At 13:45, Ocean Viking stops in position 37°04,7’N 015°35,4’E to conduct drills at sea. RHIBs Easy 1, Easy 2 and Easy 3 are launched for rescue procedure exercises.
08:10
On April 18th, Ocean Viking leaves the port of Syracuse (IT).
On April 22nd, the Ocean Viking witnesses the aftermath of a shipwreck that claimed up to 130 lives in international waters in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region. (Find a recap of events here.)
On April 27th, at 11:45, 236 survivors are rescued from two rubber boats in distress and brought to safety onboard Ocean Viking.
On April 28th, as the team on Ocean Viking prepared for the rescue of a rubber boat in distress, the Libyan Coast Guard arrived on scene and intercepted the boat. A second boat in distress that Ocean Viking was also alerted to was intercepted by the Libyan Coast Guard as well.
On April 30, Ocean Viking receives instructions to proceed to Augusta, Italy, to disembark the 236 survivors.
On May 1, Ocean Viking disembarks 236 survivors in Augusta, Italy.
On May 2, the Augusta Harbour Master notifies Ocean Viking of a 14-day quarantine as ordered by the Italian health authorities.
On May 16, Ocean Viking is granted free pratique by the Port Health Authority of Augusta.
April 14, 2021
17:25
The drills are completed and all RHIBs recovered.
April 15, 2021
11:20
The drills are completed and all RHIBs recovered.
15:30
The drills are completed and the RHIBs recovered. Ocean Viking starts heading to Siracusa port to shelter from oncoming bad weather.
17:35
Ocean Viking docks in Syracuse, Sicily.
April 18, 2021
13:00
Ocean Viking leaves the port ot Syracuse, Italy, heading south to the central Mediterranean.
April 19, 2021
April 20, 2021
April 21, 2021
01:41
Ocean Viking receives an updated position of the boat in distress from Alarm Phone (case AP 181).
09:55
Ocean Viking receives an updated position of the boat in distress (case AP 181, the first distress alert) from Alarm Phone.
13:58
Ocean Viking alters course going back to the latest known position of case AP 181 to start a new search pattern.
16:16
Ocean Viking receives from an updated position of a boat in distress (case AP 182) from Alarm Phone.
17:16
Ocean Viking receives an updated position of a boat in distress (case AP 182) from Alarm Phone.
17:50
As Ocean Viking has not succeeded in finding the first distress case (AP 181), she is now proceeding towards distress case AP 182 and informs relevant authorities. The last known position of AP 182 is 121 NM away from the Ocean Viking’s position.
21:52
Ocean Viking receives an email from Alarm Phone informing that the people on board are now without battery on their Thuraya phone (Case AP 182). The last call was too short to ask for a new position.
April 22, 2021
08:55
Ocean Viking calls the Frontex office via satellite phone asking for aerial support in the distress area.
12:24
M/V MY ROSE informs Frontex aircraft Osprey3 via VHF CH 16 that she has visual on 3 bodies in pos 33 34N 013 37E.
12:34
Frontex aircraft Osprey3 informs M/V MY ROSE and the other vessels of the position of the shipwreck via VHF CH 16 (grey rubber boat in position 33 44.44N 013 37.57E).
12:45
Ocean Viking alters course to the shipwreck. Ocean Viking position: 33 36.2 N 013 24.6 E. 13 NM to the position of the shipwreck.
13:50
M/V AIK leaves the scene and communicates via VHF CH 16 that Libyan Coast Guard patrol vessel UBARI is the coordinator, meanwhile M/T VS LISBETH left the area.
14:00
Ocean Viking has visual on the shipwreck and several bodies in the water in position 33°45.0’N 013°38.0’E.
17:05
Ocean Viking on scene, 3NM from M/V MY ROSE. Libyan Coast Guard patrol vessel Ubari not yet arrived. Ocean Viking spots several bodies in the water while standing by in the area.
19:00
M/V MY ROSE informs Ocean Viking via VHF that they received permission from a Turkish navy vessel to proceed towards their final destinations Al Khoms, Libya. Ocean Viking alters her course, heading west.
April 25, 2021
10:28
Ocean Viking calls Alarm Phone via satellite phone to confirm the position of the distress case.
10:33
Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from LYJRCC to Alarm Phone. LYJRCC acknowledges the distress message and assumes coordination of the SAR operation.
10:35
Ocean Viking informs relevant authorities that she is heading towards the last known position of distress case AP 186.
12:53
Ocean Viking reaches the last known position of distress case AP 186, no visual contact on any boat in distress.
13:02
Ocean Viking calls LYJRCC via satellite phone to ask for further information about the distress case. LYJRCC has no information on the case.
13:06
Ocean Viking calls Lt. Abdelnaser Ramdan of LYJRCC to ask for further information about the distress case. No updated position is available. Lt. Ramdan informs Ocean Viking that the Libyan Coast Guard patrol vessel cannot leave the port of Tripoli due to bad weather and that he will send an email in case there is new information.
13:47
Ocean Viking informs maritime authorities of ongoing search for distress case AP 186.
14:32
Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone to relevant authorities confirming that distress case AP 187 (the second alert of the day) is closed, as the boat drifted back to shore. No update on distress case AP 186.
15:31
Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone to relevant authorities informing that according to a relative, the people of distress case AP 186 are back on land. The case is closed.
April 27, 2021
06:23
Ocean Viking informs all relevant authorities via email that she is proceeding towards the last known position of the distress case to provide assistance. The position is approx. 36 NM from the Ocean Viking.
08:57
Ocean Viking establishes visual contact with two rubber boats in distress. 3 RHIBs are launched to assess the situation.
09:21
Ocean Viking informs all relevant authorities of the distress situation of the two rubber boats.
10:15
The evacuation of survivors from the first boat in distress to the Ocean Viking starts.
11:45
The rescue is complete. 236 survivors are safely recovered onboard Ocean Viking from two rubber boats.
Latitude: 33.334722
Longitude: 12.6175
12:05
Ocean Viking informs all relevant authorities of completion of rescue.
12:30
All 3 RHIBs are recovered.
15:16
Ocean Viking sends a Maritime Incident Report and requests a Place of Safety to LYJRCC with all relevant authorities in copy.
April 28, 2021
04:12
Ocean Viking informs relevant maritime authorities of reception of distress alert and intention to provide assistance.
04:53
Alarm Phone relays an updated position for distress case AP 190 via email to relevant maritime authorities with Ocean Viking in copy.
06:13
Alarm Phone relays an updated position for distress case AP 190 via email to relevant maritime authorities with Ocean Viking in copy.
07:00
Alarm Phone relays a position for distress case AP 191 via email to relevant maritime authorities with Ocean Viking in copy.
07:05
Ocean Viking approaches last known position of distress case AP 190, no sighting of white rubber boat in distress.
07:44
Ocean Viking establishes visual contact with a rubber boat in distress after spotting an echo on the radar. Visibility very poor. SAR team prepares for rescue.
07:54
Ocean Viking informs the relevant maritime authorities (LYJRCC with ITMRCC, MTRCC et al in copy) that visual contact has been established with a rubber boat in distress (case AP 190) and that RHIBs will be launched to assess the situation.
07:55
Libyan Coast Guard patrol vessel Fezzan reaches boat in distress and instructs Ocean Viking via VHF Channel 16 to change course and leave the area. Ocean Viking offers medical assistance if needed.
08:13
Ocean Viking alters course, proceeding to the last known position of second distress case 191.
08:56
Libyan Coast Guard patrol vessel Fezzan reaches second boat in distress (case AP 191).
09:30
Ocean Viking spots and documents wreck of the second intercepted boat in position 33°32.5’N 012°55.5’E.
09:35
Ocean Viking emails relevant authorities to inform about the second operation of Libyan Coast Guard patrol boat Fezzan.
April 29, 2021
00:30
In absence of an answer of LYJRCC to the request for a Place of Safety sent on 27/04/21 at 15:13, Ocean Viking requests ITMRCC and MTRCC to coordinate with able assist RCCs to assign a Place of Safety.
01:20
ITMRCC responds via email, instructing the Ocean Viking to contact her Flag State to “active the procedures of cooperation among States (Chapter 3 of Hamburg ’79 Convention) or the SAR Authority responsible for the area.”
09:15
Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC with her Flag State in copy, informing that both LYJRCC and the Norwegian Flag State authorities were kept informed of all operations at all times and requesting the assistance of ITMRCC in finding a Place of Safety and facilitating a prompt disembarkation of survivors.
April 30, 2021
21:30
Ocean Viking receives via a phone call the instructions to disembark the 236 shipwrecked persons in Augusta, Italy.
May 1, 2021
09:35
Ocean Viking is moored in the port of Augusta, Italy.
13:00
Disembarkation of survivors in the port of Augusta starts.
17:40
Disembarkation of 236 survivors in the port of Augusta, Italy, is over.
18:45
Ocean Viking is at anchor at Augusta roadstead, as per Harbour Master’s instructions.
May 2, 2021
09:15
Ocean Viking is notified by Augusta Harbour Master of a 14-day quarantine ordered by Italian health authorities.
May 16, 2021
12:07
