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

SITUATION RECAP

Last update 11/24/2019 at 17h17 (All times in UTC+1)

– On the 19th of November, Ocean Viking rescued 95 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 morning and was spotted by Ocean Viking roughly two hours later. Ocean Viking kept the Libyan JRCC continuously informed during the SAR event

– On the 20th of November, Ocean Viking searched for a rubber boat reported by alarm phone. The boat was later intercepted by LNCG. Later the same day, Ocean Viking rescued 30 people from a fiberglass boat in distress in the international waters of the Libyan Search and Rescue Region. The boat was spotted by Ocean Viking and LYJRCC was informed accordingly before rescue took place

– After Ocean Viking sent a request for a Place of Safety, Libyan JRCC offered Tripoli as a Place of Safety. Ocean Viking refused Tripoli as a Place of Safety since Libyan ports do not conform to the definition of Place Of Safety and requested a Place of Safety to ITMRCC and MTJRCC

– On the 21st of November, Ocean Viking rescued 90 survivors from a rubber boat in distress in the international waters of the Libyan Search and Rescue Region after searching for it all night. The boat in distress was reported to the Libyan JRCC and to Ocean Viking by alarm phone on the 20th of November

– Later the same day, Ocean Viking asked ITMRCC, MTJRCC and LYJRCC for a medevac for two survivors. MTJRCC coordinated requested medevac by helicopter on the 22nd of November

– On the 23rd of November, ITMRCC assigned Messina as a place of safety for the remaining 213 survivors

– On the 24th of November, all 213 survivors disembarked in Messina

Search

November 9, 2019
13:00

Ocean Viking leaves the Port of Marseille

November 10, 2019
November 11, 2019
November 12, 2019
November 13, 2019
19:22

Maltese JRCC sends a Navtex message about empty wooden boat in position 34°04’N 013°53’E

19:54

Ocean Viking asks Maltese JRCC if it should proceed to empty boat adrift and receives a negative answer

November 14, 2019
November 15, 2019
10:30

Airplane Moonbird calls Ocean Viking on radio to inform of patrol flight

12:24

Airplane Moonbird informs Ocean Viking about the end of their patrol

November 16, 2019
09:10

Airplane Moonbird calls Ocean Viking on radio to inform of patrol flight

16:04

Ocean Viking’s RHIB identifies a deflated rubber boat in position 33°29.9’N 012°23.1’E

16:35

Ocean Viking resumes navigation

November 17, 2019
November 18, 2019
15:07

Ocean Viking calls Maltese JRCC and asks further information about the observed AFM SAR helicopter operating further South. Ocean Viking offers assistance and receives a negative answer.

November 19, 2019
04:35

Ocean Viking calls LYJRCC on three different numbers and receives no response

04:48

Ocean Viking receives an email from Alarm Phone with an updated distress position

05:04

Ocean Viking forwards updated position to LYJRCC

06:25

First visual contact with a white rubber boat

06:39

Ocean Viking calls LNCG on VHF several times without response

06:47

Libyan Coast Guard calls Ocean Viking on VHF, contact cannot be established

06:49

Libyan JRCC orders Ocean Viking to remain on standby

06:51

Ocean Viking calls LYJRCC by SAT phone but receives no response

07:15

Distribution of lifejackets to people in distress is finalised

09:26

Attempt to call the Libyan Coast Guard on VHF channel 16, no reply

16:33

Ocean Viking sends the MIR report to the Libyan JRCC

November 20, 2019
08:28

Call to the Libyan JRCC, Ocean Viking is told there is no English speaker available

08:38

An Arabic-speaker calls the Libyan JRCC and is told to call again in 30 mn due to problems with electricity

10:45

Ocean Viking calls LYJRCC by SAT phone but receives no response

11:16

Attempt to call the Libyan JRCC, no reply

11:28

Distribution of lifejackets to people in distress is finalised

18:25

Ocean Viking receives an email from LYJRCC designating Tripoli (Libya) as Place of Safety

21:48

Attempt to call the Libyan JRCC, no reply

21:50

Attempt to call the Libyan JRCC, no reply

22:03

Call to the Italian MRCC to request information, the Ocean Viking is advised to contact the Libyan JRCC

November 21, 2019
00:37

Attempt to call the Libyan JRCC, no reply

09:54

Attempt to call the Libyan JRCC, no reply

10:40

Attempt to call the EUNAVFOR MED plane spotted flying over Ocean Viking on VHF, no reply

12:48

First visual contact with a black rubber boat

13:35

Seriously injured survivor is evacuated to Easy 2 for medical care

18:11

The Ocean Viking requests an update on the Medevac to the Maltese JRCC

November 22, 2019
01:21

Call to the Maltese JRCC about distress reported by Alarm Phone

02:04

Call to the Maltese JRCC to exchange information, Ocean Viking informs she is one hour away from the first boat

02:36

Call to the Maltese JRCC to ask whether Maltese assets are on-scene

02:56

Call to the Maltese JRCC to confirm that the vessel is a Maltese military ship

03:07

Attempt to call the Maltese patrol vessel, no reply

03:30

Call to the Maltese JRCC to request information on the observed military ship and remind about the medevac

03:36

Call to the Maltese JRCC and agreement that the Ocean Viking will head towards the second boat

November 23, 2019
17:09

Call to the Italian MRCC to offer assistance if needed

17:17

Call to the Italian MRCC to request phone number of Lampedusa Coast Guard

17:20

Call to the Lampedusa Coast Guard to inform of availability to assist

November 24, 2019
14:25

Ocean Viking arrives in Messina Port

15:18

Ocean Viking commences disembarkation of survivors

Latitude: 38.18
Longitude: 015.55
November 25, 2019
November 26, 2019
09:00

Ocean Viking is alongside in Messina

November 27, 2019
09:00

Ocean Viking is alongside in Messina