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

SITUATION RECAP

Last update 27/08/2019 at 13h30 (All times in UTC+2)

-Between the 9 and the 12 of August, Ocean Viking had completed 4 rescues and safely transferring a total of 355 survivors on the Ocean Viking

-On the 23 of August at 19h21, the transfer of all people onto a vessel of the Maltese Armed Forces is completed

-On the 27 of August at 13h30, Ocean Viking has arrived in Marseille

Search

August 4, 2019
August 5, 2019
August 6, 2019
August 7, 2019
14:45

Ocean Viking stops at 36°36.7’N, 013°36.6’E position to perform rescue simulation

18:58

Maltese Maritime Autorities informs Ocean Viking that bunkering into territorial waters is not permitted

20:10

Ocean Viking is heading south towards Libyan Search and Rescue Region

August 8, 2019
22:15

Ocean Viking calls Libyan JRCC by satellite phone and receives no response

23:30

Ocean Viking sends an email to Libyan JRCC, Italian MRCC and Maltese JRCC informing about search operations

August 9, 2019
00:38

Ocean Viking calls Libyan JRCC by satellite phone and VHF but receives no response

01:37

Ocean Viking spots flash lights in the water and launches the 2 rhibs at sea

08:10

Ocean Viking hears VHF all ships call from patrol aircraft about a rubber boat at position 33°55’N, 013°28’E

09:10

First visual contact with a possible boat in distress

10:30

Stabilisation of the boat in distress in progress

11:35

Rescue of a rubber boat completed, 85 survivors safely onboard Ocean Viking

18:57

Ocean Viking acknowledges Libyan JRCC’s email and informs it will contact competent authorities to request a place of safety

August 10, 2019
10:00

Ocean viking calls Libyan JRCC by Fleet Broad Band phone but receives no response

10:05

Ocean Viking alters course heading north towards the search area at a speed of 9 knots

10:31

First visual contact with a white rubber boat

10:59

Ocean Viking launches 2 rescue boats in the water

12:05

Rescue of a white rubber boat completed, survivors safely onboard Ocean Viking

Latitude: 33.597
Longitude: 14.248
August 11, 2019
09:00

Ocean Viking observes EU patrol aircraft circling on the radar

09:13

Ocean Viking alters course towards the position of the EU patrol aircraft

10:37

Ocean viking calls Libyan JRCC by satellite phone but receives no response

10:40

Ocean Viking calls EU patrol aircraft on VHF informing about potential target

10:55

Ocean Viking calls EU patrol aircraft on VHF for a situation update

August 12, 2019
10:30

Ocean Viking overhears VHF distress call from a fishing boat with medical emergency on board, 60NM away

11:10

Ocean Viking alters course towards the potential boat in distress position

13:06

Ocean viking calls Libyan JRCC by satellite phone but receives no response

13:22

Ocean Viking launches 2 rescue boats in the water

13:37

Ocean Viking calls Libyan JRCC by VHF but receives no response

16:00

2 RHIBS and 3 life Rafts recovered onboard

16:22

Ocean viking calls Libyan JRCC by satellite phone but receives no response

18:38

EU patrol aircraft informs all ships by VHF about position of the rubber boat in distress in the Maltese SRR

August 13, 2019
14:48

Ocean Viking alters course towards north while requesting a place of safety at a speed of 5 knots

16:36

Ocean Viking calls Libyan JRCC by satellite phone informing about a potential boat in distress

August 14, 2019
August 15, 2019
August 16, 2019
August 17, 2019
August 18, 2019
August 19, 2019
18:40

Ocean Viking is standing by in the overlapping Italian and Maltese SRR in the international waters, at the position 36°18.7’N 013°23.7’E, waiting for further guidance from the authorities

August 20, 2019
August 21, 2019
18:20

Ocean Viking receives an email from ITMRCC informing that ITMRCC never received any official communication from Ocean Viking bridge due to technical issues with their email account

August 22, 2019
August 23, 2019
16:55

RHIB Easy 1 and Easy 2 are in the water, ready to transfer survivors to Maltese Armed Forces Patrol Boat in international waters

August 24, 2019
August 25, 2019
August 26, 2019
August 27, 2019
13:30

Ocean Viking arrives in Marseille for a port call