Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – 17th of January 2018

Case name: 2018_01_17-CM122
Situation: Alarm Phone in direct contact with 7 people in distress on their way from Libya to Sicily, rescued by a European vessel
Status of WTM Investigation: Concluded
Place of Incident: Central Mediterranean Sea

Summary of the Case: On Wednesday the 17th of January 2018 at 6.02am, the Alarm Phone was directly called from a boat in distress with 7 people on board, who had departed from Abu Kammash / Libya. In another call at 6.16am, we received their GPS position that we forwarded to the Italian MRCC at 6.23am via phone. Afterwards, we charged the travellers’ satellite phone with 10 units and also provided the MRCC with all our information via email. One hour later, we realized that the travellers had used their phone again and we recharged it with another 20 units. At 8.05am, we called them again and received an updated GPS position. Beyond that, they told us they met a Libyan fisher boat and that they were waiting besides that boat, because the waves were very high. They were unsure if they should continue their journey or not. In another call with the Italian MRCC at 8.22am, we forwarded their updated GPS position and asked for further information. The officer asked us to call back in two hours, but assured us that they had informed their colleagues operating in the area of the boat in distress. Afterwards, we were not able to reach the travellers anymore, but in a third call with the Italian MRCC at 10.25am, we were told that the travellers were safe and had been rescued by a European vessel. Five days later, we learned from a contact person that it was indeed the boat we had been in contact with, that was rescued by the MRCC on that day. The travellers called him from Italy and were on their way to Rome.