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

Search

August 15, 2018
September 11, 2018
September 15, 2018
September 16, 2018
17:20

Aquarius resumes its voyage after drills completed

September 17, 2018
September 18, 2018
September 19, 2018
September 20, 2018
08:18

Aquarius overhears radio communication between two fishing boats about “migrant boat”

08:20

Aquarius is contacted by maritime patrol aircraft asking for information

08:43

Easy 1 is lowered into the water

08:44

Rescue operation is in progress

08:45

Easy 2 is launched

08:45

Aquarius receives call from Maritime patrol aircraft confirming ongoing rescue

10:56

Aquarius calls ITMRCC to inform about completion of rescue

19:20

Malta responds that it is neither the “appropriate nor the competent authority” to provide Aquarius with a place of safety

September 22, 2018
16:50

Tunisian Navy calls Aquarius on VHF requesting vessel details

September 23, 2018
01:25

Aquarius calls JRCC Tripoli – No response

01:26

Aquarius calls JRCC Tripoli via Iridium – No response

01:37

Aquarius alters its course and heads towards the area

01:51

Aquarius sends email to ITMRCC and JRCC Tripoli informing them about the distress case and providing its coordinates

01:57

Aquarius calls Patrol Boat al-Kifha on VHF channel 16 approximately 8 times – no response

02:07

Aquarius calls LCG on VHF – no response

02:36

Aquarius sends email to ITMRCC and JRCC Tripoli confirming that ITMRCC has been in contact with Patrol Boat Al Khifa

02:48

Aquarius continues search, heads South east, course 150°, speed 9 knots

02:59

Aquarius calls JRCC Tripoli – No response

04:09

Aquarius calls Patrol boat Al Khifa on VHF radio channel 16 twice – no response

05:15

Aquarius calls Patrol boat Al Khifa via VHF radio – no response

05:18

Aquarius calls Patrol boat Al Khifa on channel 16 three times over the next seven minutes – No response

05:26

Aquarius calls Patrol boat Al Khifa twice on channel 16 – No response

05:50

LCG Patrol boat Al Khifa is now ordering “5 NM now!”

05:55

Aquarius calls Patrol boat Al Khifa via VHF twice – no response

06:03

Evacuation from boat to Easy 1 starts

06:04

Aquarius calls Patrol boat Al Khifa – no response

06:07

Aquarius calls LCG twice – no response

06:12

Aquarius calls LCG twice on channel 16 – no response

06:19

Easy 1 is now full, but there are still family members on the wooden boat

06:20

Aquarius calls Patrol boat Al Khifa on channel 6 – No response

07:42

Pictures to be taken of the scene once everything has been evacuated

07:45

LCG orders satellite phone to be destroyed if found on the boat

07:46

Green light from bridge for Easy 2 to approach boat landing

07:47

Aquarius to Patrol boat Al Khifa “we were unable to locate a satellite phone”

07:48

Patrol boat Al Khifa asks Aquarius to leave the boat and leave the area as soon as possible

07:58

Evacuation of 47 people completed at position 33°13’1 N, 012°11’9 E

Latitude: 33.216
Longitude: 12.185
08:18

The migrant boat is set alight

08:19

Aquarius resumes its voyage north

September 24, 2018
02:59

Aquarius calls JRCC Tripoli – No response

04:20

Aquarius arrives at the location of distress

08:08

Visual contact of destroyed rubber boat, 1 mile to stern of Aquarius at position 33°18’78 N, 14°02’69 E

Latitude: 33.32
Longitude: 14.05
09:45

Aquarius resumes its voyage north

09:55

Colibri informs via VHF that it is entering the Libyan SRR

18:21

Aquarius calls JRCC Tripoli by phone on two different numbers – no response

21:15

Aquarius overhears on radio that there are migrants on board a merchant vessel

21:21

Aquarius calls JRCC Tripoli twice – no response

21:46

Aquarius calls LCG on VHF channel 16 – no response

September 25, 2018
September 26, 2018
21:21

RCC Malta informs Aquarius that transfer will take place once weather conditions permit a safe and secure operation

September 27, 2018
14:03

Aquarius provides Maltese authorities with disembarkation list and enquires about sheltered locations which might enable a transfer as early as possible

14:14

RCC Malta responds that a transfer will only take place in international waters once the weather conditions permit

September 28, 2018
September 29, 2018
12:25

RCC Malta contacts Aquarius informing that there is currently still too much swell to conduct a transfer at sea, tentative transfer will likely take place tomorrow morning

September 30, 2018
09:57

RCC Malta informs Aquarius of a change of position for the transfer

11:32

Lifejackets from the Maltese forces are handed out to all survivors

11:38

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

12:30

Transfer of all 58 people and 1 dog onto P52 vessel of the Maltese Armed Forces is complete

Latitude: 35.56888889
Longitude: 14.21722222
October 2, 2018
October 4, 2018
10:17

Aquarius has arrived in Marseille for an extended port call

October 29, 2018
23:59

Aquarius is cancelled from the Panama flag state register

October 30, 2018
00:00

The owner of Aquarius obtains a temporary registration for administrative reasons by the Liberian Maritime Authority. This status does not allow Aquarius to resume search and rescue operations