Reported interception position: 33 23 N 012 07 E

Last Known Position: 33 38 N 011 47 E

Ocean Viking in position 33 40 N 012 07 E

Ocean Viking in position 33 39.2 N 012 26.6 E

Ocean Viking in position 33 38.7 N 012 26.4 E

Ocean Viking alters her course, heading to the second distress case.

Ocean Viking reminds to Patrol Boat 656 that she is able to provide assistance and medical support in case of need. After completing the interception of the first wooden boat, the LCG Patrol Boat is observed heading at high speed towards the second wooden boat.

Ocean Viking in position 33 36.8 N 012 26.0 E

Patrol Boat 656 calls Ocean Viking on VHF Channel 16 to inform that they are the OSC and they will take care about the two cases; Ocean Viking informs the Patrol Boat 656 that she is able to provide assistance and medical support in case of need.

Ocean Viking position 34 21.47 N 011 34.87 E

Colibri2 aircraft (Pilotes volontaires) reported to the Ocean Viking having witnessed the interceptions.

Colibri2 informs Ocean Viking of her intention to continue flying over the distress boat to witness the situation.

Ocean Viking receives an email sent by Moonbird (Sea-Watch airborne operations) addressed to LYJRCC, ITMRCC, MTJRCC and Alarm Phone with Pilotes Volontaires airborne operations, UNHCR and Ocean Viking in copy, informing that Moonbird observed the interception of a blue wooden boat in distress (“most likely matching” Alarm Phone’s third distress alert) by Libyan JRCC.  

Alarm Phone forwards an email to the Ocean Viking, originally sent to them by LYJRCC informing that a rubber boat with approximately 90 persons on board was intercepted around 21:15.

Ocean Viking is at 29 NM from the Libyan coast

PV Fezzan, approaching from South, establishes VHF communication with Ocean Viking and instructs her to maintain course 000°.

As PV Fezzan approaches very close, at least 33 people are seen her deck.

Eventually, PV Fezzan overtakes Ocean Viking heading North.

Ocean Viking calls MTJRCC on phone and informs MTJRCC that all survivors have been transferred from offshore supply ship to LNCG boat

Ocean Viking calls offshore supply ship on phone and asks for an update on survivors. Ocean Viking is informed that all survivors have been transferred to a LNCG boat and will be returned to Libya

EUNAVFOR Med informs Ocean Viking about today LCG interceptions in the area of interest. EUNAVFOR Med also informs Ocean Viking that EU patrol aircrafts did not spot any rubber boat in this area after the interceptions operated by LCG during the day

Ocean Viking informs LYJRCC by email, with ITMRCC, MTJRCC and EUNAVFOR Med in CC, that it cannot proceed to disembarkation in Tripoli due to Libyan ports not conforming to the definition of places of safety.

Dear Sir, We acknowledge receipt of your request to proceed to Libya to disembark the 85 survivors of the SAR Case of Ocean Viking on the 9^th of August. 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 and unaccompanied minors, 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, that you please provide with the indication of a Place of Safety, which fulfils all requirements under all applicable international laws, where the survivors can be safely and promptly disembarked. Please acknowledge receipt of this message”