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

On October 18, Ocean Viking leaves the port of Syracuse.

On October 20, Ocean Viking spots two empty rubber boat, without tag marks.

On October 22, Ocean Viking evacuates 34 shipwrecked people from an unseaworthy fiberglass boat in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region. Ocean Viking sends a 1st request for a Place of Safety.

On October 23, Ocean Viking evacuates 39 shipwrecked people from an unseaworthy fiberglass boat in the Maltese Search and Rescue Region. Ocean Viking sends a 2nd request for a Place of Safety.

On October 25, Ocean Viking performs three rescues. The two first rescues are performed in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region. First, 33 shipwrecked people are evacuated from an unseaworthy and overcrowded wooden boat. Shortly after, 40 shipwrecked people are evacuated from an unseaworthy fiberglass boat. On the evening, Ocean Viking evacuates 56 shipwrecked people from an unseaworthy wooden boat adrift in the Maltese Search and Rescue Region. Ocean Viking sends a 3rd request for a Place of Safety.

On October 26, Ocean Viking evacuates 32 shipwrecked people from an unseaworthy fiberglass boat in the Maltese Search and Rescue Region. Ocean Viking sends a 4th and 5th request for a Place of Safety.

On October 27, Ocean Viking sends a 6th request for a Place of Safety.

On October 28, Ocean Viking sends a 7th request for a Place of Safety.

On October 29, Ocean Viking sends a 8th request for a Place of Safety.

On October 30, Ocean Viking sends a 9th request for a Place of Safety.

On October 31, Ocean Viking sends a 10th request for a Place of Safety.

On November 1, Ocean Viking sends a 11th request for a Place of Safety.

On November 2, Ocean Viking sends a 12th request for a Place of Safety, followed by requests of cooperation and coordination to identify a Place of Safety for the 234 survivors onboard to 3 separate RCCs.

On November 3, Ocean Viking sends a 16th request for a Place of Safety followed by requests for cooperation and coordination to identify a Place of Safety for the 234 survivors onboard to 3 separate RCCs.

On November 4, Ocean Viking sends a 20th and 21th request for a Place of Safety, followed by requests for cooperation and coordination to identify a Place of Safety for the 234 survivors onboard to 3 separate RCCs.

On November 5, Ocean Viking sends a 25th and 26th request for a Place of Safety, followed by requests for cooperation and coordination to identify a Place of Safety for the 234 survivors onboard to 3 separate RCCs.

On November 6, Ocean Viking sends a 30th and 31th request for a Place of Safety, followed by requests for cooperation and coordination to identify a Place of Safety for the 234 survivors onboard to 3 separate RCCs.

On November 7, Ocean Viking sends a 35th and 36th request for a Place of Safety and a request for cooperation and coordination to identify a Place of Safety for the 234 survivors onboard to the FRRCC.

On November 8, Ocean Viking sends two more requests for a Place of Safety, and two requests for cooperation and coordination to identify a Place of Safety for the 234 survivors onboard to the FRRCC. Total requests including all RCC: 41.

On November 9, Ocean Viking sends two more requests for a Place of Safety and two requests for cooperation and coordination to identify a Place of Safety for the 234 survivors onboard to the FRRCC. Total requests including all RCC: 45.

On November 10, Ocean Viking sends one more request for a Place of Safety. Total requests including all RCC: 46. In the morning, a medical evacuation of three patients and one relative takes place. Shortly after, Ocean Viking receives the instruction to proceed to Toulon, France, to disembark the remaining 230 survivors onboard.

On November 11, Ocean Viking completes the disembarkation of the 230 remaining survivors onboard in the port of Toulon, France.

Search

October 18, 2022
15:00

Ocean Viking leaves the port of Syracuse.

21:10

Rhibs drills complete.

October 19, 2022
15:43

Rhibs drills complete.

October 20, 2022
October 21, 2022
October 22, 2022
02:05

Ocean Viking tries to call JRCC Tripoli via Sat Phone, with no avail.

04:11

All Rhibs are recovered onboard and MV Ocean Viking resumes navigation.

October 23, 2022
10:40

Ocean Viking calls via Sat Phone Malta RCC to inform about the distress situation. The operator copies the information.

10:49

Ocean Viking receives a new VHF Call by Aircraft Colibri 2 to report that the distress boat is now adrift in position 34°24N 012°49E.

10:58

Ocean Viking calls MTRCC via Sat Phone to inform about the updated position of the boat in distress. The operator copies the information.

11:35

Ocean Viking calls MTRCC via Sat phone to report about the visual on the boat in distress. The operator copies the information.

12:00

Ocean Viking contacts MTRCC by Sat phone to inform about the distress case being ascertained and that Ocean Viking is going to proceed to the recovery of those persons in distress. The operator copies the information.

12:36

Ocean Viking calls MTRCC via Sat phone to inform about the evacuation of the shipwrecked persons.

October 25, 2022
10:43

Ocean Viking calls via Sat Phone JRCC Tripoli to inform about the distress case. The operator could not copy because of broken communication and ask to send an email.

12:45

Ocean Viking calls via Sat Phone JRCC Tripoli to relay about the distress alert. The Officer copies the information.

13:13

Ocean Viking tries to contact JRCC Tripoli by Sat phone to report the assessment of the distress situation, with no avail.

17:54

Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from the aircraft Seabird 3 addressed to MTRCC and ITMRCC alerting to a boat in distress.

20:40

Ocean Viking contacts MTRCC through Sat phone to ask information about the case and ask if other vessels are dispatched to respond to it. MTRCC responds that Ocean Viking seems to be the nearest vessel and instructs Ocean Viking to proceed towards the last known location and to keep the RCC informed.

23:09

Ocean Viking calls MTRCC to report that all shipwrecked persons have been safely recovered on board. MTRCC acknowledges the information and requests to report by email.

October 26, 2022
09:15

Ocean Viking calls MTRCC via Sat Phone. The duty Officer is busy and the operator requests to send an email.

09:43

Ocean Viking receives a PAN PAN call on VHF ch.16 alerting to a boat in position 34 36 N 015 14 E.

14:27

Ocean Viking calls MTRCC via Sat Phone to inform about the Mayday Relay call. The duty Officer requests to send an email.

14:49

Ocean Viking is in copy of an email from Alarm Phone, addressed to MTRCC, giving an updated position of the boat in distress.

17:36

Ocean Viking calls MTRCC via Sat phone to inform that she has a visual on a boat in distress and to inform that Ocean Viking will launch RHIBs for assessment. MTRCC Operator copies the information and states they will relay to the Duty Officer.

October 27, 2022
October 28, 2022
October 29, 2022
October 30, 2022
October 31, 2022
November 1, 2022
November 2, 2022
November 3, 2022
November 4, 2022
20:00

Ocean Viking sends an email requesting for cooperation and coordination to identify a Place of Safety for the 234 survivors onboard to the French and Greek RCCs in two separate and independent emails.

20:51

Ocean Viking sends an email requesting for cooperation and coordination to identify a Place of Safety for the 234 survivors onboard to 3 separate the Spanish RCC.

November 5, 2022
19:47

Ocean Viking sends an email requesting for cooperation and coordination to identify a Place of Safety for the 234 survivors onboard to 3 separate RCCs.

November 6, 2022
November 7, 2022
20:24

Ocean Viking sends an email to FRMRCC requesting cooperation and coordination to identify a Place of Safety for the 234 survivors.

November 8, 2022
09:00

Ocean Viking sends an email to FRMRCC requesting cooperation and coordination to identify a Place of Safety for the 234 survivors.

16:50

Ocean Viking sends an email to FRMRCC requesting cooperation and coordination to identify a Place of Safety for the 234 survivors.

November 9, 2022
07:41

Ocean Viking sends an email to FRMRCC requesting cooperation and coordination to identify a Place of Safety for the 234 survivors.

November 10, 2022
07:04

Ocean Viking sends an email to FRMRCC requesting assistance in finding a Place of Safety and facilitating a prompt disembarkation of all 234 survivors.

09:13

Ocean Viking request a Medical Evacuation for three medical cases on board

11:55

Three patients and one relative are medically evacuated by helicopter from Ocean Viking by the French authorities.

13:49

Ocean Viking receives a call from MRSC Corsica to confirm Toulon, France, as a destination to disembark the remaining survivors onboard.

13:59

Ocean Viking receives an email from the FRMRCC giving the instruction to proceed to Toulon, France, for the disembarkation of the 230 remaining survivors onboard.

November 11, 2022
08:05

Ocean Viking arrives in the port of Toulon, France

17:00

Disembarkation of the 230 remaining survivors onboard Ocean Viking is completed in the port of Toulon, France.