Ocean Viking emails ITMRCC and MTRCC to report that the vessel has received sat phone calls where the caller claimed to be an occupant of a boat in distress with about 250 persons on board seeking assistance, adrift in position 34 34 24 08N 016 21 34E.

The caller claimed to have received Ocean Viking telephone number from RCC Malta, which instructed them to contact Ocean Viking, as this vessel is the area. 

The caller informed that the distress boat is without water and they are asking to be rescued. 

The information above seems to indicate the subject boat may be the one referred to by Alarm Phone alert AP1018 and aircraft Seabird2 spotting. 

While informing that Ocean Viking is currently underway to Civitavecchia port as per ITMRCC instructions, Ocean Viking seeks information and instruction in regards to the subject boat. 

Ocean Viking best ETA to the distress case can be 0200UTC on the 08^th of July.