OPERATION - 8-15 November 2023

16:00 Ocean Viking leaves the port of Syracuse towards the area of operations.

11:55 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Pilotes Volontaires adressed to ITMRCC and Malta RCC about a boat spotted in distress

Ocean Viking in position 33 53 (N) 012 56 (E)

12:03 Ocean Viking sends an email to JRCC Tripoli, with ITMRCC, Malta RCC and Pilotes Volontaires in copy, informing that she is available to assist.

12:54 Ocean Viking receives an email from Pilotes Volontaires informing about the last known position for the distress case: 33°25N 12°23E, at 1105UTC.

13:49 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli via Sat Phone, no answer.

13:54 Colibri 2 from Pilotes Volontaires informs Ocean Viking via Airband that the aircraft spotted a Libyan patrol vessel 12NM away from Ocean Viking, navigating South.

Ocean Viking in position 33 42.3 (N) 012 34.0 (E)

14:17 Ocean Viking calls the Libyan patrol vessel via VHF to request permission to perform the rescue. The conversation seems to be held with a different asset than the one on scene.

Ocean Viking in position 33 39.9 (N) 012 29.4 (E)

14:24 Ocean Viking witnesses interception of the distress case by the Libyan patrol vessel in position 33 37.5 (N) 012 23.2 (E).

14:37 Ocean Viking sends an email to JRCC Tripoli, with ITMRCC and Malta RCC in copy, informing about the interception of the boat in distress in position 33 37.7N 012 23E.

00:07 Whilst in the Libyan SRR in position 33 37 N 012 29 E, Ocean Viking receives an email from “Watch The Med – Alarm Phone” alerting to a boat in distress.

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

00:17 Ocean Viking emails Tripoli JRCC to report about the distress situation and to inform that Ocean Viking is proceeding towards the target (about 3NM away) ready to provide assistance.

00:20 Ocean Viking is 0.5NM from the subject boat and observes what follows: the boat is unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, overcrowded with about 40 people on board, all exposed to the elements, 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.

00:23 Ocean Viking (in position 33 37 N 012 33 E) emails Tripoli JRCC to update about the assessment and to inform Ocean Viking will proceed to the assistance of the people in distress.

00:27 Ocean Viking RHIBs are launched to proceed with the recovery of the people in distress.

00:30 Ocean Viking Rhibs starts evacuation of the people in distress from the white fibreglass boat to Ocean Viking.

00:42 Evacuation of 33 survivors onto Ocean Viking complete.

The white fibreglass boat left the scene at full speed with one person on board.

Latitude: 33.61694
Longitude: 12.55

00:45 The Italian authorities assign Ortona, as a Place of Safety for the 33 survivors onboard.

00:49 Ocean Viking (in position 33 37 N 012 33 E) emails Tripoli JRCC to inform that Ocean Viking completed the recovery operation of the persons in distress.

Ocean Viking also informs the authorities that the white fibreglass boat left the scene at full speed with one person on board.

02:56 Whilst in the Libyan SRR in position 33 37.3 N 012 39.0 E, and on route to POS of Ortona, Ocean Viking receives an email from “Watch The Med – Alarm Phone” alerting to a boat in distress.

03:15 Ocean Viking contacts ITMRCC via satellite phone to inform about the distress case and request coordination to proceed to render assistance to the people in distress. ITMRCC duty officer is busy and asks Ocean Viking to return the call after 10 minutes.

03:24 Ocean Viking (in position 33 39 N 012 48 E) emails Tripoli JRCC and ITMRCC to report on the distress situation and inform of Ocean Viking’s capability to assist with the rescue of the people in distress with best Estimated Time of Arrival to last known position at 04h20 UTC. No answer was received.

03:33 Ocean Viking contacts ITMRCC via satellite phone to report on the situation. ITMRCC informs Ocean Viking that distress case is inside Libyan SRR and requires Ocean Viking to contact Tripoli JRCC to ask for coordination to proceed towards the distress case. If Tripoli JRCC requests Ocean Viking’s assistance with the distress case the vessel will be temporarily relived of its obligation to proceed towards assigned Port of Safety with maximum sustainable speed and most direct course.

03:37 Ocean Viking tries in multiple occasions to obtain clear instructions from Tripoli JRCC, to no avail.

03:50 Ocean Viking reduces it speed to drift waiting for clear instructions from Tripoli JRCC to her offer of assistance to person in distress at sea.

03:57 Ocean Viking contacts ITMRCC via satellite phone to seek for clarification on the instructions. ITMRCC says that Tripoli JRCC is coordinating the rescue. If Ocean Viking assistance is requested by coordinating authorities Ocean Viking can proceed to distress case.

04:37 Ocean Viking (in position 33 39.6 N 012 51.1 E) receives an email from “Watch The Med – Alarm Phone” with an updated position for distress case. This position is only 16NM away from Ocean Viking evidencing Ocean Viking duty to render assistance as per International Law being the closest asset to the distress case with the ability to rescue the people in distress.

04:47 Ocean Viking has internet connection issues and receives an email from ITMRCC sent initially at 0410UTC+2. ITMRCC reminds Ocean Viking that the distress case under the coordination of JRCC Tripoli and if no instructions are received, Ocean Viking is requested to proceed without delay to the POS Ortona.

05:15 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC acknowledging ITMRCC’s reminder on a vessel obligation to proceed to POS with the maximum sustainable speed and most direct course. Ocean Viking, as well as expressing its intention to proceed to POS at the earliest possible, also communicates to ITMRCC of Ocean Viking’s indisputable legal obligation under International Law to render assistance to people on distress at sea, of its proximity, to the distress case and the risk for imminent and grave danger or loss of life at sea.

Ocean Viking understands not proceeding with all possible speed to the assistance of these persons in distress, while being only 16 NM from these people in distress and in a position to render such assistance and not having positive information on them being safely recovered by another capable asset, may amount to breach of the legal obligation to render assistance to persons in distress at sea.

Ocean Viking was not released from the obligation to render assistance due to the absence of positive information on these persons in distress being safely recovered by another capable asset.

The intention of this vessel is to then resume sea passage to the already assigned PoS. This diversion only add 16 NM to the route.

06:00 Ocean Viking (in position 33 38 N 012 51 E) emails Tripoli JRCC and ITMRCC to report on the situation and to inform that Ocean Viking is 0.3NM away from the subject boat observing the following: the boat is unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, overcrowded with about 40 people on board including children, all exposed to the elements, and without any life saving appliance.

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. This is a case of force majeure (ref.SOLAS Art. IV (b)) imposing to retrieve persons in danger of being lost at sea therefore Ocean Viking proceeds with the assistance of the people in distress.

06:03 Ocean Viking RHIBs are launched to proceed with the recovery of the people in distress. The first assessment showed immediate medical attention needs. Ocean Viking RHIBs starts evacuation of the people in distress from the white fibreglass boat to Ocean Viking.

06:17 Evacuation of all 34 survivors onto Ocean Viking complete.

Latitude: 33.63361
Longitude: 12.852

06:25 Ocean Viking (in position 33 38 N 012 51 E) emails Tripoli JRCC and ITMRCC to inform that Ocean Viking completed the recovery operation of the persons in distress and the new Estimated Time of Arrival to POS Ortona is 15th November at 0200 UTC to disembark all 67 survivors who are on board.

11:17 Whilst in the Libyan SRR in position 34 09.2’N 013 20.3’E, and on route to POS of Ortona, Ocean Viking receives a MAYDAY RELAY call on VHF CH16 from an unidentified source to all ships, alerting to a boat in distress.

The following information is relayed: “Small boat in position 33 53 N 013 56 E, they need help. No food, no water.” There is reasonable certainty that the persons on board the case boat are threatened by grave and imminent danger of being lost at sea and require immediate assistance.

11:20 Ocean Viking contacts ITMRCC via satellite phone to inform about the distress case and ability to provide assistance.

11:21 Ocean Viking (in position 34 11 N 013 23 E) receives another alert via VHF CH16.

The following information is relayed: “Small boat with people on board needs help in position 33 53 N 013 56 E”.

11:25 Ocean Viking contacts the source of the MAYDAY RELAY on VHF CH16. The unidentified source informs Ocean Viking they have seen a small boat with about 20 people on board in need of assistance. The source identified itself as a fishing vessel.

11:35 Ocean Viking (in position 34 11.4 N 013 22.3 E) emails Tripoli JRR and ITMRCC to inform on the distress situation, and notes Ocean Viking’s duty to render assistance to persons in distress at sea as per applicable International Law.

11:43 Ocean Viking contacts Tripoli JRCC via satellite phone to inform on the distress situation and on the capability of Ocean Viking to render assistance to the distress case. Communication with Tripoli JRCC is hampered due to a language barrier.

11:52 Ocean Viking contacts ITMRCC via satellite phone to inform on the distress situation and on the impossibility to understand instructions from Tripoli JRCC due to a language barrier.

12:11 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC and Tripoli JRCC expressing its intention to proceed to POS at the earliest possible, referring to its indisputable legal obligation under International Law, to render assistance to people in distress at sea.

Considering the all ship mayday relay issued, Ocean Viking’s proximity to the distress case, the lack of other capable assets in the area and the risk for imminent and grave danger or loss of life at sea, Ocean Viking is proceeding to the distress case to render assistance. Ocean Viking understands not proceeding with all possible speed to the assistance of these persons in distress, while being only 30NM away and in a position to render such assistance and not having positive information on them being safely recovered by another capable asset, may amount to breach of the legal obligation to render assistance to persons in distress at sea. Ocean Viking will consider to be released from the obligation to render assistance when receiving positive information on these persons in distress being safely recovered by another capable asset. The intention of this vessel is to then resume sea passage to the already assigned PoS. This diversion will only add 30 NM to the route.

12:36 Ocean Viking sends an email to Pilotes Volontaires to ask for update information on the distress case.

14:26 Ocean Viking (in position 34 08 N 013 52 E) receives another alert via VHF CH16.

The following information is relayed: “Boat in need of help in position 34 15 N 014 04 E” from an unknow source.

14:43 Ocean Viking receives a radio call from air asset Colibri 2 confirming the alert received via VHR CH16 with the following: “wooden boat with about 30 people on board matching the coordinates given through VHF CH16.”

The wooden boat is unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, overcrowded with about 30 people on board, all exposed to the elements, the weather in the area is unstable with storm clouds forming and possibility of rain and strong gusts of wind.

14:57 Ocean Viking emails Tripoli JRCC and ITMRCC to report on the situation and to inform that Ocean Viking is 11NM away from the subject boat ready to launch the RHIBs to proceed to the rescue of the persons in distress.

15:30 Ocean Viking RHIBs are with the subject boat to assess the situation.

The boat in distress is a blue wooden boat with over 50 people on board including women and children all exposed to the elements and without Life Saving Appliances. The boat is listing dangerously to port. The wooden boat is unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas and overcrowded.

16:18 Evacuation of 61 survivors onto Ocean Viking complete.

Latitude: 34.30027
Longitude: 14.08583

17:42 Ocean Viking (in position 33 18 N 014 06 E) emails Tripoli JRCC and ITMRCC to inform that Ocean Viking completed the recovery operation of the persons in distress and the ETA set on the 15th November at 0300 UTC to disembark all 128 survivors who are currently on board.

00:30 Ocean Viking arrives in the port of Ortona.

02:57 The disembarkation of the 128 survivors starts.

04:42 Disembarkation complete.

15:17 OCEAN VIKING > 128 survivors, 8 – 15 November 2023, disembarkation: Ortona

Read the whole report about this operation here.