The Ocean Viking was fired upon by the Libyan coast guard in international waters on Sunday, 24 August 2025, while conducting a search and rescue (SAR) operation off Libya at the request of Italian authorities. No injuries were reported; the ship sustained minor damage and later departed the area.
What happened on 24 August 2025
According to the ship’s operator SOS Méditerranée and the partner Red Cross, a Libyan patrol boat approached and fired hundreds of rounds as the crew prepared to assist people in distress. The episode reportedly lasted over five minutes.
Norway’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (Hovedredningssentralen) confirmed that the incident occurred in international waters during a SAR intervention. The Ocean Viking subsequently left the scene for safety.
SOS Méditerranée: deliberate and violent attack
At the time of the gunfire, there were around 120 people on board, including survivors from earlier rescues and nine crew members. The night before the incident, the crew had rescued 47 people, among them nine unaccompanied minors, from a rubber boat off the Libyan coast.
Initial reports from the NGO referenced 87 survivors on board during the attack; later updates indicated 111 survivors from prior rescues. All sources concur that no one was injured.
SOS Méditerranée described the attack as “deliberate and violent” and said it is preparing a detailed reconstruction of the events. The Italian Red Cross (Croce Rossa Italiana) expressed dismay, calling the incident deeply concerning. Further official clarifications are expected from European maritime and judicial authorities.
International waters and rescue law
Under international maritime law—UNCLOS, SOLAS and the SAR Convention—ships have a duty to render assistance to persons in distress at sea. Actions that endanger search and rescue operations in international waters raise concerns under these frameworks and, more broadly, the principle of non‑refoulement.
The episode adds to repeated warnings from humanitarian organisations about insecurity in the Central Mediterranean and the need for predictable coordination of rescues.
This is not the first time the Ocean Viking has faced hostile behaviour near Libya. The ship reported similar episodes in 2023, including gunfire near rescue teams. Humanitarian operators argue that the lack of state-led SAR capacity and fragmented coordination have increased the risks for both survivors and crews.
Norwegian ownership and European context
The Ocean Viking is Norwegian‑owned and Norwegian‑flagged, operating in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The case is likely to reignite debate in the Nordics and across the EU on maritime safety, cooperation with Libyan authorities, and the governance of SAR in the Central Mediterranean. Given ongoing EU–Libya migration arrangements, the incident may prompt renewed scrutiny of accountability and operational standards in shared maritime areas.
Investigations and official reports will determine the precise sequence and legal assessment of the attack. In the meantime, humanitarian organisations warn that volatile interactions in international waters remain a systemic risk for SAR missions, with implications for Nordic and EU policy on maritime safety, human rights, and migration management.
