S/V Astral requested Medevac for a pregnant woman rescued at sea. RCC Malta advises S/V Astral to seek Ocean Viking support to facilitate the helicopter Medevac via Ocean Viking winch deck

Instructions to proceed to position 34°58’N 011°57’E.

Ocean Viking calls JRCC Tripoli. Further Info: JRCC Tripoli asks for Ocean Vikings position. Ocean Viking provides position and informs JRCC Tripoli that rescue boats are proceeding to assess the situation. JRCC Tripoli does not give further instructions. 

The caller claimed to have received Ocean Viking telephone number from RCC Malta, which instructed them to contact Ocean Viking, as this vessel is the area. 

The caller informed that the distress boat is without water and they are asking to be rescued. 

The information above seems to indicate the subject boat may be the one referred to by Alarm Phone alert AP1018 and aircraft Seabird2 spotting. 

While informing that Ocean Viking is currently underway to Civitavecchia port as per ITMRCC instructions, Ocean Viking seeks information and instruction in regards to the subject boat. 

Ocean Viking best ETA to the distress case can be 0200UTC on the 08^th of July. 

Not possible to establish clear communication in English with the LYCG patrol vessel, the VHF communication has been conducted in Arabic, through a non-professional translator on board the Ocean Viking. 

Ocean Viking shares the updated coordinates of the Mayday relay and informs LYCG that instruction was received from authorities to proceed towards the distress alert. Ocean Viking understands that the LYCG patrol vessel does not object to MV Ocean Viking conducting the rescue. 

The aircraft will be in a mayday position in less than 30 minutes. Communication was broken, Ocean Viking was not able to read full messages.

In Position 33 31.2N 013 52E

Laurence said not add NMA [JL1]

is there a reason?  [SC2]

I am not sure why [JL3]

The boat is unseaworthy, inapt for navigation in high seas, overcrowded with about 100 people on board, all exposed to the elements, no Life Saving Appliances available. It is ascertained that the distress phase exists as the persons on board are threatened by grave and imminent danger of being lost and require immediate assistance. MV Ocean Viking will proceed to the assistance of these persons in distress, while keeping competent RCCs duly informed.

The Libyan CoastGuard patrol vessel is approaching at distance.

New reported distress position: 33 33.32N 013 53.58E

The duty officer asks again for the coordinates of distress case. He affirms that they are from the Western area of the Libyan Search and Rescue Region (SRR) and that they do not have any coordination plan for the distress case at moment with the Eastern sector of the Libyan SRR.

Ocean Viking confirms the reported distress position to be 34 12N 017 44E @0744Z.

JRCC Tripoli does not share any update.

The duty officer confirms that ITMRCC is informed of the distress case AP0923, reiterates that this case is in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region and that they cannot share any information.

The duty officer speaks arabic. Ocean Viking provides an interpretor. The duty officer doesn’t provide clear answer, only saying that the Libyan Coastguard is informed of the distress case and asking to call later.

Ocean Viking explains that it appears that two Merchant vessels (NISSOS PAROS and Maersk Valletta) are sheltering the potential distress case in position 34.26N 017.64E (Libyan SRR). The Ocean Viking is about 100NM from the position and able to assist if needed.

Ocean Viking is about 100NM away from the AP923 coordinates.

“Please find below all information about DC 949:

• in position 3412 / 01744 at 0742UTC
• white fiber glass boat
• apx. 25 people on board
• stationary
• one outboard engine
• no life saving equipment
• people are waving in distress
  The merchant vessel NISSOS PAROS (MMSI 241212000), as well as merchant vessel MEARSK VALETTA (MMSI 563154500) are in vicinity and are both approximately 3-5nm away from the people in distress.”

Ocean Viking reports that at 0601Z in position 35 18N 015 40E, the bridge called ITMRCC by phone, asking for information about the distress case AP0923 as there are the two vessels, NISSOS PAROS and MAERSK VALLETTA, standing by in position 34.26N 017.64E, and that during the call ITMRCC instructed to send an email.

Ocean Viking in position: 35 01 N 016 39 E, COG 060, SOG 10.4kts

Duty Officer is busy and operator instructs Ocean Viking to send an email.

Operator is informed and requests Ocean Viking to send an email.

(as defined in the Annex to the 1979 SAR Convention, paragraph 1.3.2 and in the IMO Resolution MSC.167(78))

“Dear Sirs, Madams,

Please find attached the Maritime Incident Report of the event occurred to the MV Ocean Viking in the LYSRR on the 25^th march 2023.

MV Ocean Viking position at 1534Z: 33 43N 013 19E

Please acknowledge receipt of this message.

Best regards

Bridge

Ocean Viking“

Ocean Viking in position 33 18.4 N 013 52.9 E sends the following email to the maritime authority:

“Dear Sirs, Madams,

At 0740Z Ocean Viking, in position 33 18.4N 013 52.9E, received by email the attached distress alert from Alarm Phone (see email below)

MV Ocean Viking is proceeding towards the target, about 7NM away, ready to provide first assistance.

MV Ocean Viking COG 296

MV Ocean Viking will keep you informed.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message and inform of your SAR action plan.

Best regards

Bridge

Ocean Viking”

Ocean Viking position: 33 11 N 014 16 E

Ocean Viking position 33 12 N 014 16 E

Patrol vessel 660 and Patrol vessel 648 are in the vicinity of Ocean Viking.

Ocean Viking tries to establish communication on VHF ch16 to request cooperation for the search. No answer.

The persons on board are threatened by grave and imminent danger of being lost and require immediate assistance.

There is a reasonable certainty that the persons on board are threatened by grave and imminent danger of being lost and may require immediate assistance.

Ocean Viking is about 15 Nm away from the reported distress case.

Dear Sirs,

PLEASE BE INFORMED THAT THE NATIONAL COMPETENT AUTHORITY CONFIRMED THE PORT OF SAFETY: ANCONA.

Best Regards

As per current forecast, the weather in the central Mediterranean Sea and in the Adriatic Sea will deteriorate significantly from Monday 09 January.
General survivor condition on embarkation was fragile with significant exposure to fuel including burns and intoxication, exhaustion and general weakness. In addition, several survivors have presented with chronic conditions and long untreated medical issues. Repeated exposure to poor weather during a prolonged journey could be detrimental to survivor’s wellbeing and could pose a significant risk to their health in the coming days underway to Ancona.

Ocean Viking position at 23:49:  33 33N 012 25E

Ocean Viking is 102 NM away from the known distress position.

The duty officer replies to call MTRCC, despite Ocean Viking informing Italian duty officer of the failed previous attempts to contact Maltese RCC.

Ocean Viking sends a request for a Place of Safety to the French MRCC, with the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy.

Ocean Viking sends an email requesting assistance in finding a Place of Safety to ITMRCC, with the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy.

Ocean Viking sends an email requesting assistance in finding a Place of Safety to ITMRCC, with the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy.

Ocean Viking sends an email requesting assistance in finding a Place of Safety to ITMRCC, with the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy.

Ocean Viking sends an email requesting assistance in finding a Place of Safety to ITMRCC, with the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy.

Ocean Viking sends an email requesting assistance in finding a Place of Safety to ITMRCC, with the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy.

Ocean Viking sends requests for cooperation and coordination to identify a Place of Safety to 3 separate RCCs in France, Spain and Greece in 3 distincts emails.

Ocean Viking sends an email requesting assistance in finding a Place of Safety to ITMRCC, with the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy.

Ocean Viking sends a request for assistance in finding a Place of Safety to ITMRCC, with the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy.

Ocean Viking sends a request for a Place of Safety to ITMRCC, with the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy.

Ocean Viking sends a request for a Place of Safety to ITMRCC, with the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy.

Ocean Viking sends requests of cooperation and coordination to identify a Place of Safety to 3 separate RCCs in France, Spain and Greece in 3 separate and independent emails.

Ocean Viking sends a request for a Place of Safety to ITMRCC, with the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy.

Ocean Viking sends requests of cooperation and coordination to identify a Place of Safety to 3 separate RCCs in France, Spain and Greece in 3 separate and independent emails.

Ocean Viking sends a request for a Place of Safety to ITMRCC, with the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy.

Ocean Viking sends a request for a Place of Safety to ITMRCC, with the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy.

Ocean Viking sends a request for a Place of Safety to ITMRCC, with the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy.