OPERATION - 11 - 22 March 2024

The distress case is discribed as a very overcrowded blue wooden boat with approx. 60 people on board and no lifesaving equipment.

Position: 34 01 N 012 23 E

The email is stating as follows: "Shipwreck people are claiming to be at sea for days, 1 person is unconscious. The boat has been found adrift."

2 persons are unconcous, many have fule burns.

The email states: "As per your phone request, we have attached a picture of the rubber boat in distress, found adrift.
The shipwreck people claimed to have left 7 days ago from Zawiya and on board there were more than 100 people.
We recovered 25 persons.
As they are all very weak these are the basic information we could ask.
Soon we will be able to send all the details for the MEDEVAC request."

Position of the distress case: 33 40.10N 012 36.33E

The email states: “distress case is adrift in position N 34 22,45 E 012 19,70 as the engine broke. SV Trotamar III starts the distribution of Life Jackets.”

The wooden boat is adrift, unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, overcrowded with about 100-120 people on board, all exposed to the elements. There is a heavy list on port side. 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.

The email states: “The wooden boat is adrift, double deck with about 70 to 100 people, SV Trotamar III is in the vicinity. SV Trotamar III has distributed the Lifejackets.”

Empty wooden boat, grey color, left adrift in this position and marked as “OV13032024”.
Ocean Viking in position 34 22N 012 19E.

Ocean Viking asks information about the Mayday Relay received from Sparow4 asking the authorization to proceed to the distress case for assessment. The duty Officer confirms the authorization to proceed in the area of distress but recalls to inform the competent SAR Libyan authorities for coordination. ITMRCC also asks Ocean Viking to keep them informed of the situation that will be developing.

Ocean Viking requests permission to assess the situation. The Duty Officer records the coordinates, and confirms that this case is still open and that he doesn’t have the competency to give to MV Ocean Viking the permission for the assessment and to call back in 15 minutes to have time to report this conversation to head office.

In the email Ocean Viking informs ITMRCC: “At 2240Z This vessel has contacted via sat phone JRCC Libya about the mayday relay sent via VHF from the Aircraft Sparrow4 (see previous email ‘MAYDAY RELAY FROM AIRCRAFT SPARROW 4’ at 1934Z). JRCC Libya replied that one of their patrol vessels was tasked on the distress case and was going there. MV Ocean Viking help was not necessary. MV Ocean Viking is proceeding towards assigned POS Ancona. ETA is 18th of March at 0500LT”.

Ocean Viking express the concern of the lack of coordination in the Libyan SRR. The Duty Officer replies giving his verbal authorization to proceed to the position indicate for an assessment and reminds Ocean Viking to constantly updated ITMRCC of the situation while informing the Libyan authoritys at the same time.

The email states: “Ocean Viking at 0040 UTC has been instructed by phone from this MRCC to proceed towards the last known position (33 40.10N 012 36.33E) of the mayday relay sent by ‘Sparrow 4’ yesterday at 1811 UTC. ETA to the position is 0800UTC. Please inform this vessel if you have any update for the case”.

Ocean Viking in position: 33 41.3 N 012 321E

The Italian authority give authorization to proceed on scene recalling that the competent authority for coordination is JRCC Libya. Italian authority asks to be informed of any updates.

The distress case is a green rubber boat really overcrowded with about 100 people on board, no life saving appliances, people sitting on the sponsons. 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.

The email states: the green rubber boat is overcrowded, there is fuel smell, deformed structure, unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, overcrowded with about 100 people on board, including children, women, very agitated crowd, all exposed to the elements, no Life Saving Appliances available. These people are requesting to be rescued.

The 3 RHIBS are about to complete the transfer of the shipwrecked people from the RHIBs onto the Ocean Viking.

Empty rubber boat, green colour, left adrift in this position, no marks.

Patrol Vessel 658 replied that the message was received, not further communication.

Ocean Viking in position 34 22N 012 19E

135 shipwrecked persons have been safely brought on board Ocean Viking, among them children, women, and a pregnant woman.
Empty wooden boat, blue color, left adrift in this position and marked