OPERATION - 10-20 February 2022

On February 10, the Ocean Viking leaves the port of Trapani, Sicily.

On February 12, the Ocean Viking rescues 93 people from a wooden boat in distress in the Maltese Search and Rescue Region.

At 0:40 on February 13, Ocean Viking rescues 88 people from a wooden boat in distress in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region following an alert from Alarm Phone and two Mayday relays from an EU aircraft.

In the morning of February 13, Ocean Viking spotted a small wooden boat in distress in the Maltese Search and Rescue Region during the lookout from the Bridge. 22 people were rescued.

On February 13, the Ocean Viking conducted the fourth rescue within less than 24 hours. 25 people were rescued from a fiberglass boat in distress in the Maltese Search and Rescue Region.

On February 14, the Ocean Viking rescued 19 people from a fiberglass boat in distress in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region.

On February 18, the Ocean Viking received instructions to disembark the 247 survivors in Pozzallo, Sicily.

On February 19, the disembarkation process starts. 46 survivors are disembarked in Pozzallo, Sicily.

On February 20, the 2-day disembarkation process is complete. All 247 survivors have disembarked.

February 10, 2022

07:15 Ocean Viking departs from the anchorage position and starts sailing south.

RHIBs Easy 1, Easy 2 and Easy 3 are launched.

11:11 Ocean Viking recovers RHIBs and resumes navigation.

Ocean Viking launches RHIBs in position 38 15.9N 012 18.9E.

17:00 Drills complete, Ocean Viking recovers all RHIBs.

February 11, 2022

February 12, 2022

14:33 Ocean Viking receives an email from Alarm Phone alerting to a boat in distress in the Maltese SRR.
15:00 Ocean Viking calls MTRCC to ask for updates and state her readiness to render assistance. MTRCC informs Ocean Viking that “Duty Officer is busy” and to please reach them via email.
15:06 Ocean Viking emails MTRCC and ITMRCC informing that Ocean Viking intends to investigate the distress case.
16:36 Ocean Viking receives an email from Alarm Phone about a second boat in distress.
16:50 Ocean Viking has visual contact with a boat potentially in distress.
17:00 Ocean Viking informs MTRCC and ITMRCC via email that RHIBs will be launched to assess the distress case.
17:10 Ocean Viking launches 2 RHIBs to investigate the possible distress case.

Eagle 2 on VHF Channel 16 states: “MAYDAY RELAY, boat in distress at position 34 20N, 011 39E.”

17:35 Assessment with RHIBs shows the wooden boat is unseaworthy, overcrowded, people onboard do not have lifejackets, all are exposed to the elements. Distress phase exists.
17:39 Ocean Viking informs MTRCC and ITMRCC via email that Ocean Viking will provide immediate assistance.
17:40 Ocean Viking tries to call MTRCC via satellite phone, no answer.
17:45 Evacuation of people in distress from casualty vessel starts.
Latitude: 34.98583333
Longitude: 12.73388889
18:28 All RHIBs are recovered, Ocean Viking resumes navigation.
18:32 Ocean Viking informs MTRCC and ITMRCC of completion of rescue via email.
18:35 Airplane ‘EAGLE 2’ sends out a second MAYDAY relay for a boat in distress via VHF.

The Target is about 65NM away. ETA about 6h30m.

18:45 Ocean Viking calls MTRCC via satellite phone to report the distress case, MTRCC operator instructs Ocean Viking to call LYJRCC.
18:50 Ocean Viking calls LYRJCC, no answer.
18:56 Ocean Viking informs MTRCC, ITMRCC and LYJRCC via email of the distress situation.
22:50 Aicraft ‘EAGLE 2’ sends a third MAYDAY relay for the boat in distress via VHF.
23:54 Ocean Viking calls aircraft “Eagle 2” on VHF Channel 16 on scene to coordinate the search operation.

February 13, 2022

00:12 Ocean Viking calls LYJRCC, no answer.
00:30 Ocean Viking launches RHIBs to search for the boat in distress in the updated position shared by aircraft “EAGLE II”.
00:42 RHIBs establish visual contact with the boat in distress.
00:44 Ocean Viking informs MTRCC, LYJRCC and ITMRCC via email of location of the distress case.
00:50 RHIB assessment: unseaworthy wooden boat, overcrowded with approx. 100 people on board, no lifejackets, all exposed to the elements. Distress phase exists.
01:06 Ocean Viking emails MTRCC, LYJRCC and ITMRCC to inform of distress case.
01:07 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone to ITMRCC and MTRCC alerting to a third boat in distress.
Latitude: 34.25111111
Longitude: 11.63444444
02:40 Ocean Viking recovers RHIBs and resumes navigation.
03:09 Ocean Viking via email informs MTRCC, LYJRCC and ITMRCC of completion of rescue.
03:14 Ocean Viking alters course to proceed to the distress case Alarm Phone alerted to at 01:07.
03:20 Ocean Viking informs MTRCC and ITMRCC via email of the intention to proceed to the distress case.
07:45 Ocean Viking spots a wooden boat, possibly in distress, during lookout from the bridge. Ocean Viking launches 2 RHIBs to investigate.
07:55 Ocean Viking informs MTRCC with ITMRCC in copy via email of the potential distress case being investigated.
08:03 RHIB assessment shows the wooden boat is unseaworthy, overcrowded, with the freeboard very low above the water, all people onboard exposed to the elements. Aircraft “Colibri II” is on scene monitoring the distress case.
Latitude: 35.06777778
Longitude: 12.18444444
08:53 Ocean Viking receives an email from Pilotes Volontaires about a potential distress case requiring urgent assistance.
08:58 Ocean Viking alerts MTRCC via email, with ITMRCC in copy, of the distress alert.
09:07 Ocean Viking informs MTRCC via email, with ITMRCC in copy, that she altered course towards reported distress position.
10:15 Ocean Viking spots a boat in distress. Aircraft “Colibri II” is on scene monitoring the distress case.
10:25 Ocean Viking contacts MTRCC via Sat phone to report the distress case. MTRCC requests information to be sent by email.
10:30 Ocean Viking sends an email to MTRCC, with ITMRCC in copy, reporting the situation.

The fiberglass boat is unseaworthy, water is entering, occupants are seeking for help. Approx 30 people, no lifejackets, all exposed to the elements.

10:48 Ocean Viking contacts MTRCC via Sat phone to report the distress case. MTRCC requests information to be sent via email because “duty officer is busy”.
10:55 Ocean Viking sends an email to MTRCC, with ITMRCC in copy, alerting to the assessed distress case.
Latitude: 34.81916667
Longitude: 12.03388889
11:16 Ocean Viking informs MTRCC of the rescue completion via email, with ITMRCC in copy.
15:42 Ocean Viking sends a request for a Place of Safety via email to MTRCC with ITMRCC in copy for the 228 rescued people onboard.

February 14, 2022

10:13 Ocean Viking is alerted to a boat in distress via email from Alarm Phone.
11:04 Ocean Viking sends a second request for the designation of a Place of Safety for the 228 people rescued onboard, via email to MTRCC with ITMRCC in copy.

The reported distress position is approx 16NM from Ocean Viking.

11:38 Ocean Viking informs LYJRCC via email, with MTRCC and ITMRCC in copy, of her altered course towards the reported distress position.
11:53 Ocean Viking spots a boat in distress.
12:00 Ocean Viking informs LYJRCC of her visual on potential distress case via email, with MTRCC and ITMRCC in copy and on her intention to investigate further.

Ocean Viking assessed the situation with two RHIBs: the boat is unseaworthy, with about 20 people on board, no lifejackets and a pregnant women. All exposed to the elements. distress case exists.

12:13 Ocean Viking contacts LYJRCC via Sat phone to report the distress situation. No English speaker. LYJRCC requests information via email.
12:20 Ocean Viking informs LYJRCC of the distress case in need of urgent assistance via email, with MTRCC and ITMRCC in copy.
Latitude: 34.18333333
Longitude: 12.6
12:53 Ocean Viking informs LYJRCC of the rescue completion via email, with MTRCC and ITMRCC in copy.
16:40 Ocean Viking sends a request for a Place of Safety to LYJRCC with MTRCC and ITMRCC in copy.
17:29 MTRCC sends an email to Ocean Viking denying responsibility in the designation of a Place of Safety for the people rescued onboard Ocean Viking.

February 15, 2022

23:30 Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC, with LYJRCC and MTRCC in copy, requesting assistance in the designation of a Place of Safety for the 247 people rescued onboard Ocean Viking.

February 17, 2022

13:49 Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC, with MTRCC in copy, requesting assistance in the designation of a Place of Safety for the 247 people rescued onboard Ocean Viking.

February 18, 2022

12:09 Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC requesting assistance in finding a Place of Safety for the 247 people rescued onboard.
20:03 The Ocean Viking receives instructions to disembark survivors in Pozzallo, Sicily.

February 19, 2022

09:30 The Ocean Viking docks in Pozzallo, Sicily.
11:15 Disembarkation of the survivors starts.
18:10 The disembarkation process is suspended for the night. 46 survivors disembarked.

February 20, 2022

08:36 The disembarkation process resumes.
10:55 The disembarkation of 247 survivors in Pozzallo, Sicily, is completed.

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