OPERATION 8-13 August 2026 - SOS MEDITERRANEE

August 1, 2026

Dear Sirs, Madams,
At 16:35 UTC, MV Ocean Viking, in position 34 26 N012 09 E, spotted an overcrowded rubber
boat. Apprehension exists as to the safety of the persons on board.
MV Ocean Viking swiftly altered Course Heading towards the Target, about 4NM away, for further assessment and ready to provide first assistance.
MV Ocean Viking COG 319, Speed 8.7Kts ETA 17:00 UTC.
At 16:53 UTC MV Ocean Viking called via Sat Phone RCC Malta (00356 21809279); No Answer
no English speakers.
MV Ocean Viking will keep you informed.
Please acknowledge receipt of this message and inform of your SAR action plan.

Latitude: 3426
Longitude: 1209

August 8, 2026

09:42 The Ocean Viking leaves the port of Siracusa

August 9, 2026

11:19 The Ocean Viking heads toward the Central Mediterranean

August 10, 2026

09:04 Security Incident: the Ocean Viking spots on the radar a fast approaching vessel on a collision course

09:14 The bridge on Ocean Viking tries to esablish communication with the approaching asset over VHF radio to no avail

Previous unsuccessful attempts at contacting the asset via radio were made at 09:25 and 9:29
At 9:36 two Satphone call were made to JRCC Tripoli, No answer.

09:50 The Libyan patrol Vessel follows the Ocean Viking and then leaves the scene, turning East

16:08 Unidentified drone passing over the Ocean Viking

August 11, 2026

Dear Sirs, Madams,

At 16:55 UTC MV Ocean Viking is approximately 3 NM from the subject boat and observes what follows:

The small (rubber) boat is unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, overcrowded with about 10 people on board, including children, women, all exposed to the elements, no Life Saving Appliances available.

There is a reasonable certainty that the persons on board are threatened by grave and imminent danger of being lost and may require immediate assistance.

MV Ocean Viking RHIBs are going to be launched for closer assessment. Your RCC will be kept informed of observations and actions undertaken.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message.

19:20 The teams on Ocean Viking complete the evacuation of 15 people in distress from an overcrowded fiberglass boat in distress

Dear Sirs, Madams,

Please be informed that, at 17:38 UTC in position 34 31 N 012 05 E, MV Ocean Viking completed the recovery operation of the persons in distress. 15 (number to be confirmed) shipwrecked persons have been safely brought on board MV Ocean Viking.

The breakdown of the survivors and complete information will follow in Maritime Incident Report.

Empty fibreglass boat, red colour, left adrift in this position and marked as “110826OV01″.

MV Ocean Viking is requesting a place of safety (as defined in the Annex to the 1979 SAR Convention, paragraph 1.3.2 and in the IMO Resolution MSC.167(78)) to promptly disembark all 15 survivors who are currently on board.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message.

22:54 The Italian authorities assign the distant port of Civitavecchia as a Place of Safety for the disembarkation of 15 survivors

August 13, 2026

10:18 All 15 survivors are safely disembarked in Civitavecchia, Italy

September 10, 2026

The Libyan Coast Guard asset falsely states over VHF radio that “these are our waters”, when the coordinates clearly show the encounter happened in International waters.

Latitude: 3357
Longitude: 01326

September 11, 2026

Latitude: 3426
Longitude: 01209

Dear Sirs, Madams,

Please be informed that at 17:10 UTC Ocean Viking RHIBs assessed the situation: small fibreglass boat is unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, overcrowded with about 15 people on board, including children, women, all exposed to the elements, no life jackets or other Life Saving Appliances available.

These people are requesting to be rescued.

It is ascertained that the distress phase exists as the persons on board are threatened by grave and imminent danger of being lost and require immediate assistance.

MV Ocean Viking tried to contact competent authority to report above situation on all the following numbers:

At 17:12 UTC MV Ocean Viking called via Sat Phone Malta RCC (00356 22494202); No Answer

This is a case of force majeure (ref. SOLAS Art. IV (b)) imposing to retrieve persons in danger of being lost at sea, as stipulated by the relevant International Maritime Conventions, therefore MV Ocean Viking will proceed to the assistance of these persons in distress, while keeping competent RCCs duly informed.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message.

Relevant shipboard safety and environmental elements have been assessed and it is ascertained MV Ocean Viking has the capacity to recover all of these persons without creating serious danger to the ship and the persons thereon – in line with the Provisions of Art. 98 of the UNCLOS Convention – nor to the environment.

September 15, 2026

Dear duty officer,

MV Ocean Viking acknowledges your indication of CIVITAVECCHIA as the place of safety for all 15 survivors currently onboard.

Pursuant to the information that RCCs should seek to obtain from the assisting ship, please note that MV Ocean Viking next intended Port of Call is SIRACUSA.

This vessel observes that the assigned port of CIVITAVECCHIA is located at considerable distance from the area where the rescue operation took place; reaching such port entails a prolonged permanence of the survivors on board, with significant impact on the survivors well-being and this assisting vessel.

In light of the IMO Guidelines On The Treatment Of Persons Rescued At Sea and § 3.1.9 of 1979 SAR Convention, MV Ocean Viking invites your RCC and the national competent authority to make every effort to minimize the time survivors remain aboard this assisting ship and assign an alternative place of safety, closer to the area where the rescue operation took place and with minimum further deviation from the ships’ intended voyage, for the disembarkation of survivors to be effected as soon as reasonably practicable, while ensuring that this vessel is not subject to undue delay, financial burden or other related difficulties after assisting persons at sea.

ITMRCC’s Answer below:

Captain,
regarding your request sent at 23:39 lt, about a nearby port, this can be considered only in case of sea weather conditions and/or technical failures or any other issues concerning safety of navigation evaluated by this MRCC.
In addition, to identify eventual situations of urgent medical assistance needs and discomfort or psychological malaise, contact T.M.A.S. (Telemedical Maritime Assistance Service) ITALIA – CIRM.
Remind that in Italy the Decree Law of January 2, 2023 No. 1 (converted with amendments by Law 24 February 2023, n. 15) is in force and therefore you are requested to proceed without delay, with direct route and at the maximum sustainable and continuous speed towards the port of Civitavecchia.