ONBOARD SOS MEDITERRANEE Activities and observations of our rescue ship in the Central Mediterranean

SITUATION RECAP

Last update 23/12/2019 at 18h54 (All times in UTC+1)

– On the 20th of December, Ocean Viking rescued 112 people from a rubber boat in distress in the international waters of the Libyan Search and Rescue Region. The boat in distress was reported by Alarm Phone to the Libyan JRCC in the early morning and was spotted by Ocean Viking roughly 1.5 hour later. Ocean Viking reported all information to the Libyan JRCC throughout the whole SAR operation. Ocean Viking then requested a Place of Safety for the 112 survivors to the Libyan JRCC; no reply was received.

– On the same day, 20th of December, Ocean Viking rescued 50 people from a wooden boat in distress in the international waters of the Maltese Search and Rescue Region. The boat in distress was reported by Moonbird airplane (Sea-Watch) to the Maltese RCC in the early afternoon and was spotted by Ocean Viking in the late evening. Ocean Viking conducted the operation under coordination of Maltese RCC.

– On the 21st of December, Ocean Viking requested a Place of Safety for the 162 survivors to MTRCC and ITMRCC

– On the 22nd of December, Ocean Viking requested a Medical evacuation to Italian MRCC. 3 survivors were winched, roughly 2 hours later, on board an Italian Coast Guard helicopter.

– On the 22nd of December, ITMRCC informed Ocean Viking that Taranto (IT) had been assigned as a Place of Safety for the 159 survivors remaining on board.

– On the 23rd of December, all 159 survivors disembarked in Taranto (IT).

Search

December 14, 2019
08:37

Ocean Viking leaves the port of Marseille

December 15, 2019
December 16, 2019
16:30

Ocean Viking resumes sea passage towards the central Med

December 17, 2019
December 18, 2019
December 19, 2019
December 20, 2019
05:00

Ocean Viking calls Libyan JRCC by SAT phone on 5 different numbers. No reply

05:47

Ocean Viking has visual contact with the white rubber boat.

06:42

Rescue operation initiated

07:59

In position 33° 24.2′ N 012° 49,8′ E, all survivors are safely brought on board Ocean Viking

Latitude: 33.85
Longitude: 012.57
22:34

Ocean Viking launches first RIHB in the water

December 21, 2019
December 22, 2019
18:37

Italian Coast Guard Helicopter is hovering over Ocean Viking. Medical Evacuation starts

December 23, 2019
15:55

Ocean Viking arrives to Taranto Port