OPERATION - 13 September - 5 October 2021

On September 13, Ocean Viking leaves the port of Marseille.

On September 18, Ocean Viking rescues 25 people in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region and sends a subsequent request for a place of safety to maritime authorities.

On September 19 morning, Ocean Viking rescues 33 people in distress in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region. In the evening, Ocean Viking rescues 58 people in distress in the Maltese Search and Rescue Region. Ocean Viking sends two requests for a place of safety to maritime authorities.

On September 20, Ocean Viking conducts a night rescue of 13 people in the early morning. In the morning, 2 persons were medically evacuated from the Ocean Viking by the Italian coastguard with 4 family members. Ocean Viking sends a fourth request for a place of safety for the remaining 123 survivors onboard.

On September 21, Ocean Vking sends a fifth request for a place of safety for the 123 survivors onboard.

On September 23, at midday one person is medically evacuated from the Ocean Viking by the Italian coastguard. Following the medevac, Ocean Viking sends a sixth request for a place of safety for the remaining 122 survivors onboard. On the evening, Ocean Viking receives the instructions from ITMRCC to disembark the 122 survivors in Augusta, Italy.

On September 24, Ocean Viking arrives in the port of Augusta.

On September 25, all the 122 remaining survivors disembark from Ocean Viking. Crew is notified of a 10-day quarantine ordered by Italian health authorities.

On October 5, Ocean Viking leaves the port of Augusta to sail towards Naples, Italy, to enter a shipyard.

September 13, 2021

13:20 Ocean Viking leaves the port of Marseille, France.

September 14, 2021

Ocean Viking stops in position 41 35.5’N 007 52.2′ E to launch RHIBs to perform drills at sea.

11:25 All RHIBs recovered. Training completed.

Ocean Viking stops in position 41 36.0’N 007 51.0’E to launch RHIBs to perform drills at sea.

17:10 All RHIBs recovered. Ocean Viking resumes navigation.

September 15, 2021

Ocean Viking stops in position 39 46.8’N 010 49.7’E to launch RHIBs to perform drills at sea.

16:40 All RHIBs recovered. Ocean Viking resumes navigation.

September 16, 2021

Ocean Viking stops in position 35 51.8’N 013 17.0’E to launch RHIBs to perform night drills at sea.

21:35 All RHIBs recovered. Training complete. Ocean Viking resumes navigation.

September 18, 2021

The boat is reported to carry approximately 20 people onboard.

Reported distress position: 33 20N 012 15E (at 10.25 CEST)

Ocean Viking position: 34 19.2N 012 26.9E (ETA approx. 11:30 to the distress case).

10:32 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli via Satellite Phone to report the distress case. JRCC Tripoli does not answer the phone.
10:56 Ocean Viking receives an email from Pilotes Volontaires (addressed to MT RCC and IT MRCC) requesting assistance for a boat in distress, same distress case reported by Seabird.
10:58 Ocean Viking informs JRCC Tripoli via email (in copy MT RCC and IT MRCC) of her proceeding towards the distress position.

Ocean Viking position 33 21.4 N 012 21.6 E

“At 09:00UTC Ocean Viking has a visual contact with a wooden boat blue color in the water, possibly in distress.
Ocean Viking is going to launch our RHIBs and assess the situation.”

Ocean Viking in position 33 24.0 N 012 17.3 E

Position of the wooden boat in distress: 33 24.8 N 012 16.5 E

11:55 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli via Satellite Phone to report the situation. JRCC Tripoli does not answer the phone.
11:56 Rescue of the wooden boat in distress starts.

“We are informing you that at 09:45Z we assessed the situation with 2 RHIBs: the wooden boat is unseaworthy, overcrowded, with about 20 people on board, few lifejackets, children, women and a new born: all exposed to the elements. The people on board are in danger and I have ascertained that the distress phase exists.” […] “Therefore, I inform you that M/V Ocean Viking will provide immediate assistance to these people in distress and rescue them without delay.”

Latitude: 33.40222
Longitude: 12.26806
12:33 All RHIBs recovered on board Ocean Viking. Rescue operation completed. Ocean Viking resumes navigation.
12:35 Ocean Viking sends an email to JRCC Tripoli (with ITMRCC and RCC Malta in copy) to report completion of rescue operation.

Ocean Viking sends a Maritime Incident Report to LYJRCC via email, with ITMRCCMTJRCC in copy, requesting a place of safety for the 25 rescued persons onboard.

September 19, 2021

Ocean Viking in position 33 32.4N 011 56.6E.

Ocean Viking in position 33 32.2N 011 55.7E, distress case at about 2 NM away.

07:31 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli via Satellite Phone to inform about the distress case. JRCC Tripoli does not answer the phone
07:40 Ocean Viking sends a situation report about the distress case to JRCC Tripoli (with ITMRCC and RCC Malta in copy).
07:41 Ocean Viking launches RHIBs Easy 1 and Easy 2 in the water to assess the distress case.

Among the people in distress are women and children, all exposed to the elements. The people on board are in danger and it is ascertained that the boat is in distress.

07:50 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli via Satellite Phone to report the situation. JRCC Tripoli does not answer the phone.
07:56 Ocean Viking informs JRCC Tripoli (with ITMRCC and RCC Malta in copy) that the assessed wooden boat requires immediate assistance.
07:58 Rescue of the wooden boat in distress starts.
Latitude: 33.53361
Longitude: 11.9175
08:40 All RHIBs recovered on board Ocean Viking. Rescue operation completed. Ocean Viking resumes navigation.
08:55 Ocean Viking sends an email to JRCC Tripoli (with ITMRCC and RCC Malta in copy) to report completion of rescue operation.

“Reported position of the distress case: 33°35’N 112°28’E as of 07:52Z. Wooden boat with approx. 50 persons on board.
Urgent assistance required: potential distress case, may need assistance at any time.”

Ocean Viking in position 33 31.8 N 011 55.3 E

“Reported position of the boat in distress: 33°34’N / 12°28’E as of 07:55Z. Wooden boat with approx. 20 persons on board. Urgent assistance required: potential distress case, may need assistance at any time.”

Ocean Viking in position 33 31.8 N 011 55.3 E

Two boats reported in distress are about 15NM away from Ocean Viking.

10:20 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli via Satellite Phone to report the situation. JRCC Tripoli does not answer the phone.
10:31 Ocean Viking sends an email to JRCC Tripoli, with ITMRCC and RCC Malta in copy, to inform that she is heading to the last reported position of the two distress cases.

Patrol Boat 656 calls Ocean Viking on VHF Channel 16 to inform that they are the OSC and they will take care about the two cases; Ocean Viking informs the Patrol Boat 656 that she is able to provide assistance and medical support in case of need.

Ocean Viking reminds to Patrol Boat 656 that she is able to provide assistance and medical support in case of need. After completing the interception of the first wooden boat, the LCG Patrol Boat is observed Heading at high speed towards the second wooden boat.

Ocean Viking in position 33 36.8 N 012 26.0 E

Ocean Viking alters her Course, Heading to the second distress case.

Ocean Viking in position 33 38.7 N 012 26.4 E

Ocean Viking in position 33 39.2 N 012 26.6 E

Ocean Viking sends a Maritime Incident Report to LYJRCC via email, with ITMRCCMTJRCC in copy, requesting a place of safety for the 58 rescued persons onboard.

Ocean Viking in position: 34 08.5 N 012 33.0 E, boat in distress in position in position: 34 47.9 N 012 30.5 E

Ocean Viking in position: 34 36 N 012 32 E (12 NM from the boat reported in distress).

Ocean Viking in position 34 38.7 N 012 32.0 E

Ocean Viking in position 34 46.4 N 012 30.5 E

There is about 60 people on board, among children and women, with no lifejackets and all exposed to the elements. It is ascertained that the boat is in distress.

19:54 Ocean Viking calls RCC Malta via Satellite Phone to report the situation. RCC Malta does not answer the phone.
20:10 Rescue of the wooden boat in distress starts.
20:20 Ocean Viking sends an email to RCC Malta to report the situation.

Ocean Viking in position 34 47.2 N 012 30.0 E

Latitude: 34.78389
Longitude: 12.5
20:51 Ocean Viking calls RCC Malta via Satellite Phone to update the situation. RCC Malta does not answer the phone.

Ocean Viking in position 34 47.0 N 012 29.6 E

Ocean Viking in position: 34 50 N 012 32 E

Ocean Viking sends a Maritime Incident Report to MTJRCC via email, with ITMRCC and LYJRCC in copy, requesting a place of safety for the 116 rescued persons onboard.

DEAR MASTER, WE RECIVED YOUR MESSAGE.
PLS NAME AND VITAL PARAMETERS OF BOTH PATIENTS.

IS THERE A DOCTOR ON BOARD?
IN THE MEAN TIME WE PROCEED WITH medevac.
RGARDS

September 20, 2021

13 people are reported to be adrift. Ocean Viking is approx. 20NM away from the distress case.

Ocean Viking in position 34 57.2 N 012 39.3 E.

01:35 Ocean Viking calls RCC Malta via Satellite Phone to report the situation. RCC Malta does not answer the phone.

Ocean Viking in position: 34 59N 012 36E

Ocean Viking in position 35 10.0N 012 20.1E spots a fiberglass boat, appearing to be in distress.

Ocean Viking in position: 39 09.1 N 012 20.4 E

03:20 Ocean Viking sends an email to RCC Malta to report the situation.

People onboard the boat have no lifejackets and are all exposed to the elements. It is ascertained that the boat is in distress; Ocean Viking starts the rescue.

Latitude: 35.1667
Longitude: 12.335
04:00 All RHIBs are recovered on board. Rescue operation completed.

2 persons were medically evacuated from the Ocean Viking by the Italian coastguard with 4 family members. They both had chronic conditions and needed urgent onshore medical care.

Latitude: 35.3167
Longitude: 12.65

Ocean Viking sends a Maritime Incident Report to MTJRCC and ITMRCC via email, requesting a place of safety for the 123 remaining rescued persons onboard.

September 21, 2021

Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC, with MTJRCC and and LYJRCC in copy, requesting a place of safety for the 123 remaining rescued persons onboard.

September 23, 2021

1 person was medically evacuated from the Ocean Viking by the Italian patrol boat CP 324.

Latitude: 35.33333
Longitude: 12.46667

Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC, with MTJRCC and and LYJRCC in copy, requesting a place of safety for the 122 remaining rescued persons onboard.

19:25 Ocean Viking receives the instructions from ITMRCC to disembark the 122 survivors in Augusta, Italy.

September 24, 2021

15:05 Ocean Viking drops the anchor at the Augusta inner harbor.
20:56 Anchor is up, Ocean Viking is moving to berth.
22:00 Ocean Viking is moored in Augusta port.

September 25, 2021

10:46 The disembarkation of the 122 survivors starts in Augusta, Sicily.
14:06 The disembarkation of the 122 survivors is completed.
15:38 Ocean Viking is notified of a 10-day quarantine ordered by Italian health authorities.
17:00 Ocean Viking leaves berth to move at the anchorage for quarantine.
17:30 Ocean Viking is anchored in Augusta inner harbor roadster.

October 5, 2021

07:30 Ocean Viking’s anchor is up.
08:10 Ocean Viking moores in Augusta port.
15:10 Ocean Viking is granted free pratique.
18:30 Ocean Viking leaves the port of Augusta.