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.