OPERATION - 21 August- 5 September 2022

16:00 Ocean Viking leaves anchorage in the port of Syracuse, Italy.

20:30 Ocean Viking stops to perform drills at sea. All 3 Rhibs are in the water.

22:12 Rhib training is completed, all rhibs are recovered. Ocean Viking resumes navigation.

15:00 Ocean Viking stops to perform drills at sea. All 3 Rhibs are in the water.

16:36 Rhib training is completed, all rhibs are recovered. Ocean Viking resumes navigation.

07:36 Ocean Viking spots a wooden boat adrift, empty, marked with “CP 13/xx/2022”.

12:16 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email by Alarm Phone alerting to a boat in distress

Reported distress position of the AP719 case: N33 58 4072 E012 07 2441. Approximately 85 persons reported onboard, including children.
Water is reported to be entering in the boat. People are urgently asking for help.

12:36 Ocean Viking alters course towards the last known distress position and increases speed.

12:43 Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC informing that she alters course towards the distress case reported by Alarm Phone.

Ocean Viking is approximately 45NM away from the last known distress position.

15:54 Ocean Viking spots a Libyan Coastguard patrol vessel heading south on her port side.

16:24 OV spots a large blue wooden boat without engine

Ocean Viking Bridge estimates probable that this boat was the one searched for and reported in distress by Alarm Phone (AP 719)

16:54 Ocean Viking spots a wooden boat, half submerged.

17:24 Ocean Viking spots an empty large blue wooden boat adrift, without engine, in the vicinity of the last known distress position.

18:50 Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC informing on the end of the active search.

“Ocean Viking found an empty blue wooden boat without engine, adrift in the vicinity of the last known position. Ocean Viking resumes the navigation.”

19:36 Ocean Viking spots an empty wooden boat blue and white adrift.

04:18 Ocean Viking spots a wooden boat close to the Ocean Viking, possibly in distress.

04:30 Ocean Viking launches two RHIBs to assess the situation.

The wooden boat is unseaworthy, overcrowded, with about 50 people on board, no lifejackets, all exposed to the elements. distress phase: the boat and its occupants are threatened by grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance.

04:40 Ocean Viking reports by email to JRCC Tripoli about the intention to perform the rescue.

04:43 Lifejackets’ distribution starts.

04:46 Lifejackets’ distribution is complete.

04:57 RHIBs start the evacuation of survivors onboard Ocean Viking.

05:08 41 survivors are safely retrieved onboard the Ocean Viking.

Rescue position: 33 19.7 N 012 45.7 E

Latitude: 33.33166
Longitude: 12.76166

05:28 Ocean Viking informs LYJRCC by email of the retrieval completion.

05:42 Ocean Viking resumes navigation and awaits further instructions.

07:12 Ocean Viking sends a request for the designation of a Place of Safety via email to LYJRCC, with ITMRCC and MTRCC in copy, for the 41 survivors onboard.

07:30 Ocean Viking spots an empty blue wooden boat, adrift.

11:57 Ocean Viking receives a distress relay from the sailing vessel Nadir about a rubber boat in distress.

12:15 Ocean Viking informs LYJRCC Tripoli about the intention to proceed towards the target.

13:02 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by M/V Nadir informing that she is assisting the survivors of the distress case alerted to at 11:56 and updating the distress position.

Nadir reports having distributed lifejackets to the people on the boat in distress.

New reported distress position: 34 07N 012 37E

14:24 Ocean Viking reaches the position of the distress case. Ocean Viking reconfirmes the distress phase.

The rubber boat is unseaworthy, overcrowded, with about 12 people on board, all exposed to the elements. distress phase: the boat and its occupants are threatened by grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance.

14:25 Ocean Viking launches one RHIB.

14:40 The rescue is completed. All 12 survivors are safely onboard the Ocean Viking.

Rescue position: 34 10.0N 012 38.1E

Latitude: 34.16666
Longitude: 11.635

14:48 Ocean Viking resumes navigation and awaits further instructions.

14:51 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Pilotes Volontaires updating information relative to a distress case previously reported by Alarm Phone.

Ocean Viking position: 34 10.0 N 012 38.1 E

Reported distress position: 34 51 N 012 40 E

15:16 Ocean Viking informs about the intention to proceed towards the reported distress case.

Ocean Viking is 40 NM away from the reported distress position.

16:24 Ocean Viking sends a request for the designation of a Place of Safety via email to LYJRCC, with ITMRCC and MTRCC in copy, for the 53 survivors onboard.

17:33 Ocean Viking is alerted to a wooden boat in distress by Colibri2.

Ocean Viking position: 34 01.8 N 012 34.6 E.

Reported distress position: 34 55 N 012 36 E

18:10 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Alarm Phone alerting to another boat in distress.

Reported distress position: N34 55 E12 35 (AP726)

18:24 Ocean Viking has visual on the boat she was searching for and ascertains that the wooden boat is unseaworthy, overcrowded, with about 50 people on board, all exposed to the elements.

distress phase: the boat and its occupants are threatened by grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance.

Ocean Viking position: 34 44.5 N 012 39.3 E

18:52 Ocean Viking launches 3 RHIBs in the water.

19:03 Lifejackets distribution starts.

19:20 RHIBs start evacuating survivors on Ocean Viking.

19:25 All 40 survivors are safely evacuated on Ocean Viking.

Rescue position: 34 49.1N 012 41.4E

Latitude: 34.81833
Longitude: 12.69

19:27 Ocean Viking sends an email to MTRCC informing of the rescue completion.

19:32 Ocean Viking resumes navigation sailing towards another potential distress case and awaits further instructions.

19:39 Ocean Viking informs about her intention to proceed towards the open case alerted to by Pilotes Volontaires at 17:33.

Ocean Viking is 8NM away from the known distress position.

20:18 Ocean Viking reaches the open case’s position and ascertains that the wooden boat is unseaworthy, overcrowded, with about 110 people on board, all exposed to the elements.

On scene, SV Astral assessed the situation and partially distributed lifejackets.

distress phase: the boat and its occupants are threatened by grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance.

20:20 Ocean Viking informs MTRCC via email of her intention to perform the rescue.

20:24 Ocean Viking RHIBs continue lifejackets distribution started by S/V Astral.

20:46 Ocean Viking RHIBs start evacuation of survivors onboard Ocean Viking.

21:15 All 119 survivors are safely brought onboard Ocean Viking.

Rescue position: 34 55.3N 012 36.9E

Latitude: 34.92166
Longitude: 12.615

21:21 Ocean Viking sends an email to MTRCC reporting the rescue completion.

21:54 Ocean Viking resumes navigation and waits for further instructions.

23:48 Ocean Viking sends an email to MTRCC, with ITMRCC in copy, requesting a Place of Safety for all 212 survivors onboard.

11:16 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Seabird2 alerting to a boat in distress.

Reported distress position: N 35 01  E 012 34

11:56 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Seabird2 sharing an updated position of the previously reported distress case.

Updated reported distress position: N3501 E1235

12:46 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Seabird2 aircraft reporting an updated position of the previously reported distress case.

Ocean Viking position: 34 14.6N 013 14.8E

Updated reported distress position: 34 59.0N 012 34.0E

14:50 Ocean Viking alters course towards the distress case reported by Seabird.

Ocean Viking is about 50NM away from the reported distress position.

Ocean Viking position: 34 21.1N 013 11.3E.

15:02 Ocean Viking informs MTRCC of her intention to proceed towards the reported distress case, 50NM away and assist.

15:50 Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC, with MTRCC and LYJRCC in copy, requesting assistance in finding a Place of Safety for all 212 survivors onboard.

16:54 Ocean Viking receives a reply by email from ITMRCC denying responsibility in the SAR operations conducted by Ocean Viking.

ITMRCC advises to contact Ocean Viking flagstate SAR authority or the competent SAR authority of the area for the designation of a place of safety for the survivors onboard Ocean Viking

19:45 Ocean Viking reaches the position of the distress case, reconfirms that the wooden boat is unseaworthy, overcrowded, with about 30 people on board, all exposed to the elements.

distress phase: the boat and its occupants are threatened by grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance.

19:48 Ocean Viking launches 2 RHIBs.

20:08 Lifejacket distribution starts.

20:18 Lifejacket distribution is completed.

20:24 RHIBs start the evacuation of survivors onboard Ocean Viking.

20:42 All 56 survivors safely evacuated on Ocean Viking.

Rescue position: 34 57.0N 012 31.7E

Latitude: 34.95
Longitude: 12.52833

20:50 Ocean Viking sends an email to MTRCC reporting the evacuation completion.

21:00 Ocean Viking resumes navigation and waits for further instructions.

23:09 Ocean Viking sends an email to MTRCC, with ITMRCC in copy, requesting a Place of Safety for all 268 survivors onboard.

07:00 Ocean Viking assesses the situation: the wooden boat is unseaworthy, overcrowded, with about 50 people on board, no lifejackets, all exposed to the elements.

distress phase: the boat and its occupants are threatened by grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance.

07:09 Ocean Viking informs MTRCC of her intention to evacuate the boat in distress.

07:12 Ocean Viking launches 3 RHIBs.

07:20 Lifejacket distribution starts.

07:24 Lifejacket distribution is completed.

07:36 RHIBs start the evacuation of survivors onboard Ocean Viking.

07:55 All 87 survivors safely evacuated on Ocean Viking.

Rescue position: 35 03.7N 012 39.7E

Latitude: 35.06166
Longitude: 12.66166

08:00 Ocean Viking sends an email to MTRCC reporting the retrieval completion.

08:06 Ocean Viking resumes navigation and waits for further instructions.

09:29 Ocean Viking sends an email to MTRCC, with ITMRCC in copy, requesting a Place of Safety for all 355 survivors onboard.

12:39 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Alarm Phone alerting to a boat in distress.

Ocean Viking position: N 34 47.4 E012 38.1

Reported distress position: N3455 E01212

12:50 Ocean Viking alerts course towards the reported distress position.

13:12 Ocean Viking assesses the situation: the wooden boat is unseaworthy, overcrowded, with about 50 people on board, no lifejackets, all exposed to the elements.

distress phase: the boat and its occupants are threatened by grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance.

13:19 Ocean Viking informs MTRCC by email of her intention to evacuate the boat in distress.

13:32 Ocean Viking launches 2 RHIBs.

13:45 Lifejacket distribution completed.

13:51 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Alarm Phone reporting an updated position of one of the open distress cases.

AP742 / DC578

Updated reported distress position: N 34.59, E 012.14.

14:00 RHIBs start the evacuation of survivors onboard Ocean Viking.

14:03 All 32 survivors safely evacuated on Ocean Viking.

Rescue position: 34 50.4N 012 28.4E

Latitude: 34.84
Longitude: 12.47333

14:07 Ocean Viking sends an email to MTRCC informing of the completion of the retrieval of survivors and intention to proceed towards another distress case reported by Alarm Phone.

Ocean Viking is 15NM away from the reported distress position.

14:18 Ocean Viking resumes navigation towards the distress case reported by Alarm Phone and waits for further instructions.

15:11 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email sent by Seabird2 alerting to a boat in distress assumed to be the distress case previously reported by Alarm Phone.

AP742 / DC578

Reported distress position 3502N 01215E

15:29 Whilst in the Maltese SRR proceeding towards distress case reported by Alarm Phone, Ocean Viking is in copy of distress alert sent by Seabird2 for another boat.

DC585 – Reported distress position: 3455N 01212E