OPERATION - 21 - 25 August 2025

00:00 Ocean Viking departs from Syracuse.

13:36 Ocean Viking overhears a Mayday Relay from aircraft Eagle 2 reporting a boat in distress with about 15 people on board.

13:57 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC and MRCC Malta in copy) to inform she will sail towards distress position reported by Eagle 2.

19:46 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC and MRCC Malta in copy) to inform she has arrived at last known position of distress case and will start a search pattern.

01:10 Crew on the bridge lookout spots an empty boat, Ocean Viking changes course to investigate.

01:57 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC and MRCC Malta in copy) to confirm empty boat matches the description and location provided in the Mayday and considers this case closed.

21:59 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Alarm Phone about a boat in distress with 45 people on board.

23:10 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC and MRCC Malta in copy) to inform she is proceeding towards distress case received by Alarm Phone.

23:34 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email by Alarm Phone with an updated location of the distress case.

00:42 Ocean Viking receives a message by Inmarsat-C from ITMRCC on behalf of Libyan Coast Guards about 5 people at sea fallen from a boat.

01:04 Ocean Viking detects an echo on the radar.

01:18 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC and MRCC Malta in copy) informing about echo and launching of RHIBS for assessement.

01:25 RHIBS are launched and off the ship.

01:46 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC and MRCC Malta in copy) to share the final assessment of the distress case.

02:00 Ocean Viking completes the recovery of 47 persons in distress.

Latitude: 33.233333
Longitude: 14.966667

02:35 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC and MRCC Malta in copy) to confirm complete recovery of the survivors and to request a Place of Safety.

04:05 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC to explain engagement in search for distress case previously shared by ITMRCC and requests to delay voyage to POS.

09:39 Ocean Viking overheards a Mayday relay by aircraft Sparrow 2 about a boat in distress with 60 POB.

11:19 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC about Mayday relay and receives greenlight to deviate course to PoS to investigate distress case.

11:39 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli to inform about intentions. No answer.

11:48 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli to inform about Mayday and greenlight from ITMRCC to change course.

12:06 RHIBS are launched upon visual on distress case. First assessment is made.

12:16 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC and MRCC Malta in copy) to inform about the final assessement of the distress case.

12:25 Ocean Viking overheards a Mayday alert on VHF from an unknown source about a boat in distress.

12:31 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC about Mayday relay and receives greenlight to delay navigation to POS Marina di Carrara and sail towards the last known position of Mayday relay distress case.

12:50 Ocean Viking completes the recovery of 40 shipwrecked persons.

Latitude: 33.65
Longitude: 13.75

13:01 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC and MRCC Malta in copy) to inform about rescue and request to disembark additional survivors in assigned PoS.

13:02 Ocean Viking emails JRCC Tripoli (ITMRCC in copy) to inform about greenlight to delay navigation to PoS and sail towards distress case.

14:45 Crew on the lookout spots a fast approaching Libyan Coast Guard patrol vessel.

14:58 Ocean Viking attempts to establish communication with the patrol vessel. The Libyan Coast Guard illegally instructs Ocean Viking to “Go North”.

The Libyan Coast Guard appears to shout “go North” and “000” multiple times.¹ The Search and Rescue Coordinator explains that Ocean Viking is in contact with the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Tripoli and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Rome and engaged in a search for a boat in distress.

15:02 Ocean Viking calls the Libyan Coast Guard to inform of change of course and proceeding to North.

An Arabic-speaking team member called to the Bridge repeats the message that Ocean Viking is in contact with the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Tripoli and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Rome and is engaged in a search for a boat in distress. The Libyan Coast Guard repeats the instruction to set Course to “000”.

15:03 Ocean Viking is shot at by LCG without prior warning.

Ocean Viking repeats to Libyan Coast Guard that the Course has been changed to leave the area. All crew are asked to Shelter inside the ship accommodation and lie on the floor, and all survivors inside the container shelters. Ocean Viking keeps changing Course Heading straight North.

15:05 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC, informing of ongoing gunfire from the LCG patrol vessel. Search and Rescue Coordinator issues a Mayday alert.

Ocean Viking relays the position of the patrol vessel and asks the Duty Officer to urgently get in touch with Tripoli to order the Libyan Coast Guard to leave Ocean Viking.

15:08 Ocean Viking issues a second Mayday. Continuous gunfire from the Libyan patrol vessel.

15:09 Ocean Viking calls Libyan patrol vessel Houn 664 asking to stop shooting and that the ship is leaving the area. Shooting continues and Libyan Coast Guard threaten to increase fire.

15:12 Ocean Viking tells Houn 664 to stop shooting and that the ship is leaving the area. A Ship Security Alert System alert is transmitted.

The Libyan Coast Guard threatens the Arabic speaking team member, telling them to

step outside. Shooting continues.

15:14 Ocean Viking calls ITMRCC. Duty Officer states that they are not in contact with JRCC Tripoli and tells Ocean Viking to contact the Flag State.

Ocean Viking reports being under continuous heavy fire as the attack continues despite the ship having set Course North.

15:15 Libyan Coast Guard asks the Ocean Viking to stop the engine.

15:18 Libyan Coast Guard issues direct threats to the life and safety of everyone onboard while Ocean Viking pleads the Libyan Coast Guard to stop shooting and let the ship leave as it is already heading North.

15:24 Libyan Coast Guard patrol vessel leaves the area.

15:52 Ocean Viking informs ITMRCC of the intention to proceed North toward the originally assigned PoS of Marina di Carrara.

Ocean Viking informs ITMRCC that four of the Bridge windows are broken, and that a full report will be sent to all relevant authorities.

16:42 Ocean Viking informs NATO Operation Sea Guardian via satellite phone of the shooting incident and reports the damage to the ship. Ocean Viking asks for a NATO unit to be deployed to escort the Ocean Viking.

NATO Duty Officer advises to leave the area and to call the Italian Navy as NATO is unable to send a ship. The Duty Officer says that NATO cannot take any action but that he will escalate the request.

16:49 Ocean Viking makes three unsuccessful attempts to reach the Italian Navy via satellite phone to ask for an escort.

16:52 Ocean Viking makes three unsuccessful attempts to reach European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation Irini (EUNAVFOR MED) via satellite phone to ask for an escort, fearing LCG patrol vessel will come back as per their threats..

16:54 Ocean Viking makes another unsuccessful attempt to reach the Italian Navy via satellite phone.

16:56 Ocean Viking informs ITMRCC of unsuccessful attempts to call EUNAVFORMED, the NATO and the Italian Navy to ask for an escort. ITMRCC tells Ocean Viking to have the Flag State act as an intermediary.

17:06 Ocean Viking informs NATO via satellite phone of unsuccessful attempts to reach the Italian Navy and EUNAVFORMED.

NATO inquires about the rescue operations Ocean Viking was involved in. Ocean Viking explains the presence of survivors onboard and prior communication with relevant authorities. NATO asks to be included in email communications. NATO inquires about damage to the ship, Ocean Viking explains that the ship is no longer compliant with Class regulations due to the damage to the Bridge windows and damage to the RHIBs. Ocean Viking repeats request for an escort by a NATO asset.

17:32 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC, Malta RCC, Flag State, EUNAVFORMED, Italian Navy, NATO, and Frontex, reporting the incident and some of the damage sustained. Ocean Viking requests assistance from Flag State authorities and ITMRCC to assign Lampedusa as PoS for the disembarkation of survivors.

18:30 ITMRCC asks Ocean Viking for a report and for audiovisual material of the damage sustained during the shooting.

Ocean Viking informs ITMRCC that the Captain has submitted a preliminary report to the Flag state and that a more comprehensive report is being finalised.

19:53 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC (Flag State and NATO in copy), providing photo evidence of the damage to the bridge, navigation, and auxiliary rescue equipment, requesting authorisation to disembark survivors in Lampedusa.

21:25 The Captain of the Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC informing that, in the absence of instructions, he will use his overriding authority to bring the damaged vessel to Syracuse.

23:12 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC providing all necessary documentation and information on ETA to Syracuse.

23:50 ITMRCC confirms Syracuse as a Place of Safety for the disembarkation of survivors.

16:50 Ocean Viking is instructed by ITMRCC to disembark survivors in Augusta rather than Syracuse.

20:52 Disembarkation of 87 survivors starts.

22:24 Disembarkation is complete.