OPERATION - 27 June-3 September 2021

On June 27, Ocean Viking leaves the port of Marseille, France.

On July 1st, Ocean Viking rescues 44 persons from two wooden boats in distress, in two separate operations, in the Maltese Search and Rescue Region: 30 persons are rescued in the first operation; 14 persons in the second. Ocean Viking also spots an empty blue wooden boat adrift in the Maltese Search and Rescue Region.

On July 2nd, Ocean Viking searches for two wooden boats in distress in the Maltese Search and Rescue Region. Ocean Viking witnesses both empty boats set in fire following their interceptions by the Libyan Coast Guard.

On July 2nd, Ocean Viking requests a place of safety for the 44 survivors onboard.

On July 3rd, Ocean Viking rescues 21 persons from a fibreglass boat in distress in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region. Ocean Viking also spots two empty boats in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region. Seabird aircraft from Sea-Watch confirms that one has been intercepted by the Libyan Coast Guard. Ocean Viking investigates one of them, a double-deck wooden boat and finds personal belongings.

On July 4th, Ocean Viking performs two rescue operations in the Maltese Search and Rescue Region: 67 persons are rescued from a wooden boat in distress in the first operation; 71 others are also rescued from a wooden boat in distress in the second operation.

In the night of July 4th and 5th, Ocean Viking performs a rescue operation of a large wooden boat in distress in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region: 369 people, including 116 minors are safely brought onboard Ocean Viking in a 5h30-long operation.

On July 5th, Ocean Viking sends three requests for the designation of a place of safety for the 572 survivors onboard.

On July 6th, Ocean Viking sends a request for the designation of a place of safety for the 572 survivors onboard.

On July 7th, Ocean Viking sends a request for the designation of a place of safety for the 572 survivors onboard. A survivor in acute psychological distress jumps overboard the Ocean Viking and is recovered by our rescue team.

On July 8th, Ocean Viking sends two requests for the designation of a place of safety for the 572 survivors onboard. In the evening, Ocean Viking is designated Augusta, Sicily, as place of safety for all shipwrecked persons onboard.

On July 9th, the disembarkation process of the survivors starts. Ocean Viking is also being notified of a 10-day quarantine ordered by Italian health authorities.

On July 10th, the disembarkation process is complete. The Ocean Viking crew starts a 10-day quarantine.

On July 21st, Ocean Viking is granted free-pratique.

On July 24th, Ocean Viking leaves the port of Augusta, Italy, Heading towards the central Mediterranean.

On July 31st, Ocean Viking rescues a total of 196 people in four rescue operations: 57 survivors are safely evacuated from a rubber boat in distress onto the Ocean Viking following the first rescue operation; 54 people are rescued from a rubber boat in distress in second rescue; 64 are rescued from a wooden boat in distress in a third rescue; and 21 people are rescued from a wooden boat in distress in a fourth rescue.

On August 1, Ocean Viking completes two rescue operations: a critical rescue of a large wooden boat in distress is performed in the night from July 31st and August 1 in coordination with two other SAR NGOs: Sea-Watch and ResQship. 253 people are safely brought onboard Ocean Viking. In the afternoon, Ocean Viking rescued 106 people from a wooden boat in distress. Following the latest operation, Ocean Viking sends an email to MTRCC, TNMRCC and LYJRCC (with ITMRCC in copy) requesting a place of safety for the 555 survivors onboard.

On August 2, Ocean Viking sends a request to ITMRCC (with MTRCC, LYJRCC and TNMRCC in copy) for assistance in finding a place of safety to facilitate a prompt disembarkation of all survivors on board.

On August 3, a female patient and her partner are medically evacuated from the Ocean Viking onto an Italian Coast Guard vessel. Ocean Viking sends a request to ITMRCC (with MTRCC, LYJRCC and TNMRCC in copy) requesting assistance in finding a place of safety and facilitate a prompt disembarkation of all remaining 553 survivors.

On August 4, Ocean Viking sends a request to ITMRCC (with MTRCC, LYJRCC and TNMRCC in copy) requesting assistance in finding a place of safety and facilitate a prompt disembarkation of all remaining 553 survivors.

On August 5, two female survivors and an 8 year-old child are medically evacuated from the Ocean Viking onto an Italian Coast Guard vessel.

On August 6, Ocean Viking sends a request to ITMRCC (with MTRCC, LYJRCC and TNMRCC in copy) requesting assistance in finding a place of safety and facilitate a prompt disembarkation of all remaining 550 survivors. A fourth patient is medically evacuated from the Ocean Viking onto an Italian Coast Guard vessel.

On August 7, Ocean Viking sends a request to ITMRCC (with MTRCC, LYJRCC and TNMRCC in copy) requesting assistance in finding a place of safety and facilitate a prompt disembarkation of all remaining 449 survivors. Ocean Viking receives the instructions to disembark the shipwrecked persons onboard in Pozzallo, Italy.

On August 8, Ocean Viking docks in Pozzallo, Italy. The disembarkation process starts. Ocean Viking is notified of a 10-day quarantine ordered by Italian health authorities, to start after the completion of the disembarkation process.

On August 11, the disembarkation of the 549 survivors onboard Ocean Viking in Pozzallo, Sicily, is complete. The process took four days.

On August 12, Ocean Viking starts a 10-day quarantine ordered by Italian health authorities.

On August 25, the Italian health authorities notified the Ocean Viking of a 10-day prolongation of the quarantine.

On September 3, Ocean Viking leaves the port of Pozzallo, Sicily.

June 27, 2021

19:26 Ocean Viking leaves the port of Marseille, France.

June 28, 2021

Ocean Viking stops in position 41 44.2’N 008 02.5’E to launch RHIBs to perform drills at sea.

18:47 All RHIBs recovered. Ocean Viking resumes navigation.

June 29, 2021

Ocean Viking stops in position 40 42.58’N 010 22.56’E to launch RHIBs to perform drills at sea.

16:30 All RHIBs recovered. Ocean Viking resumes navigation.

July 1, 2021

OV position: 34 16.1’N 012 28.2’E (in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region)

Reported distress position: 34 14N 01154E

13:47 Ocean Viking informs JRCC Tripoli via email (in copy MT RCC and IT MRCC) of her proceeding towards the distress position.
15:42 Ocean Viking calls RCC MALTA seeking coordination and informs of the presence of the Libyan coastguard in Maltese SRR.

Ocean Viking informs the LYCG that she is in capacity to perform the rescue operation of the people onboard the wooden boat in distress, including people with disabilities, in a safe way. LYCG refuses.

16:19 Ocean Viking calls MT RCC informing that LYCG patrol vessel has left the area.
16:22 Ocean Viking sends an email to MT RCC reiterating that LYCG patrol vessel has left the area and informing that Ocean Viking is going to proceed to the assistance of the boat in distress.

The Libyan patrol vessel expresses its intention to intercept the boat in distress. Ocean Viking calls MT RCC by phone, but neither instructions nor coordination were provided.

LYCG patrol vessel subsequently asked Ocean Viking to perform the rescue.

Latitude: 34.41733
Longitude: 12.03767
18:17 Ocean Viking informs MT RCC of the completion of the rescue by email (with LYJRCC and IT MRCC in copy).

Reported distress position: 34°36’N / 12°09’E

19:03 Ocean Viking informs MTRCC of her proceeding towards the distress position by email (with ITMRCC in copy).
19:52 Ocean Viking informs MTRCC of her readiness to proceed to the assistance of the boat in distress by email (with ITMRCC in copy).

Ocean Viking sent an email to MTRCC (with ITMRCC in copy) informing that it has been ascertained that the persons on board the wooden boat are threatened by grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance. Ocean Viking also informs that she is proceeding with the rescue.

Latitude: 34.69167
Longitude: 12.015

July 2, 2021

Ocean Viking position: 34 15.6 N 012 17.7 E

The email is sent by Colibri2 (Pilotes Volontaires) to ITMRCC, LYJRCC and MTRCC with Ocean Viking, Sea-Watch Airborne and Alarm Phone in copy.

Reported distress position: 34°04’N / 11°32’E

Ocean Viking is about 45 NM away from the reported distress position.

Reported distress position: 34 14 N 011 44 E (35 NM away from Ocean Viking). Ocean Viking alerts her Course towards the distress position.

Reported distress position: 34 14N 011 44E (about 30NM from Ocean Viking)

Updated distress position: 34 17 N 011 41 E

Reported updated position of the first distress case (at 15:58pm): 34 12N 011 41E (LYSRR)

Reported updated position of the second distress case (at 16:05pm): 34 20N 011 40E (MTSRR – wooden boat with about 80-90 people on board)

Ocean Viking (in position 34 17.8N 012 00.6E) is Heading towards the second case (17NM away)

Ocean Viking position: 34 17.8N 012 00.6E (17NM away from the 2nd distress case).

Colibri2 informs Ocean Viking of her intention to continue flying over the distress boat to witness the situation.

18:00 Colibri2 (Pilotes Volontaires) informs Ocean Viking via VHF of the interception of the first distress case by the LYCG.

Colibri2 aircraft (Pilotes volontaires) reported to the Ocean Viking having witnessed the interceptions.

Ocean Viking position 34 21.47 N 011 34.87 E

20:13 Ocean Viking sends a request for a Place of Safety for the 44 survivors rescued in the Maltese SRR via email to MTRCC (with ITRCC in copy).

July 3, 2021

01:03 In response to the Ocean Viking’s request for a Place of Safety, MTRCC sends an email to Ocean Viking denying responsibility for the rescues of the 44 survivors onboard.

The boat is reported to carry approximately 50 people onboard.

Reported distress position: 33 54N 011 39E (at 12.34 CEST)

14:36 Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC (with MTRCC and ITMRCC in copy) informing that Seabird aircraft (Sea-Watch) reported the interception of the boat in distress by the Libyan Coast Guard.

Ocean Viking in position: 34 05.3’N 011 59E

20:01 Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC (with ITMRCC and MTRCC in copy)informing that Ocean Viking is proceeding towards the distress position.

Ocean Viking informs the Tunisian Navy ship of the distress case and her proceeding towards the fibreglass boat.

20:22 Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC (with ITMRCC and MTRCC in copy) informing that Ocean Viking is launching rescue boats to investigate.
20:43 Ocean Viking informs via VHF the Tunisian Navy ship of the imminent rescue.

The fiberglass boat is overcrowded with approximately 20 people on board, no lifejackets, strong fuel smell and the boat has a lot of water and fuel inside.

Latitude: 34.133333
Longitude: 12.06
21:06 Ocean Viking informs by email LYJRCC (with ITMRCC and MTRCC in copy) of the completion of the rescue

July 4, 2021

Ocean Viking in position 34-19.5N 012-05.2E

The Inmarsat distress text message sent to all ships transiting in the central Mediterranean alerts to a wooden boat in distress with approximately 80 people.

Reported distress position: 34 18N 012 15E

02:46 Ocean Viking calls all Libyan phone numbers indicated on the Inmarsat text message. None answers.

Through the ITMRCC, Ocean Viking succeeds in speaking with the LYJRCC duty officer. The Libyan duty officer only speaks Arabic and is not aware of the distress case.

Ocean Viking informs ITMRCC that she is Heading towards the distress position previously reported by the Inmarsat text message.

Updated distress position: 34 21N 012 18E

MTRCC informs Ocean Viking that a drone has been sent to fly over the reported distress area.

The Ocean Viking also calls MTRCC via Sat phone to share updated information on the distress situation of the overcrowded wooden boat.

04:26 Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC recapping events.

The reported position of the distress case alerted to by Alarm Phone is close to the latest position of the SAR case alerted to by the Inmarsat text message.

05:34 Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC, ITMRCC and MTRCC informing that MTRCC confirmed by phone that the Inmarsat distress case is the same as the Alarm Phone one. Ocean Viking informs that has visual on the overcrowded wooden boat and is going to launch her Rhibs.

The wooden boat in distress is overcrowded, with a Freeboard very low, fuel smell and a list on port side. Onboard there are women and children.

Latitude: 34.43333
Longitude: 12.41667
07:27 Ocean Viking sends an email to MTRCC (with ITMRCC and LYJRCC in copy) informing of the completion of the rescue.

Ocean Viking position: 34 10.2N 012 24.6E

Reported distress position: N34°33. 24 E012°51.00

10:47 Ocean Viking send an email to MTRCC (with ITMRCC in copy) alerting to the distress case and informing that she is proceeding towards the distress position.

Updated distress position: 34 34N 012 51E.

Ocean Viking position 34 34.1 N 012 44.1 E

Latitude: 34.63833
Longitude: 12.81
15:02 Ocean Viking sends an email to MTRCC (with LYJRCC and ITMRCC in copy) informing of the rescue completion.

Ocean Viking position: 34 04N 012 36.5E

18:07 Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC (with MTRCC, ITMRCC and Pilotes Volontaires in copy) informing that Ocean Viking is proceeding towards the distress position.

Updated distress position: 33 50N 011 58E (at 18:36 CEST), Heading North.

Updated distress position: 33 57 N 12 02 E

21:55 Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC (with MTRCC, ITMRCC and Pilotes Volontaires in copy) informing that she has target on radar with speed and course corresponding to the distress case and will launch her Rhibs for further investigation.

The large wooden boat is overcrowded, with between 200 and 300 people on board, and at high risk of capsizing.

July 5, 2021

Latitude: 34.13667
Longitude: 12.18167
10:11 Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC (with MTRCC and ITMRCC in copy) informing of the completion of the rescue.
11:32 Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC and MTRCC (with ITMRCC in copy) requesting a Place of Safety for the 572 survivors onboard.
14:39 Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC (with MTRCC and LYJRCC in copy) requesting assistance for the designation of a Place of Safety.

Ocean Viking informs that we she will run out of pre-packed ’24 hours food kits’ after four days.

July 6, 2021

13:41 Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC (with MTRCC and LYJRCC in copy) requesting for assistance in finding a Place of Safety and facilitate a prompt disembarkation of all 572 survivors.

July 7, 2021

11:26 Ocean Viking sends a request for assistance in finding a Place of Safety for the 572 survivors onboard by email to ITMRCC (with MTRCC and LYJRCC in copy).

A man in an acute psychological distress jumped overboard. He explained his desperate gesture by saying that If he knew when disembarkation would take place, he could have hold on but that he could not take the uncertainty anymore.

July 8, 2021

Ocean Viking provides an update on the medical situation of the survivors onboard.

Among some survivors the medical and care team observes an increase of psychological distress. The heat and the lack of space is worsening the condition among all survivors and tensions arise. The situation is aggravating by hour.

17:53 Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC (with MTRCC and LYJRCC in copy) requesting for assistance in finding a Place of Safety and facilitate a prompt disembarkation of all 572 survivors
20:42 Ocean Viking receives via a phone call the instructions to disembark the 572 survivors in Augusta, Italy.

July 9, 2021

09:00 Ocean Viking is moored in the port of Augusta, Italy.
11:30 Disembarkation of survivors in the port of Augusta starts.

The quarantine will begin at the end of the process of disembarkation of the survivors.

July 10, 2021

20:42 Disembarkation of all survivors in the port of Augusta, Italy, is over.

July 24, 2021

10:48 Ocean Viking leaves the port of Augusta, Sicily.

Ocean Viking stops in position 36 51.7’N 015 35’E to launch RHIBs to perform drills at sea.

17:15 All RHIBs recovered. Ocean Viking resumes navigation.

July 25, 2021

According to Alarm Phone, the boat is drifting, with about 50 people onboard, including six women and four children.

Ocean Viking position: 33 21.6N 014 12.6E

Reported distress position: 34 38 848 N 014 42 609 E (about 80 NM North of OV)

17:57 Ocean Viking informs MTRCC via email of her altering course towards the reported distress position.

Updated reported distress position: 34 41 332 N 014 43 011 E

21:23 Ocean Viking calls MTRCC via Satellite phone seeking coordination of the search operation. MTRCC does not answer the phone.
21:30 Ocean Viking calls MTRCC via Satellite phone seeking coordination of the search operation. MTRCC does not answer the phone.
21:33 Ocean Viking calls MTRCC via Satellite phone seeking coordination of the search operation. MTRCC does not answer the phone.
21:40 Ocean Viking calls MTRCC via Satellite phone seeking coordination of the search operation. MTRCC does not answer the phone.
21:58 Ocean Viking calls MTRCC via Satellite phone seeking coordination of the search operation. MTRCC does not answer the phone.
22:06 Ocean Viking sends an email to MTRCC informing that she has tried multiple times to reach them via Sat phone without success.
22:44 Ocean Viking calls MTRCC via Satellite phone seeking coordination of the search operation. MTRCC does not answer the phone.
22:48 Ocean Viking calls MTRCC via Satellite phone seeking coordination of the search operation. MTRCC does not answer the phone.