OPERATION - 11 January-24 February 2021

Ocean Viking left the port of Marseille, France, on January 11, after the crew underwent a 10-day quarantine and got tested for COVID-19 several times prior to the departure.

After a week of transit south and intensive drilling, the ship started her search activity on January 17.

On January 21, the Ocean Viking rescued 119 people from a rubber boat in distress, 37NM off the Libyan coast. On January 22, the vessel rescued further 148 people from two rubber boats in distress, 37 NM off the coast and later on the same day, a fourth rubber boat in distress was spotted and 106 people rescued at nightfall 28 NM off the Libyan coast.

On January 23, the Italian Coastguard performed the medical evacuation of an 8-month pregnant lady from the ship, which remains in International waters, waiting for a place of safety to be promptly assigned for the remaining 373 survivors.

On January 24, the Ocean Viking was assigned Augusta, Italy, as place of safety for the survivors onboard. On January 25 and 26, all survivors disembarked in Augusta.

On February 2nd, the Ocean Viking left the port of Augusta, Sicily, to resume her lifesaving mission in the central Mediterranean.

On February 4, the Ocean Viking rescued 121 people from a rubber boat in distress 30 NM off the Libyan coast in the early morning, and rescued 116 people from a second second rubber boat in distress, few hours later.

On February 5, in the morning, the Ocean Viking rescued 70 people from a rubber boat in distress 40 NM off the Libyan coast and 116 people from a second rubber boat in distress within a few hours.

On February 6, a pregnant patient was evacuated from the Ocean Viking via an Armed Forces of Malta helicopter, with her partner.

On February 7, the Ocean Viking is designated Augusta, Sicily as place of safety for the disembarkation of the survivors onboard.

On February 8 and 9, all survivors were disembarked in Augusta, Sicily after being tested for Covid-19 by Italian health authorities.

On February 8, the Ocean Viking is notified of the start of a 14-day quarantine as requested by the Italian health authorities (USMAF) for the ship and crew in the port of Augusta.

On February 24, Ocean Viking is granted free-pratique.

Rescue Recap2_22012021

Rescue Recap1_04022021

February 5, 2021

Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC, with ITMRCC, MTJRCC, Alarm Phone and Pilotes Volontaires airborne operations in copy, informing that the rubber boat is extremely overcrowded, with people sitting on sponsons. Women and children are among the survivors. Ocean Viking informs that she will provide immediate assistance to the people in distress and rescue them without delay.

Ocean Viking position: 33°30.9’N 014°06.5’E

10:47 Life jacket distribution starts.

Ocean Viking position: 33 32.7N 014 05.5E

Latitude: 33.327
Longitude: 14.055

Ocean Viking send an email to LYJRCC, with ITMRCC, MTJRCC, Pilotes Volontaires and Alarm Phone in copy, informing about the rescue completion. Women and children are among the survivors.

Ocean Viking position: 33 32.7N 014 05.5E

Ocean Viking resumes patrol in the Eastern Libyan Search and Rescue Region.

Ocean Viking (position: 33 31.7N 014 09.9E) sends an email to LYJRCC with ITMRCC, MTJRCC and Frontex in copy, informing that the Bridge overheard a distress alert on the VHF, talking about ‘migrants in danger’. Ocean Viking informs that the Bridge called the LYJRCC but the duty officer was not aware of the distress alert and tried to establish contact with the Libyan coastguard to no avail.

Reported position: 33 25N 014 47E (35NM from Ocean Viking’s position)

Ocean Viking sends an email addressed to the LYJRCC, with ITMRCC and MTJRCC in copy providing the Maritime Incident Report of the last two rescue operations and asking for a place of safety for all the survivors on board. Among the survivors are 5 pregnant women, 7 babies between 0 and 4 years old, 46 children between 5 and 15 years old and 30 single women. A total of 124 minors are unaccompanied.

Ocean Viking position: 33 25.48N 014 48.08E

Subject: Ocean Viking – PoS Request

Dear Sirs,

As you are aware Ocean Viking conducted 4 rescue operations in the Libyan SRR:

* Rubber boat rescue, feb 4th (am): 121 pax

* Rubber boat rescue, feb 4th (pm): 116 pax

* Rubber boat rescue, feb 5th (am): 71 pax

* Rubber boat rescue, feb 5th (pm): 116 pax

Currently, we have a total of 424 rescued people on board.

The 424 rescued people on board the Ocean Viking include 5 pregnant women, 7 babies between 0 and 4 years old, 46 children between 5 and 15 years old and 30 single females travellers.

The complete breakdown can be found in the Maritime Incident Reports that were copied to you in previous correspondence with Tripoli JRCC.

We would kindly request your assistance in finding a place of safety and facilitate a prompt disembarkation of all 424 survivors.

We understand that the 424 survivors on board MV Ocean Viking were rescued in a sea area that is outside of the SRRs of Italy and Malta, hence not under primary responsibility of IT MRCC and RCC Malta. However, please note that Ocean Viking has already exhausted the steps in relation to the competent authorities of the Libyan SRR, without any answer.

While waiting for further instructions from you or those RCC you would consider able to assist, Ocean Viking is Heading north.

Ocean Viking is in position 33 47.2N 014 35.2E COG 318 SOG 10.7Kts at 1903Z.

February 6, 2021

Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC and MTJRCC requesting an urgent medical evacuation for a pregnant woman in a critical health condition requiring intensive care. A family member being on board, Ocean Viking also requests that he accompanies the survivor.

A pregnant patient requiring intensive care is evacuated from Ocean Viking via an Armed Forces of Malta helicopter with her partner. Ocean Viking in position 35 40.16N 013 30.75E

Ocean Viking sends an email to MTJRCC informing of the completion of the medevac.

February 7, 2021

12:56 Italian MRCC informs Ocean Viking by phone of the designation of Augusta, Sicily, as a Place of Safety.

19:32 Ocean Viking drops anchor in the harbour of Augusta, Sicily.

February 8, 2021

15:00 Ocean Viking is notified of the start of a 14-day quarantine as requested by USMAF health authorities for the ship and crew in the port of Augusta.

Prior to disembarkation, ASP (Italian health authority) performed Rapid Tests for Covid-19 on all survivors onboard Ocean Viking. 49 positive cases to Covid-19 were identified. All positive cases were tested a second time with PCR tests. These second tests confirmed 48 positive cases.

78 survivors remain onboard Ocean Viking.

February 9, 2021

13:36 The disembarkation of all survivors onboard Ocean Viking is complete.

February 24, 2021

09:50 Ocean Viking is granted ‘Free Pratique’ by health authorities.