OPERATION - 5-25 December 2021

On December 5, the Ocean Viking leaves the port of Marseille. After performing some rescue drills on her way south, the Ocean Viking has to seek Shelter in the port of Syracuse, Italy, on December 9 due to bad weather conditions.

On December 13, the Ocean Viking leaves the port of Syracuse.

On December 16, the Ocean Viking rescues 114 people from a rubber boat in distress in the International waters of the Libyan Search and Rescue Region (SRR).

On December 17, after a 23h-search of a boat in distress and no coordination from the authorities, Ocean Viking is informed that the boat has been intercepted by the Libyan Coast Guard.

On December 24, after seven requests for a place of safety, Ocean Viking is instructed to proceed to Trapani, Italy, to disembark the 114 survivors.

On December 25, the disembarkation of the 114 survivors is completed.

December 5, 2021

16:21 Ocean Viking leaves the port of Marseille, France

December 6, 2021

In position 43°35,7N 007°36,0E, Ocean Viking launches RHIBs Easy 1 and Easy 2 to perform drills at sea.

12:00 Ocean Viking recovers RHIBs.

14:10 Ocean Viking resumes drills at sea.

17:00 Ocean Viking completes drills and recovers RHIBs.

December 7, 2021

Ocean Viking stops in position 42°27’2 N 009°45’0 E to launch RHIBs.

16:44 Ocean Viking completes drills and recovers RHIBs.

December 9, 2021

18:09 Ocean Viking is berthed in Syracuse, Italy.

December 13, 2021

13:05 Ocean Viking leaves the port of Syracuse.

Ocean Viking stops in position 36°09.77′ N / 15°10.61′ E to launch RHIBs to perform drills.

20:46 Drill completed.

December 15, 2021

Whilst in the Libyan SRR in position 33 29.15N / 013 03.1E, Ocean Viking receives an email sent by Alarm Phone to the Libyan JRCC, with Ocean Viking and Geo Barents in copy, informing of a distress call received from a boat in position 33 16N 012 20E.

Ocean Viking acknowledges the message by email and informs about the intention to proceed towards the Target (located 39NM away) and assist.

19:31 Geo Barents acknowledges the message by email and informs about the intention to proceed towards the target (located 11NM away).

20:47 Geo Barents reports by email to be in position and starts a search pattern.

23:00 Ocean Viking starts a search pattern.

December 16, 2021

03:03 Geo Barents informs that the area has been searched and the boat reported in distress was not found. Geo Barents resumes navigation.

03:36 Ocean Viking informs that she is resuming navigation. New positions of the boat in distress are received from Alarm Phone.

04:28 Ocean Viking informs that she is proceeding towards the last known position of the boat in distress.

06:00 Ocean Viking in position 33 21.4N / 12 21.3E has visual contact with the rubber boat in distress and launches RHIBs.

RHIBs are launched. The rubber boat is overcrowded, with about 100 people on board, no lifejackets, all occupants are exposed to the elements with worsening weather and Sea state conditions. Ocean Viking crew assesses a case of distress: the boat and its occupants are threatened by grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance. lifejacket distribution starts.

The Libyan Coastguard vessel 638 is on scene.

06:44 Ocean Viking is in VHF contact with the Libyan coastguard on scene. Libyan coastguard vessel remains on standby during the rescue.

06:54 Ocean Viking’s RHIBs start the evacuation of survivors to the Ocean Viking.

Latitude: 33.351944
Longitude: 12.367778

07:36 Ocean Viking informs by email JRCC Tripoli about the completion of the rescue.

08:00 Ocean Viking resumes navigation and waits for further instructions.

10:24 Ocean Viking sends a Maritime Incident Report and request for a Place of Safety to LYJRCC with ITMRCC and MTRCC in copy.

Whilst in the Libyan SRR in position 33 17,1 N 012 42,0 E, Ocean Viking receives an email sent by Alarm Phone to the Libyan JRCC, with Ocean Viking in copy, informing of a distress call received from a boat in position N 33.323 120; E 013.927.

13:00 Ocean Viking acknowledges the message and proceeds towards the boat in distress. Ocean Viking tried to call JRCC Tripoli three times to get information on the case, to no avail.

17:06 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli, no answer.

17:18 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC to get information from an airplane with AIS SART signal circling above the estimated position of the boat in distress. No information is given.

17:31 Ocean Viking informs JRCC Tripoli and ITMRCC by email, with ITMRCC and RCC Malta in copy, that she tried to call four more times JRCC Tripoli to have information on the distress case, to no avail.

17:41 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone to JRCC Tripoli with an updated position of the boat in distress.

19:45 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli, duty officer not available.

19:56 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli, with ITMRCC and RCC Malta in copy, requesting information on the case, to no avail.

20:40 Ocean Viking calls RCC Malta, no information is given.

December 17, 2021

06:23 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli, no answer.

06:25 Ocean Viking calls RCC Malta, no answer.

06:38 Ocean Viking sends an email to JRCC Tripoli, with ITMRCC and RCC Malta in copy, requesting for urgent aerial assistance to find the boat in distress, to no avail.

08:31 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli. One Arabic speaker answers, no information given.

08:36 Ocean Viking calls RCC Malta, no answer.

08:42 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC, no information given, refers to JRCC Tripoli.

09:44 Ocean Viking calls RCC Malta, no answer.

09:48 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli, no answer.

10:09 Ocean Viking calls RCC Malta, no answer.

11:06 Ocean Viking receives an email from Alarm Phone informing that the boat in distress has been intercepted by the LCG yesterday evening at 18:00.

11:12 Ocean Viking resumes navigation.