OPERATION - 18 June-7 July 2022

On June 18, the Ocean Viking leaves the port of Marseille, France.

On June 24, the Ocean Viking rescues 15 people from a fiberglass boat in distress.

On June 26, the Ocean Viking rescues 75 people from a rubber boat in distress.

On June 27, the Ocean Viking rescues 66 people from a rubber boat in distress.

On June 30, the Ocean Viking rescues 49 people from a medium wooden boat in distress.

On June 30, the Ocean Viking rescues 8 people from a fiberglass boat in distress.

On July 1, the Ocean Viking rescues 14 people from a small wooden boat in distress.

On July 3, the Ocean Viking rescues 63 people from a wooden boat in distress.

On July 4, the Ocean Viking rescues 15 people from a small rubber boat in distress.

On July 5th, the Italian authorities assign Pozzallo as a place of safety for the 306 survivors onboard.

On July 6th, 166 survivors are disembarked.

On July 7th, the disembarkation of the 140 remaining survivors is completed.

July 2, 2022

Ocean Viking in position 34 32 N 011 45 E, 12 Nautical Miles away from the platform.

22:00 Ocean Viking calls MRTCC to inform about the situation.

22:20 Ocean Viking overhears a conversation in Arabic on VHF8 about the boat in distress at the platform. Ocean Viking sees a speed boat on radar but do not have a visual.

“We are informing you that at 2236B MV Ocean Viking is arriving at the MISKAR GASFIELD platform. We have been in contact VHF 16/08 with ‘MV Maridive 601’, they are on scene they confirm the distress boat is there and that there is at least 1 person deceased.

The people on board are in danger and I have ascertained that the distress phase exists. My ship has the capacity to recover all of the people, to provide medical care and to transfer them to a place of safety in a reasonable period of time. We are equipped with a Hospital and a Morgue.

MV Ocean Viking called via Sat Phone Malta RCC (0035621809279), informing about the above case. Duty Officer copy all the information, and requested to send this email.

The UNCLOS (Article 98) and SOLAS (Chapter V, Regulation 33-1) conventions as well as the IMO Resolution MSC.167 (78) bound me to proceed to the assistance of the people on board the boat in distress.”

23:00 Miskar platform calls Ocean Viking on VHF8 to inform that they recovered 68 people and asks the Ocean Viking to take the survivors onboard the ship.

“Our ship has the capacity to recover all of the people, to provide medical care and to transfer them to a place of safety in a reasonable period of time and we are equipped with a Hospital and a Morgue. Malta RCC responds that for Malta RCC there is no need of assistance from M/V Ocean Viking. And that Malta RCC will contact directly with MISKAR GASFIELD to arrange the disembarkation of survivors.”

“MV OCEAN VIKING

On satphone you have informed that persons are already onboard Miskar platform. Please be informed Miksar platform and its area is Tunisian territory and Tunisian jurisdiction. You are kindly requested to address your correspondence to the competent Tunisian authorities and your Flag state.

Regards,

RCC Malta
Armed Forces of Malta”

July 3, 2022

“Dear Sirs/Madams,
At 2300B MV Ocean Viking is in contact VHF ch.08 with MISKAR GASFIELD platform. They informed us that they have recovered 68 persons on their deck. They also informed us they are not in contact with Malta RCC.

At 2305B MV Ocean Viking called via Sat Phone Malta RCC (0035621809279), updating about the above case. We inform them that our ship has the capacity to recover all of the people, to provide medical care and to transfer them to a place of safety in a reasonable period of time and we are equipped with a Hospital and a Morgue. Malta RCC responds that for Malta RCC there is no need of assistance from M/V Ocean Viking. And that Malta RCC will contact directly with MISKAR GASFIELD to arrange the disembarkation of survivors.

At 2310B MV Ocean Viking is in contact VHF ch.08 with MISKAR GASFIELD platform to update on the above situation. MISKAR GASFIELD copies the information and thanks M/V Ocean Viking for the willingness of assistance and the support.”

12:15 Ocean Viking sends a request for a Place of Safety to ITMRCC.

19:03 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone alerting MTRCC and ITMRCC to a boat in distress in the Maltese SRR.

Ocean Viking is 20 Nautical Miles away from the reported location.

19:52 Ocean Viking calls via Sat Phone Malta RCC. No answer.

19:58 Ocean Viking sends an email to Malta RCC to inform about the situation.

Ocean Viking in position 35 10 N 012 17 E spotted a wooden boat in the water, possibly in distress: the boat is unseaworthy, overcrowded and people have no lifejacket. Ocean Viking is going to launch our RHIBs and investigate.

20:32 Ocean Viking sends an email to Malta RCC to inform about its investigation.

The wooden boat is unseaworthy, overcrowded, with about 60 people on board, no lifejackets, children, women, all exposed to the elements. The people on board are in danger and it is ascertained that the distress phase exist.

20:58 Ocean Viking calls via Sat Phone Malta RCC. No answer.

Ocean Viking in position 35 10.9 N 012 15.5 E

Rescue position: 35 11.11 N 012 15.72 E.

Latitude: 35.11
Longitude: 12.15

21:48 Ocean Viking sends an email to RCC Malta to inform about the rescue completion.

21:53 All RHIBs recovered, Ocean Viking resumes navigation.

July 4, 2022

09:59 Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC requesting a Place of Safety for the 291 survivors onboard.

14:43 Ocean Viking receives an email from Alarm Phone, informing about a boat in distress adrift.

Ocean Viking in position 35 56 N 013 18E. 60NM from the reported location.

The Officer on duty report that Malta RCC is informed about the distress case. Ocean Viking requires instruction to the duty officer, but the phone communication is broken, then lost.

15:30 Ocean Viking sends an email to Malta RCC to update about the situation.

17:43 Ocean Viking receives an email from Alarm Phone with an updated position of the boat in distress.

The Officer on duty report that Malta RCC is informed about the distress case and ask to contact our Flag state. Ocean Viking informs that our Flag state has been in copy and updated since the distress was alerted. The call gets disconnected.

distress boat in position 35 55.9 N 013 21.3 E.

20:40 Ocean Viking sends an email to Malta RCC to update about the situation.

Malta RCC Officer replies to call our Flag state. Ocean Viking informed the duty officer that it will provide immediate assistance to these people in distress and rescue them without delay. Norwegian Flag state has been in copy and updated since the distress was alerted.

21:13 Ocean Viking sends an email to Malta RCC to update about its intention to perform the rescue.

Latitude: 34.5
Longitude: 13.22

21:35 All RHIBs are recovered on board, Ocean Viking resumes navigation.

July 5, 2022

12:40 Italian authorities call the Ocean Viking to assign Pozzallo as a Place of Safety for the 306 survivors onboard.

July 6, 2022

09:00 Ocean Viking moors in the Port of Pozzallo.

09:35 Disembarkation of survivors starts.

16:30 Disembarkation stops. 140 survivors still onboard Ocean Viking.

July 7, 2022

09:00 Disembarkation resumes.

10:15 Disembarkation of the 140 remaining survivors over.