OPERATION 8-21 July 2026

07:20 Ocean Viking departs from Syracuse.

22:15 Ocean Viking completes the trainings and heads towards the area of operations.

14:23 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email by Alarm Phone about a rubber boat in distress with approx. 30 POB, incl. women and children.

12:20 Ocean Viking spots an empty wooden boat, no engines, no markings. Ocean Viking resumes navigation.

13:45 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone about an updated position for the last distress case, located on an abandoned offshore platform.

13:52 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone about a drifting fiber glass boat in distress with 21 POB, incl. women and children.

11:22 Ocean Viking overhears a Mayday Relay via VHF.

13:24 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Pilotes Volontaires about a rubber boat in distress with approx. 15 POB.

14:20 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Pilotes Volontaires stating their crew witnessed the interception of the previous distress case.

15:26 Ocean Viking overhears a Mayday Relay via VHF from an unknown station.

15:28 Ocean Viking calls via VHF to request more information about the distress case reported in the Mayday Relay. Bridge learns it’s a rubber boat with approx. 40 POB.

15:29 Ocean Viking adjusts speed and course to calculated interception course.

15:30 Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli via SatPhone to inform about intentions. No answer.

15:41 The Ocean Viking emails the Libyan Coast Guard (with ITMRCC and Maltese MRCC in copy), informing about the distress case and intention to provide assistance.

16:03 Ocean Viking has visual on a fast moving vessel on radar.

16:11 Ocean Viking tries to make contact with Libyan Coast Guard vessel via VHF. No answer.

16:20 Ocean Viking witnesses the interception of the people onboard the boat in distress by Libyan Coast Guard vessel.

22:48 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone about a rubber boat in distress with 10 POB incl. pregnant women and children.

04:32 Ocean Viking is shadowed by an unidentified asset, seen on radar and thermal camera.

05:32 Ocean Viking witnesses a fast approaching vessel on radar.

06:12 Ocean Viking identifies vessel as Libyan Coast Guard and calls twice via VHF. No answer.

06:30 Ocean Viking is called via VHF by LCG and ordered to head North, which the ship is already doing.

06:42 Ocean Viking calls LCG asset via VHF and gets asked whether they have survivors onboard and about shadowing vessel. Ocean Viking explains that there was no communication.

06:48 Ocean Viking is called via VHF by LCG, saying NGO vessels are causing problems in their waters, that all NGO treated the same. Ocean Viking is asked to leave the area.

06:49 Ocean Viking calls LCG vessel asking to keep safe distance in accordance to COLREG.

07:24 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone about an updated position of the last distress case.

08:54 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone about an updated position of the last distress case, correcting the previous position which appeared wrong.

09:30 Ocean Viking overhears a Mayday Relay by Frontex aircraft Eagle 1 via VHF about a boat in distress with 15 POB.

09:38 Ocean Viking overhears a Mayday Relay from an unknown station via VHF about a boat in distress.

09:57 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone about a fiberglass boat in distress with approx. 12 POB including women and a baby.

10:05 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Pilotes Volontaires about a rubber boat in distress, adrift, with approx. 15 POB.

11:25 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email by Pilotes Volontaires stating they witnessed the interception of the previously reported distress case.

07:22 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone about a fiberglass boat in distress with approx 25 POB.

07:33 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email by M/V Aurora requesting RCCs to launch a SAR operation about the distress case from Alarm Phone, and informing she is proceeding towards the last known position.

08:12 Ocean Viking overhears via VHF Libyan CG ordering M/V Aurora to alter course North.

09:44 Ocean Viking overhears a Mayday Relay via VHF from Frontex’s Eagle 1 aircraft about an iron boat in distress with approx 15 POB.

10:30 Ocean Viking overhears via VHF an updated position from Eagle 1 about the distress case.

10:37 Ocean Viking changes course to calculated interception location.

11:16 Ocean Viking overhears via VHF an updated position from Eagle 1 about the distress case.

14:25 Ocean Viking observes a fast approaching target on the radar and by binocular.

15:46 Ocean Viking contacts Tunisian Navy via V-SAT to inform about the shadowing vessel.

16:33 Crew on the lookout has visual on suspected distress case.

16:45 Ocean Viking informs Tunisian MRCC (ITMRCC in copy) about having visual on a potential distress, that the crew stands ready to render assistance, and asks to be informed about SAR action plan.

16:55 Ocean Viking emails Tunisian MRCC (ITMRCC in copy) sharing the first assessment from the bridge and informs RHIBS will be launched.

16:56 Rhibs are launched.

17:05 Ocean Viking emails Tunisian MRCC (ITMRCC in copy) sharing the last assessment and informing crew will proceed to the rescue of the people in distress.

17:27 The crew completes the recovery operation of 38 POB who are safely brought onboard the Ocean Viking.

17:45 Ocean Viking informs Tunisian MRCC (ITMRCC in copy) about the rescue, and requests a Place of Safety to disembark the 38 people.

19:54 Ocean Viking is shadowed by an unidentified RHIB.

21:18 Ocean Viking is assigned Civitavecchia as a Place of Safety by Italian authorities to disembark survivors.

21:46 Ocean Viking requests a closer port.

22:17 Ocean Viking receives an email by Italian authorities, stating a closer port cannot be considered and asking to proceed to Civitavecchia.

12:36 Ocean Viking overhears a Mayday Relay via VHF.

20:04 Ocean Viking calls Italian MRCC via V-SAT to inform about visual on a potential distress case. Red light to deviate. MRCC requests information via email.

20:34 Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC with the information regarding the potential distress case which was spotted.

07:19 Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone about a boat in distress with 12 POB.

11:31 Ocean Viking arrives in Civitavecchia.

12:13 Disembarkation of the 38 survivors starts.

13:45 Disembarkation is complete.