Operation 14-23 March 2026

Our hotline received information on a boat in distress at sea.
Number of people: 62
Phone number on board: 008821644407463
GPS-position with timestamp: N 033 Deg 024' 032.421'', E013 Deg 052'
018.426'' @14:00 Z
Type and color of the boat: black rubber boat Life Vests: - General
conditions: the people are panicking and the rubber boat is in severe danger due to high waves in the area, there is no appropriate navigational nor safety equipment, children and women were reported to be in a specifically critical situation, illnesses were reported.
However the communication was challenging and therefore a more differentiated assessment of the situation needs to be done.

'We have just been in contact with the people on this boat (@ 23:11 CET
15 MAR 2026), they are extremely distressed and fear for their lives.
We didn't manage to get a new GPS position.

Dear officer on duty,
Our hotline received information on a boat in distress at sea:
Number of people: 60, including women and children.
Phone number on board: 008821621253272
GPS-position with timestamp: N3350 E01156 @ 19:10 CET 14 MAR from relative.
Type and color of the boat: rubber boat
The people on the boat are not reachable anymore, and we received a position from a relative.

We were informed that the people from AP0167 and AP0166 have been on the oil platform Miskar since yesterday. Altogether, they are around 110 people.

We urge you to act immediately and rescue them to a place of safety!

At 11:40 UTC Ocean Viking, in position 37 16 N 013 13 E, received by email a distress alert from Alarm Phone (please find email further below) with the following information:

QUOTE
> We were informed that the people from AP0167 and AP0166 have been on
> the oil platform Miskar since yesterday. Altogether, they are around
> 110 people.
UNQUOTE

There is a reasonable certainty that the persons on the platform are exposed to the weather elements and they need assistance as soon as possible.
Since several days they are in critical condition and their life are threatened be the extreme situation of the events.

At 11:42 UTC MV Ocean Viking called via Sat Phone MRCC Tunis (00216 71 735
669): the duty officer confirms that the people are on the Miskar Platform, this vessel informs that we are able to offer assistance, offering the safely transfer of all the survivors on the MV Ocean Viking. This Vessel informs the duty officer that our intention is to proceed in the proximity of the Miskar Platform and liaise with the Coordinator of the Platform the best assistance to the survivors. This vessel also informs that we are seeking coordination from the competent authorities. The duty officer acknowledge the above mentioned information.

MV Ocean Viking is proceeding towards the target, about 180 NM away, ready to provide first assistance. MV Ocean Viking COG 195, Speed 8.0Kts ETA 11:00
18/03 UTC
MV Ocean Viking will keep you informed.

DETAIL OF COMMUNICATIONS:

18 - 03 - 2026 14:48 VSAT – OV requests written authorization from MRCC Tunis; negative answer received
18 - 03 - 2026 15:03 VHF Ch8 – platform update
18 - 03 - 2026 16:02 VHF Ch8 – platform update
18 - 03 - 2026 16:11 VSAT OV MRCC Tunis – several calls, no answer
18 - 03 - 2026 16:20 VHF OV – platform update
18 - 03 - 2026 16:38 VSAT OV MRCC Tunis – request written authorization; negative answer

DETAIL OF THE COMMUNICATIONS:

19 - 03 - 2026 08:14 VHF Ch8 – MV Ocean Viking receives multiple communications from Miskar Platform; medical situation of shipwrecked people deteriorating; crowd control failing; platform requests immediate assistance.
19 - 03 - 2026 08:30 VHF Ch8 – OV continues coordination with Miskar Platform regarding survival needs, crowd management, and safety of shipwrecked people.
19 - 03 - 2026 09:00 VHF Ch8 – OV receives status updates; 107 persons confirmed alive, provisioned with food and water; platform emphasizes high waves prevent immediate transshipment.
19 - 03 - 2026 09:30 VSAT – OV attempts multiple calls to Miskar Platform and MRCC Tunis; no answer; only partial communication established with platform officer.
19 - 03 - 2026 10:37 VSAT – OV informs MRCC Tunis via satellite phone that, in coordination with Miskar Platform, vessel is proceeding to rescue 107 shipwrecked people. Duty officer acknowledges.
19 - 03 - 2026 10:41 VSAT – Communication attempts continue with Miskar Platform; some lines broken, no new updates.
19 - 03 - 2026 10:43 VSAT – OV attempts repeated calls to Miskar Platform; no answer.
19 - 03 - 2026 10:45 VSAT – OV calls MRCC Tunis; no answer.
19 - 03 - 2026 10:46 VSAT – OV continues attempts with MRCC Tunis; communication fails.
19 - 03 - 2026 11:45 VHF Ch16 – OV requests update and green light confirmation from Miskar Platform.
19 - 03 - 2026 13:12 VHF Ch16 – OV requests update from Miskar Platform; platform confirms status; green light pending.
19 - 03 - 2026 13:20 VHF Ch8 – OV asks for additional updates on survivor conditions.

Today at 07:30 UTC MV Ocean Viking called via Sat Phone Tunis MRCC (0021671735669); asks for coordination of the recovery of the shipwrecked persons stranded on Miskar platform; the duty officer informs that there is no need of any authorization and Ocean Viking can proceed according to the international maritime conventions to the rescue of the shipwreck people on the platform.

From 07:00 UTC to 09:30 UTC MV Ocean Viking receives several communications on VHF 08 from the Miskar Platform. The platform officer informs that the medical situation of the shipwreck people is deteriorating. Moreover, crowd control is not granted anymore as the people are very agitated. The Officer requests immediate assistance from the MV Ocean Viking.

At 14:15 UTC MV Ocean Viking calls Miskar Platform on ch 8 VHF informing that this vessel is ready to proceed to the rescue of all 107 shipwrecked people. The platform informs this vessel it can approach the platform at 500 meters and launch the RHIBs to the boat landing of the Platform.

At 14:35 UTC MV Ocean Viking MV Ocean Viking called via Sat Phone Tunis MRCC (0021671735669); Informs the duty officer that in coordination of the Miskar Platform this vessel is proceeding to the rescue of all the 107 shipwrecked people on the Platform. The duty officer acknowledge the information without objection.

Dear Sirs, Madams,
At 08:34 UTC MV Ocean Viking called via Sat Phone Tunis MRCC (0021671735669); This vessel informs the duty officer that we establish communication by phone with the Miskar Platform manager, and they request assistance for all the shipwreck people present on the platform Miskar. The duty officer acknowledges the information and informs this vessel to comply with the international conventions and the obligations to render assistance to people in distress, also the duty officer confirms that once reached its position this vessel can be considered the On-Scene Coordinator and there is no need for any other authorization from the MRCC Tunis.

Please note that at 15:00 UTC on 17/03/2026 MV Ocean Viking called via Sat Phone the Miskar Manager (0021631363149); The manager informs that on board the platform there are 107 shipwreck people including 13 woman and 2 babies.
Also informs that they have been on the platform since the day 15/03/2026.
This vessel informs that is able to assist these people and informs about ETA 18/03/2026 1200 utc. The manager also informs that will contact the Tunisian Coast Guards to inform them about the situation.

At 12:30 UTC MV Ocean Viking in position 34 20.8 N 011 50.5 E is 1.5 NM from the Miskar Platform ready to render assistance to the people in distress.

At 12:30 UTC MV Ocean Viking calls on channel 8 VHF the Miskar platform informs about the position of the vessel, Miskar Platform officer formalizes the request of assistance for the MV Ocean Viking. The Miskar Platform officer confirms that as soon as the MV Ocean Viking is ready, we can send the Rhibs for the safe recovery of the shipwreck people.

At 13:06 UTC MV Ocean Viking called on channel 08 VHF the Miskar Platform and asked about the medical situation of the shipwreck people. The Platform doctor informs that on board there are 14 medical cases with flue, 1 medical case with abdominal pain, 1 Pregnant woman, 1 person with fuel burns. Also, there is one child of 10 years old and two babies of 2 years old.

At 13:36 UTC MV Ocean Viking called via Sat Phone Malta RCC (0035622494202), informs the duty officer about the above situation, the duty officer asks to send an email.

At 15:00 UTC Miskar Platform Officer called on Channel 8 VHF and informed us that the weather at the boat landing is good to proceed for the safe rescue of the shipwreck people. This Vessel informs the Miskar Officer that without a clear request of assistance from the competent authority this vessel is not able to proceed to the rescue. The Miskar Officer acknowledge the information and informs that will call the Tunisian Coast Guards about the situation.

At 15:42 UTC MV Ocean Viking called via Sat Phone Tunis MRCC (0021671735669); seeking coordination from the competent authority and informs the duty officer that this vessel is ready to rescue the 107-shipwreck people on the platform, but this vessel requires a formal request of assistance from the rescue coordination center. The officer on duty replied that from the Tunis MRCC there is no objection to proceed to the rescue, but for the specific request of assistance there is a need for upper level of authorization. This vessel acknowledges the information and informs the duty officer that the MV Ocean Viking will remain in stand-by waiting for the request of assistance from the Tunisian MRCC.