Ocean Viking requests a place of safety to ITMRCC and RCC Malta
“Dear Sir,  
As communicated earlier, Ocean Viking conducted 4 rescues of a total of 356 people in distress on the 9th, 10th,  11th and 12th August. Please refer to OV MIR reports previously shared for more details. All rescues took place in international waters, in the Libyan SRR, in the strictest adherence to the UNCLOS, SOLAS and SAR conventions. On the 9th and 12th August, JRCC Tripoli communicated Tripoli as a Place of Safety for the disembarkation of 356 survivors. Ocean Viking responded on the 10th  and 12th  August that Libyan ports cannot be considered as a Place of Safety and requested an alternative POS to disembark survivors onboard. No response has been received so far. Ocean Viking reiterated a request of Place of Safety following the 4 rescues allowing to disembark safely the 356 survivors onboard the vessel on the 9th, 10th , 11th and 12th August. No response has been received as of today 15th August 16h47. According to international maritime conventions and regulations (IMO Resolution MSC.167 (78): in a case where the RCC responsible for the area where the survivors are recovered cannot be contacted, attempt to contact another RCC, or if that is impractical, any other Government authority that may be able to assist, while recognizing that responsibility still rests with the RCC of the area in which the survivors are recovered), we are now formally requesting Maltese and Italian maritime authorities, as the RCCs most able to assist, to take coordination and support finding a Place of Safety that fulfils the criteria set by Maritime and International Law to disembark safely and as soon as possible the 356 survivors, including 103 minors, on board the vessel. We specifically request assistance to ITMRCC and RCC Malta, as according to the locations of the rescues involving our vessel, they are the next two closest RCCs listed on the IMO database. There are some people who have been at sea for over a week. Due to the poor weather conditions, the majority of survivors are suffering from seasickness. The situation on-board remains stable for the time being, with our medical team treating people for various conditions to try and ease their suffering. We hope that a quick solution can be found as soon as possible.  I thank you in advance for your collaboration and assistance. Please acknowledge receipt of this message.”