Ocean Viking leaves the port of Marseille and is heading towards the South of Sardinia.

Ocean Viking is in position 41°06.3′ N, 006°21.6′ E , sailing at a speed of 9.8 knots.

• Wind: 5 knots
• Swell: 0.3 meter
• Sea state: 2

• Distress call received via VHF
• Ocean Viking altered course towards vessel position
• Ocean Viking contacted FR MRCC via SatPhone
• VHF Contact with the vessel that informs the vessel is no longer in need of assistance
• Ocean Viking called FR MRCC via sat phone to update them on the situation
• Ocean Viking resumed course at 20h55

• Ocean Viking is in position 38°38.2′ N, 008°02.1’E sailing at a speed of 9,5 knots.
• Wind: 12 knots
• Swell: 2 meters
• Sea State: 4

Ocean Viking is in position 36°52,8′ N, 012°59,2’E sailing at a speed of 10 knots.

• Wind: 20 knots
• Swell: 0.5 meters
• Sea State: 3

RHIBs Easy 1, Easy 2 and Easy 3 are launched off starboard and port side of the ship. Bananas are deployed for practice exercices.

Ocean Viking is in position 34°26.6’N, 013°08.4 E sailing at a speed of 8 knots.

• Wind: 15 knots
• Swell: 1 meter
• Sea State: 4

Upon entering the Libyan Search and Rescue Region, Ocean Viking sends a notice to the Libyan JRCC, informing of the vessel’s readiness to conduct SAR operations. Italian MRCC, Maltese MRCC and EUNAVFOR Med are also informed. Ocean Viking additionally provides the vessel’s technical specification.

” MV Ocean Viking declares readiness for SAR operations in the Central Mediterranean Sea, South of Lampedusa and Malta, outside of Libyan Territorial Waters.    

Actual position: 34-12.7N 013-03.0E     

Proceeding with course 198, speed 8.3 kts towards patrol area ca. 25 NM off Libyan coast, remaining in international water at all times “

Ocean Viking receives an email from the NGO AlarmPhone, informing both ITMRCC and the MTJRCC about a distress case. Ocean Viking is CCed by Alarmphone to this email as according to them, Ocean Viking is the closest asset.

Ocean Viking contacts ITMRCC informing about potential boat in distress and LYJRCC non-response

Ocean Viking receives a second email from the NGO Alarm Phone, informing ITMRCC and MTJRCC of a possible alternative position of the boat in distress mentioned in the previous communication. Ocean Viking is in copy again.

• Ocean Viking calls LYJRCC by satellite phone at 23:30 and 23h50 and receives no answer.
• Ocean Viking calls LYJRCC by VHF at 23:06 and 23:41 and receives no answer.

Ocean Viking informs that LYJRCC does not respond to the call by VHF or telephone

Ocean Viking sends email to Libyan JRCC, copying Italian MRCC and Maltese MRCC, informing about a distress case requiring immediate assistance.

2 RHIB launched at sea to provide assistance with rescuers and medical team onboard. All team ready on deck to take in charge the survivors. Mass floating devices ready on deck in case of emergency.

Ocean Viking sends an email to the LYJRCC, copying ITMRCC and MTJRCC informing that SAR operation is completed.

In response to Ocean Viking email sent the 8th of August at 23h48 informing LYJRCC about rescue completion with no mention or request of Place of Safety, LYJRCC sends an email to Ocean Viking communicating Tripoli as a Place of Safety.

“Dear Sir, Referring to your last e-mail (“Rescue complete Ocean Viking” time 11:49LT) Libyan Navy Coast Guard communicate the POS TRIPOLI. Please contact Head of Lybian Port Authority in order to go to TRIPOLI harbour as Place Of Safety. Please, acknowledge this message. Very Respectfully”

Ocean Viking informs LYJRCC by email, with ITMRCC, MTJRCC and EUNAVFOR Med in CC, that it cannot proceed to disembarkation in Tripoli due to Libyan ports not conforming to the definition of places of safety.

Dear Sir, We acknowledge receipt of your request to proceed to Libya to disembark the 85 survivors of the SAR Case of Ocean Viking on the 9^th of August. As you know, under the International Convention on maritime search and rescue to which Libya is a state party, a rescue is only considered as completed once rescued people have been disembarked in a place of safety (As define in the Annex to the 1979 SAR Convention, paragraph 1.3.2 and in the International Maritime Organization 2004 Rescue Guidelines). It is within this framework that the European Commission and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees issued clear positions stating that currently Libya does not meet the criteria for being designated as a place of safety for the purpose of disembarkation following rescue at sea (https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b8d02314.html. I understand that among the survivors on board there are people, including women, children and unaccompanied minors, who say that if returned to Libya, they would be in danger of being subjected to severe abuses. In light of this clear guidance and international law provisions, we are not in a position to head towards a Libyan port which cannot be considered as a place of safety for rescued people. I respectfully request that as the JRCC coordinating, that you please provide with the indication of a Place of Safety, which fulfils all requirements under all applicable international laws, where the survivors can be safely and promptly disembarked. Please acknowledge receipt of this message”

Ocean Viking sends email to LYJRCC, copying ITMRCC and MTJRCC and EUNAVFOR Med informing about a distress case requiring immediate assistance.

Distribution of life jackets is ongoing.

Ocean Viking sends email to LYJRCC, copying ITMRCC, MTJRCC and EUNAVFOR Med informing about rescue completion and another potential target approximate position 33°35’N, 014°15’E. Ocean Viking informs about her new course toward this position.

Ocean viking is in position 33°28.8’N 014°14.4’E sailing at a speed of 3 knots.

Ocean Viking has a first visual contact when at position 33°27.05’N, 013°53.14’E

Ocean Viking launches 2 RHIBs at sea to proceed to assessment of the boat in distress and potential rescue, at position 33°27.5’N, 013°51.5’E.

Ocean Viking sends email to LYJRCC, copying ITMRCC, MTJRCC and EUNAVFOR Med informing about a distress case requiring immediate assistance.

Distribution of life jackets is ongoing.

Ocean Viking sends email to LYJRCC, copying ITMRCC and MTJRCC and EUNAVFOR Med informing about the rescue ongoing.

Ocean Viking sends an email to the LYJRCC, copying ITMRCC and MTJRCC informing that SAR operation is completed.

” Dear Sir,

Your correspondence below is well acknowledged.

Thank you for considering the possibility of Ocean Viking entering Italian territorial waters without authorization but be informed that this vessel has not altered her course towards Italy, that no request has been made to enter Italian territorial waters and that it is not my intention to do so without cause, instruction or proper authorization.

As you rightly mention, this vessel conducted a rescue of 85 people in distress on the morning of the 9^th August 2019.  Further rescues have since been completed, on 10^th and 11^th August, with 85 and 81 people in distress rescued respectively. The total number of rescued people now onboard the Ocean Viking is 251. All rescues took place in international waters, in the SAR zone of Libya, in the strictest adherence to the UNCLOS, SOLAS and SAR conventions.

This vessel has already requested the relevant maritime authorities to designate a Place of Safety, that fulfils the criteria set by Maritime and International Law.

I thanks you in advance for your kind collaboration and assistance in this process.

Yours sincerely”

ITMRCC says they will investigate and call back if assistance is needed

ITCG are informed about the boat in distress that is currently in the maltese SRR. ITCG says they are going to inform RCC Malta about the distress case.

Ocean Viking requests place of safety to ITMRCC and RCC Malta

“Dear Sir,

As communicated earlier, Ocean Viking conducted a rescue of 85 people in distress on the morning of the 9th August 2019.  Further rescues have been completed, on 10th and 11th August, with 85 and 81 people in distress rescued respectively. The total number of rescued people now onboard the Ocean Viking is 251, including 74 minors and 4 women. All rescues took place in international waters, in the SAR zone of Libya, in the strictest adherence to the UNCLOS, SOLAS and SAR conventions. On the 9th August at 12:38, JRCC Tripoli communicates Tripoli as a Place of Safety for the first SAR case and disembarkation of 85 survivors. Ocean Viking responded on the 10th August 00:11 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 2nd and the 3RD rescue allowing to disembark safely the 251 survivors onboard the vessel on the 9th and 10th August. No response has been received as of today 11th August 11am. In accordance with 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 the 251 survivors on board the vessel. I thanks you in advance for your kind collaboration and assistance. Please acknowledge receipt of this message. Thanks and Regards “

Ocean Viking is heading towards a potential boat in distress in the Maltese SRR. Ocean Viking has a visual contact with another rubber boat potentially in distress at position 33°26.6’N 013°51.5’E

Ocean Viking informs ITCG about a rubber boat in distress at position 33°27’N 013°50’E. Ocean Viking requests support from ITCG to contact LYJRCC.

Ocean Viking sends email to LYJRCC, copying ITMRCC and MTJRCC and EUNAVFOR Med informing about a distress case requiring immediate assistance

Distribution of lifejackets ongoing

Ocean Viking sends email to LYJRCC, copying ITMRCC and MTJRCC and EUNAVFOR Med

3 additional life rafts in the water to recover people in and stabilise the situation during the rescue operation

Ocean Viking at position 33°32’N 013°48’E

MTJRCC replies to a Place of Safety request addressed to the ITMRCC and MTJRCC considering MTJRCC is not the competent authority to assign a Place of Safety to Ocean Viking.

ITCG says that the case is in the Maltese SRR and suggests to call the Maltese authorities.

Ocean Viking also informs RCC Malta that Ocean Viking is heading towards the position of the potential boat in distress and has a medical team on board

Ocean Viking sends email to LYJRCC, copying ITMRCC, MTJRCC and EUNAVFOR Med

EU patrol aircraft informs that a Maltese helicopter is taking care of the rubber boat in distres in the Maltese SRR

Ocean Viking receives information from survivors onboard the vessel, rescued today, about another possible rubber boat that might have left Libya shore on Sunday night. Ocean Viking is heading towards the area to investigate

Ocean Viking will recover the dead body if possible but the vessel is restarting search for possible rubber boat in distress to the East of the current location. Ocean Viking currently at 60 NM from the reported casualty.

Ocean Viking sends email to LYJRCC, copying ITMRCC, MTJRCC and EUNAVFOR Med

Ocean Viking is looking for the potential second rubber boat that left Libya 2 days ago, while requesting a port of safety.

The person on the phone says they are 50 persons including 3 children in a rubber boat at sea. The incomplete position shared by telephone is roughly 100 NM away from our position

Ocean Viking sends email to LYJRCC, copying ITMRCC, MTJRCC and EUNAVFOR Med to inform about the potential distress case and to request further instruction from authorities

EUNAVFOR Med informs Ocean Viking about today LCG interceptions in the area of interest. EUNAVFOR Med also informs Ocean Viking that EU patrol aircrafts did not spot any rubber boat in this area after the interceptions operated by LCG during the day

Ocean Viking is in position 35°25.4’N, 013°42.3 E sailing at a speed of 3 knots.

• Wind: 33 knots
• Swell: 4 meters
• Sea State: 5

Ocean Viking is in standby at position 36°13.5′ N, 013°22.3’E

• Wind: 15 knots
• Swell: 1.5 meters
• Sea state: 3

Ocean Viking is in standby at position 36°08.4’N, 013°23.9’E

• Wind: 10 knots
• Swell: 1 meter
• Sea state: 3

Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC and MTJRCC, copying LYJRCC and EUNAVFOR Med, to inform about the possibility of a medical evacuation request in the future

• Wind: 10 knots
• Swell: 0.5 meter
• Sea state: 2

• Wind: 7 knots
• Swell: 0.5 meter
• Sea state: 2

Ocean Viking sends an email to ITMRCC and MTJRCC, copying LYJRCC and EUNAVFOR Med, to inform about the possibility of a medical evacuation request in the future

• Wind: 3 knots
• Swell: 0.2 meter
• Sea state: 2

• Wind: 6 knots
• Swell: 0.3 meter
• Sea state: 2

Ocean Viking requests by email a place of safety to ITMRCC and RCC Malta

“Dear Sirs,
 
We understand that discussions are ongoing between authorities in order to find a solution to disembark all survivors onboard Ocean Viking.  All the effort from the involved parties is greatly appreciated. 
 
The overall situation onboard is becoming more complicated each day for the 356 survivors onboard including 103 minors, the youngest being 1 year old and a majority of whom are unaccompanied.  
 
Some people have now been onboard for 14 days after our first rescue in addition to the 3 days they spent at sea adrift on a rubber boat.  We completed a total of 4 rescues, the 4^th of which was critical as one of the chambers completely deflated during the rescue and multiple people had to be recovered from the water.  
 
Our medical team is continuously treating patients who have suffered physical abuse in Libya and we have a few patients who require either constant pain management or monitoring.  While these cases are not currently considered emergencies, they do require further medical care that cannot be provided onboard.
 
Multiple people have been flagged as being extra vulnerable, having been victims of various forms of abuse during their journey to Libya and while being held in Libya.  The vast majority of people are suffering from long term psychological trauma which needs immediate attention for long term recovery which can only be started upon being disembarked in a place of safety.  It can clearly be felt that the continued wait onboard is only prolonging their suffering and delaying their access to the proper care they need.  
 
The humanitarian conditions on board are worsening and our capacity to keep the situation under control can not be guaranteed anymore.  In addition to the deteriorating conditions, we only have 5 days of rations left on board for survivors.
 
We need to disembark the 356 survivors as soon as possible in a place of safety that meets all the legal requirements.
We kindly request any assistance in finding a swift solution for this ongoing situation.
 
Please acknowledge receipt of this message. ”

RCC Malta informs Ocean Viking that a transfer of the survivors will take place in international waters, 15NM off the coast of Malta.

AFM Patrol Boat informs Ocean Viking by phone about ETA at meeting point and transfer modalities

A recount of disembarcation updated the total of rescued people on board Ocean Viking to 355.

Revision of the CCTV footage confirmed 80 people were embarked during the third rescue, which was a correction of the original tally of 81

Both crew are well but the medical team onboard requested medical evacuation in case their conditions worsened during the transit

At a speed of 10 knots, Ocean Viking is sailing through the Strait of Sicily, between Tunisia and Italy. She is currently in position 37°20.5′N, 011°31.2′E

• Wind: 3 knots
• Swell: 0.3 meter
• Sea state : 1

At a speed of 10 knots, Ocean Viking is sailing along the western coast of Sardinia, currently in position 40°44.8′N, 006°34.8′E.

• Wind: 10 knots
• Waves: 0.3 meters
• Sea state: 2