean Viking to inform that all shipwrecked people have been safely evacuated from the boat in distress and recovered on board MV Maersk Valletta approximately 20 minutes earlier.

19:24 Frontex replies to Ocean Viking’message by email informing that Frontex has relayed the information to the Italian and Maltese authorities.

Ocean Viking position: 34 35N 015 58E

22:35 Ocean Viking ends the night drill and resumes navigation.

June 27, 2023

APCase 0932 – with the following information: Number of people: about 80 GPS-position with timestamp: 33°31’10.83, 013°54’32.7 12:29 CEST, rubber boat”There is a reasonable certainty that the persons on board are threatened by grave and imminent danger of being lost at sea and require immediate assistance.

Ocean Viking position: 34 12N 013 49E

13:04 MV Ocean Viking emails Tripoli JRCC (ITMRCC and MTRCC in copy) to report the reception of a distress alert and to inform that MV Ocean Viking is proceeding towards the target (about 40 Nm away) ready to provide first assistance.

New reported distress position: 33 33.32N 013 53.58E

13:38 MV Ocean Viking emails Tripoli JRCC (ITMRCC and MTRCC in copy) to report the situation.

Updated distress position: N33°35 008, E013°53 1419 @13:44 CEST

Updated distress position: 33 36N 013 52E

Reported information on the boat in distress: overcrowded rubber boat, stationary, about 100 people, no lifesaving appliances.

15:03 Libyan Coastguard calls Ocean Viking on VHF Channel 16 several times. They never answer to Ocean Viking’s acknowledgement.

“Our aircraft Seabird 2 spotted a distress case, which we assigned the number DC 951. We assume this case to match the case AP932, reported by Watch the Med – Alarmphone.
Please find below all information about DC 951:

in position 33d36mN 013d52mE at 1242 UTC
blue rubber boat
apx. 100 people on board
adrift
the boat is highly overcrowded and people are sitting on the tubes
tubes are slightly deflated
no life vests
the boat is in no condition to reach a port independently
Please note that Seabird2 overheard that aircraft EAGLE2 issued a MayDay Relay at 1114 UTC for a blue RB in distress with 100 PoB, in position 3333/01353. We assume that this is the same case DC951.”

15:15 Libyan Coastguard calls Ocean Viking on VHF Channel 16 several times. They do not answer Ocean Viking’s acknowledgement.

Updated distress position: 33 37 207, 013 53 1431 at 14:59 CEST 27.6.23

The Libyan CoastGuard patrol vessel is approaching at distance.

15:50 Ocean Viking has a visual on the boat in distress.

The 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 the distress phase exists as the persons on board are threatened by grave and imminent danger of being lost and require immediate assistance. MV Ocean Viking will proceed to the assistance of these persons in distress, while keeping competent RCCs duly informed.

15:59 Ocean Viking RHIBs are being launched at sea.

16:11 A Libyan patrol vessel approachs at distance, calling Ocean Viking on VHF Channel 16. Ocean Viking replies to the call but the communication is unclear. The patrol vessel remains at about 4nm from the rescue scene.

Rescue position: 33 40N 013 52E

Latitude: 33.66666
Longitude: 13.86666

Blue rubber boat marked “AP932 27 06 23” and left adrift/destroyed in position 33 40N 013 52E.

Rescue position: 33 40N 013 52E

16:35 Ocean Viking emails Tripoli JRCC, with ITMRCC and MTRCC in copy, informing that Ocean Viking completed the recovery operation of the persons in distress.

17:34 Ocean Viking receives an email from ITMRCC designating Bari as Place of Safety to disembark the 86 survivors onboard Ocean Viking.

18:57 Ocean Viking replies by email to ITMRCC and provides requested information.

June 28, 2023

10:30 Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC updating information on the ETA to Bari and the survivors’ situation onboard.

June 30, 2023

14:42 Ocean Viking is moored in the port of Bari.

16:55 The disembarkation of all 86 survivors is completed in the port of Bari, Italy.