Italy has impounded migrant rescue ship Ocean Viking (IMO 8506854), citing safety procedure irregularities, Italian authorities said on Wednesday July 12th.
The vessel was seized while docked in the port of Civitavecchia, on the coast of the Western Mediterranean a short way northwest of Rome.
The Italian coast guard said that “in particular, some of the crew did not possess the necessary licences to handle the life-saving equipment aboard,”
“After a seven-hour Port State Control inspection in Civitavecchia on Tuesday, Ocean Viking has been detained by Italian authorities,” said SOS Mediterranee. It added that it was working with the involved parties “to lift the detention as soon as possible”.
1986-built, Norway-flagged, 2,306 gt Ocean Viking is owned by SAR Offshore AS care of manager Hoyland Offshore AS of Steinsland, Norway. It is entered with Skuld (Skuld Energy on behalf of Hoyland Offshore AS. As of July 13th the vessel remained moored at Citavecchia.