“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.

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 MTRCC, JRCC Tripoli and the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy:

“MV Ocean Viking has requested to the competent authorities of the Libyan SRR and Maltese SRR the indication of a Place of Safety (as required by the Annex to the 1979 SAR Convention, paragraph 1.3.2, and by the IMO Resolution MSC.167(78)) which fulfils all requirements under applicable international law, where the survivors can be safely and promptly disembarked.
However, the Libyan RCC and Maltese RCC have been unresponsive to such requests.
Therefore, MV Ocean Viking is now addressing your MRCC to request assistance in identifying a Place of Safety and facilitate a prompt disembarkation of all survivors on board.
While the 234 survivors on board MV Ocean Viking were rescued in a sea area that is outside of the SRR of Italy, please note that MV Ocean Viking has already exhausted the steps in relation to the competent authorities of the Libyan and Maltese SRRs.
MV Ocean Viking is waiting for further instructions.
Best regards
Bridge
Ocean Viking”

Ocean Viking sends the MIR report and a request for a Place of Safety to MTRCC, with ITMRCC and the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy:

“MV Ocean Viking is requesting the indication of a Place of Safety (as required by the Annex to the 1979 SAR Convention, paragraph 1.3.2, and by the IMO Resolution MSC.167(78)) which fulfils all requirements under applicable international law, where all 234 survivors can be safely and promptly disembarked.”

“Dear Sirs/Madams,

Please be informed that, at 1635 UTC in position 35 20 N 014 49 E, MV Ocean Viking completed the recovery operation of the persons in distress. 30 (number to be confirmed) shipwrecked persons have been safely brought on board MV Ocean Viking.

The breakdown of the survivors and complete information will follow in Maritime Incident Report.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message.

Best regards

Bridge

Ocean Viking”

Ocean Viking in position 35 20 N 014 49 E informs that she launched 2 RHIBs to assess the situation: the white fiberglass boat is unseaworthy, overcrowded, with about 30 people on board seeking assistance, without lifejackets nor lifesaving appliances, all persons exposed to the elements. Ocean Viking reports that she will proceed to the assistance of these persons in distress and rescue them without delay, while keeping competent RCCs duly informed as:

“This is a case of force majeure (ref.SOLAS Art. IV) imposing to retrieve persons in danger of being lost at sea, as stipulated by the relevant International Maritime Conventions

Relevant shipboard safety and environmental elements have been assessed and it is ascertained MV Ocean Viking has the capacity to recover all of these persons without creating serious danger to the ship and the persons thereon, in line with the provisions of Art. 98 of the UNCLOS Convention. Also, not any risk of pollution will result.”

Ocean Viking informs that she spotted a white small boat by binoculars from the bridge about 6NM away. Apprehension exists as to the safety of the persons on board. Ocean Viking reports that she called MTRCC via Sat phone to inform about the visual on the boat in ditress and its intention to launch RHIBs for assessment. The operator copied the information and will relay to the Duty Officer. Ocean Viking informs that she is ready to provide assistance.

Ocean Viking informs that she called MTRCC via Sat Phone to report the conversation with a NATO maritime patrol aircraft about a boat in distress in position 35 05 N 014 57 E. Ocean Viking reports that the NATO aicraft requested the Ocean Viking to proceed to distress position. Ocean informs that she still responding to the subject case and is ready to provide assistance.

The position given by the NATO Maritime Patrol Aircraft appears to match with the distress case that Ocean Viking was already responding to.

Ocean Viking informs that she heard a Mayday Relay call and message on VHF ch.16 from an unidentified Sailing Yacht reporting a boat in distress in position 34 57 N 015 03 E. Ocean Viking reports that she called MTRCC via Sat phone to relay this information who asked to send an email. Ocean Viking informs that she is still proceeding to the distress position. ETA 2 hours.

Ocean Viking in position 34 56 N 013 04 E sends an email to MTRCC, with ITMRCC in copy, as requested by the operator over the phone. Ocean Viking informs that she is proceeding to the position of the boat reported adrift.

Ocean Viking in position 34 56 N 013 04 E receives the information that a boat is in distress and require immediate assistance. According to Alarm Phone the persons onboard are suffering from dehydration and exhaustion.

“Dear Sirs/Madams,

Please be informed that, at 2107 UTC in position 34 56 N 012 17 E, MV Ocean
Viking completed the recovery operation of the persons in distress. 56
(number to be confirmed) shipwrecked persons have been safely brought on
board MV Ocean Viking.

The breakdown of the survivors and complete information will follow in
Maritime Incident Report.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message.

Best regards

Bridge
Ocean Viking“

Ocean Viking informs that the boat in distress has been located in position 34 56 N 012 17 E: about 60 persons, including women and children, adrift with no navigational aids or lifesaving appliances. 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.

Ocean Viking in position 34 28 N 012 57 E sends an email MTRCC, with ITMRCC in copy, about the distress case reported by Seabird 3. Ocean Viking informs that she is responding to this alert, ready to provide assistance.

Ocean Viking sends a request for a Place of Safety to MTRCC and JRCC Tripoli, with ITMRCC and the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy:

“MV Ocean Viking is requesting your Rescue Coordination Centers, as competent authorities of the SRRs where the SAR operations were conducted, to coordinate in identifying a Place of Safety (as required by the Annex to the 1979 SAR Convention, paragraph 1.3.2, and by the IMO Resolution MSC.167(78)) which fulfils all requirements under applicable international law, where the survivors can be safely and promptly disembarked.”

Ocean Viking sends the MIR reports to JRCC Tripoli with MTRCC, ITMRCC and the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy.

“Dear Sirs/Madams,

Please be informed that, at 1130 UTC in position 33 53 N 012 49 E, MV Ocean Viking completed the recovery operation of the persons in distress. 35 (number to be confirmed) shipwrecked persons have been safely brought on board MV Ocean Viking.

The breakdown of the survivors and complete information will follow in Maritime Incident Report.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message.

Best regards

Bridge

Ocean Viking“

Ocean Viking in position: 33 53 N 012 49 E informs that she launched 2 RHIBs to assess the situation: the boat is adrift, unseaworthy, overcrowded, with about 35 people on board, including women and children, without lifejackets, all exposed to the elements. Ocean Viking informs that she tried to contact Libyan Coast Guard by SAT phone to report the situation, with no avail. Ocean Viking reports that she will proceed to the assistance of these persons in distress and rescue them without delay, while keeping competent RCCs duly informed as:

“This is a case of force majeure (ref.SOLAS Art. IV) imposing to retrieve persons in danger of being lost at sea, as stipulated by the relevant International Maritime Conventions

Relevant shipboard safety and environmental elements have been assessed and it is ascertained MV Ocean Viking has the capacity to recover all of these persons without creating serious danger to the ship and the persons thereon, in line with the provisions of Art. 98 of the UNCLOS Convention. Also, not any risk of pollution will result.“

Ocean Viking in position 33 51 N 012 51 E informs JRCC Tripoli, with MTRCC and ITMRCC in copy, that she received a distress alert by VHF from Aircraft Colibri 2 about a boat in distress. There is a reasonable certainty that the persons on board are threatened by grave and imminent danger of being lost at sea and require immediate assistance. Ocean Viking informs that she is proceeding towards the target, about 4NM away, ready to provide assistance.

“Dear Sirs/Madams,

Please be informed that, at 09:30 UTC in position 33 41 N 012 46 E, MV Ocean Viking completed the recovery operation of the persons in distress. 40 (number to be confirmed) shipwrecked persons have been safely brought on board MV Ocean Viking.

The breakdown of the survivors and complete information will follow in Maritime Incident Report.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message.

Best regards

Bridge

Ocean Viking“

Ocean Viking in position 33 41 N 012 46 E informs that she launched 2 RHIBs to assess the situation: the wooden boat is unseaworthy, overcrowded, with about 40 people on board, without lifejackets, all exposed to the elements. Ocean Viking reports that she will proceed to the assistance of these persons in distress and rescue them without delay, while keeping competent RCCs duly informed as:

“This is a case of force majeure (ref.SOLAS Art. IV) imposing to retrieve persons in danger of being lost at sea, as stipulated by the relevant International Maritime Conventions

Relevant shipboard safety and environmental elements have been assessed and it is ascertained MV Ocean Viking has the capacity to recover all of these persons without creating serious danger to the ship and the persons thereon, in line with the provisions of Art. 98 of the UNCLOS Convention. Also, not any risk of pollution will result.”

Persons on board are threatened by grave and imminent danger of being lost and require immediate assistance. Ocean Viking informs that she will proceed to the assistance of these persons in distress and evacuate them without delay.

Ocean Viking in position 33 40 N 012 43 E sends an email to JRCC Tripoli, with MTRCC and ITMRCC in copy, to inform that she spotted an overcrowded wooden boat about 5NM away. Apprehension exists as to the safety of the persons on board. Ocean Viking informs that the she called JRCC Tripoli but the operator could not copy because broken communication and ask to send this email. Ocean Viking informs that she is ready to provide assistance.  

Ocean Viking sends the MIR report and a request for a Place of Safety to MTRCC, with ITMRCC, JRCC Tripoli, and the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy:

“Please note that in the course of a SAR operation conducted yesterday (22 10 2022) in the Libyan SRR, MV Ocean Viking had recovered 34 survivors (see attached MIR).

We are requesting the indication of a Place of Safety (as defined in the Annex to the 1979 SAR Convention, paragraph 1.3.2 and in the International Maritime Organization 2004 Rescue Guidelines) to promptly disembark all 73 survivors who are currently on-board.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message.

Best regards

Bridge

Ocean Viking“

“Dear Sirs/Madams,

Please be informed that, at 1035 UTC in position 34 24 N 012 50 E, MV Ocean Viking completed the rescue operation of the boat in distress. 40 (number to be confirmed) shipwrecked persons have been safely brought on board MV Ocean Viking.

The breakdown of the survivors and complete information will follow in Maritime Incident Report.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message.

Best regards

Bridge

Ocean Viking“

Ocean Viking in position 34 24 N 012 50 E sends an email to MTRCC, with ITMRCC in copy, to inform that she spotted the adrift boat in distress by binoculars and launched two rhibs to assess the situation. The fiber boat is unseaworthy, overcrowded, with a list to starboard, with about 40 people on board without lifejackets and women, all exposed to the elements. Ocean Viking informs that she called MTRCC to inform about the distress being ascertained and that she is going to proceed to the recovery of these persons in distress at sea. Ocean Viking informs that the operator copied the information. Ocean Viking further writes that she will proceed to the assistance of the persons in distress:

“This is a case of force majeure (ref.SOLAS Art. IV) imposing to retrieve persons in danger of being lost at sea, as stipulated by the relevant International Maritime Conventions

Relevant shipboard safety and environmental elements have been assessed and it is ascertained MV Ocean Viking has the capacity to recover all of these persons without creating serious danger to the ship and the persons thereon, in line with the provisions of Art. 98 of the UNCLOS Convention. Also, not any risk of pollution will result.

MV Ocean Viking will proceed to the assistance of these persons in distress and rescue them without delay, while keeping competent RCC duly informed.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message.

Best regards

Bridge

Ocean Viking“

Ocean Viking reports the distress alert given by the aircraft Colibri 2 about a white fiberglass boat overcrowded and unsuitable for navigation in high seas with approximately 40 persons on board. Ocean Viking informs that she called MTRCC via Sat Phone and acknowledges that the operator copied the information. Ocean Viking informs that she will proceed to the assistance of the persons in distress:

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

MV Ocean Viking is proceeding towards the target, about 20NM away, ready to provide assistance.

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 sends the MIR report and a request for a Place of Safety to JRCC Tripoli, with ITMRCC, MTRCC and the Norwegian Maritime Authority in copy:

“We are requesting the indication of a