OPERATION - 29 June - 14 July 2024

Ocean Viking completed the recovery operation of the persons in distress. 94 shipwrecked persons, as per initial headcount, have been safely brought on board MV Ocean Viking.  

The case matches the Alarm Phone distress call.

Two Libyan assets arrived on scene while the rescue operation was ongoing. Ocean Viking made two unsuccessful attempts to contact the two Libyan assets on VHF CH16.

At the end of rescue operation, the Libyan assets left the scene taking the empty wooden boat, blue color, in distress.

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 94 survivors (number to be confirmed) who are currently on board.

The email states the following:

Please note Ocean Viking is able to provide assistance, with its best ETA. 

Please inform this vessel of the SAR action plan for this SAR event and of any other vessel already engaged for rendering assistance to the case boat, with its best ETA.

While waiting for information from RCCs, in accordance with the duty to render assistance to any person in danger of being lost at sea, as stipulated by the relevant International Maritime Conventions Ocean Viking is responding to this distress alert and proceeding towards the case boat, ready to render assistance to persons in distress, in so far as such assistance can be rendered without serious danger to this ship, the crew or the passengers thereon, while keeping competent RCCs duly informed.

Ocean Viking will consider to be released from the obligation to render assistance once informed by the persons in distress or by the search and rescue service or by the master of another ship which has reached such persons that assistance is no longer necessary.

It is the intention of this vessel to then resume sea passage to the already assigned PoS and require the competent RCCs to provide updated instructions, where applicable.

 Ocean Viking will keep your RCC informed on the subject distress case and on the updated ETA to Marina di Carrara port.

The assessment:

The blue wooden boat is unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, overcrowded with about approx 20 people on board, all exposed to the elements, no Life Saving Appliances available. The boat is listing.

Ocean Viking informs that she has a visual of the boat in distress and confirms the distress phase after a Bridge assessment. Ocean Viking informs that her rescue boats are ready to provide a close assessment and to render assistance.

ITMRCC acknowledges the situation and informs Ocean Viking to proceed as the situation requires to guarantee the safety of the people in distress.

The email states:

The distress phase was confirmed by our rescue boats after they were launched. As per international maritime law and instructions from ITMRCC to proceed to render assistance if the distress phase was certain, our rescue boats completed the rescue operation.
While the rescue operation was being carried out, a Libyan Coast Guard asset arrived on scene. They reported coming from Zawiya. After reaching the Libyan Coast Guard asset on VHF CH16, Ocean Viking requested the Libyan Coast Guard asset, as competent authority (Onscene Coordinator), authorization to complete the rescue operation. Ocean Viking was granted green light to complete the rescue operation. As per our last call with ITMRCC, we will provide the VHF recording confirming the green light from the Libyan Coast Guard asset. The boat in distress, a blue wooden boat, was left adrift. Shortly after, the Libyan Coast Guard asset on scene set the boat in fire.