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°18.6’N – 012°11.7’E
Proceeding with COG 133°  SOG 6.5 kts, remaining in international water at all times.

MV Ocean Viking

Easy 1 is in water and approaches wooden boat. Wooden boat is found empty and marked “02 Oct 2019 312”. Easy 1 returns to Ocean Viking

Ocean Viking sends e-mail to LYJRCC and reports empty wooden boat in position 35°45’N 013°58’E. 

Ocean Viking proceeds towards South.

Ocean Viking is in position 33°09,7’N 014°04,24E, sailing at a speed of 6 knots

Wind N 10kn

Swell 1.5 m

Sea state 3

Ocean Viking is in position 33°09,3’N 014°10,0E, sailing at a speed of 5 knots

Wind N 17kn

Swell 0.7 m

Sea state 3

Ocean Viking is in position 33°22,5’N 013°22,7’E, sailing at a speed of 5 knots

Wind N 8 kn

Swell 0.5 m

Sea state 3

Ocean Viking proceeds towards the target

Ocean Viking informs by email  LYJRCC  (copying ITMRCC, MTJRCC and EUNAVFOR MED) about the email received from Alarm Phone:

“… At 1515Z M/V Ocean Viking changed course towards the target, at about 40NM away. COG 307°, Speed 12Kts ETA 1840Z
Ocean Viking will keep you informed as soon as there are more information.
Please acknowledge receipt of this message …“

Alarm phone calls Ocean Viking on satellite phone to give an update on boat in distress. Ocean Viking alters course accordingly.

Ocean Viking calls by satellite phone the three numbers of the Libyan JRCC. No answer.

It’s part of the duties of the Master to inform the RCC responsible for the SRR about the evolution of the situation : “keep the RCC informed about conditions, assistance needed, and actions taken or planned for the survivors (see paragraph 6.10 regarding other information the RCC may wish to obtain);” (Source: MSC 167(78) )

Ocean Viking is copied in an e-mail from Alarm Phone to ITMRCC with updated position of boat in distress. Ocean Viking alters course accordingly

Ocean Viking sends email to LYJRCC:

“ … At 1635Z Ocean Viking received an updated position from Alarmphone via email.
Updated position is
N 33.47
E 12.05
Ocean Viking is heading towards the possible boat in distress.
Ocean Viking position at 1716Z is 33°32.6’N – 012°29.6’E
Ocean Viking will keep you informed as soon as there are more information.
Please acknowledge receipt of this message.“

FPSO calls Ocean Viking on VHF and reports a rubber boat in distress at her stern in a distance of 1 cable

Ocean Viking gets permission to enter safety zone for rescue operation. Ocean Viking informs by email JRCC Libya (copying ITMRCC, MTJRCC and EUNAVFOR MED) about possible distress situation and that 2 RHIB will be launched in water

Ocean Viking informs by email JRCC Libya (copying ITMRCC, MTJRCC and EUNAVFOR MED) about possible distress situation and that 2 RHIB will be launched in water:

“ … Ocean Viking received instructions from Aljurf FPSO to approach the oil rig because there is a rubber boat adrift with about 50 people on board.
Ocean Viking position 33°49.9’N – 012°03.8’E
Ocean Viking is going to launch our RHIBs and investigate
We will keep you updated
Please acknowledge receipt of this message“

Easy 1 and Easy 2 assess condition of rubber boat. Rubber boat found in unseaworthy condition, without lifesaving appliances, overcrowded, people without lifejackets and strong smell of fuel.

To: Libyan JRCC
Cc: Italian MRCC, Maltese JRCC

“Dear Sirs,
We are informing you that at 1958Z we assessed the situation with 2 RHIBs: the rubber boat is unseaworthy,
overcrowded, with about 60 people on board, no lifejackets, all exposed to the elements, strong smell of fuel.
The people on board are in danger and I have every reason to believe that the Distress phase exists.
The UNCLOS (Article 98) and SOLAS (Chapter V, Regulation 33-1) conventions as well as the IMO Resolution
MSC.167 (78) bound me to proceed to the assistance of the people on board the boat in distress. Therefore, I
inform you that M/V Ocean Viking will provide immediate assistance to these people in distress and rescue them
without delay.
My ship has the capacity to recover all of the people, to provide medical care and to transfer them to a place of
safety in a reasonable period of time.
Please acknowledge receipt of this message
Ocean Viking position 33°49.9’N – 012°02.8’E
Regards
Bridge”

Distribution of lifejackets finalized. Start to transfer survivors from rubber boat to Ocean Viking

Transfer of survivors from unseaworthy rubber boat with no lifesaving appliances to Ocean Viking is completed. Medical team provides medical care as required.

Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC, copying ITMRCC and MTJRCC, to inform of rescue completion.

It’s part of the duties of the Master to inform the RCC responsible for the SRR about the evolution of the situation : “keep the RCC informed about conditions, assistance needed, and actions taken or planned for the survivors (see paragraph 6.10 regarding other information the RCC may wish to obtain);”  (Source: MSC 167(78) )

Ocean Viking commences search pattern and continue the search during all night

Ocean Viking calls LNCG and requests further information about target. LNCG has no further information

Ocean Viking calls the Maltese JRCC to request further information. It is informed that the case has been handed over to the Libyan Navy Coast Guard.

Ocean Viking calls EUNAVFOR MED plane on VHF and exchanges information regarding boat in distress. EUNAVFOR MED plane does not have any new information.

Ocean Viking informs by email LYJRCC  (copying  ITMRCC,  MTJRCC  and  EUNAVFOR MED) about boat in distress and forwards position given by Alarm Phone.

Ocean Viking spots white rubber boat and informs by email LYJRCC (copying ITMRCC, MTJRCC and EUNAVFOR MED) about the situation and intention to investigate

Ocean Viking sends an email to LYJRCC (copying ITMRCC, MTJRCC and EUNAVFOR MED) about the situation and intention to investigate:

” … At 0950Z Ocean Viking spotted a rubber boat in the water, possibly in distress. The boat is overcrowded and people have no lifejacket … “

” … Ocean Viking is going to launch our RHIBs and investigate

We will keep you updated …”

Easy 1 and Easy 2 assess condition of rubber boat. Rubber boat found in unseaworthy condition, without lifesaving appliances, overcrowded, majority of men,  women and children without lifejackets.

Ocean Viking informs by email JRCC Libya (copying ITMRCC, MTJRCC and EUNAVFOR MED) about the distress situation

Distribution of lifejackets finalized. Start of transfer  from rubber boat to Ocean Viking

Transfer of 63 men, 12 women and 27 minors from unseaworthy rubber boat with no lifesaving appliances to Ocean Viking is completed

Ocean Viking informs by email LYJRCC (copying ITMRCC, MTJRCC and EUNAVFOR MED) about rescue completion

Dear Sir,
We acknowledge receipt of your indication of Tripoli – Libya as POS to disembark the survivors on board MV Ocean Viking.
 
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,  unaccompanied minors and pregnant woman, 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, you please  provide with the indication of a Place of Safety which fulfils all requirements under all applicable international laws, where the 176 survivors can be safely and promptly disembarked.
 
Please find attached Maritime Incident Reports for the SAR operation conducted by MV Ocean Viking on the 13.10.2019
 
Currently there are 176 rescued people on board the Ocean Viking.
 
The breakdown of the survivors is as follows:
81% adults, 19% minors.
131 adult men, 12 adult women, 30 male minors and 3 female minors.
23 male minors are unaccompanied, and 7 women are single female travellers.
 
There are 4 pregnant women.
Medical team provided treatment as necessary.
 
Please acknowledge receipt of this message.
 
Regards

MV Ocean Viking