‘Ghost Boat’ — Excerpts from National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) reports for 2014

https://collateral.medium.com/ghost-boat/Broadcast_Warnings1.pdf

1. 1475/14(53,56). EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA. LIBYA. VESSEL SANK IN 33–47N 013–08E. NUMEROUS PERSONS IN WATER. VESSELS IN VICINITY REQUESTED TO KEEP A SHARP LOOKOUT, ASSIST IF POSSIBLE. REPORTS TO MRCC ROME, INMARSAT-C: 424744220, PHONE: 39 065 908 4527, 39 065 908 4409, FAX: 390 6592 2737, 3906 5908 4793, E-MAIL: ITMRCC@MIT.GOV.IT. (131721Z JUN 2014)

1473/14 and 1474/14. CANCELED.

2. 1478/14(56). EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA. LIBYA. TWO VESSELS REQUESTING ASSISTANCE VICINITY: A. 33–35N 013–17E AT 131422Z JUN. B. 33–36N 012–51E AT 131335Z JUN. VESSELS IN VICINITY REQUESTED TO KEEP A SHARP LOOKOUT, ASSIST IF POSSIBLE. REPORTS TO MRCC ROME, INMARSAT-C: 424744220, PHONE: 39 065 908 4527, 39 065 908 4409, FAX: 390 6592 2737, 3906 5908 4793, E-MAIL: ITMRCC@MIT.GOV.IT. (140033Z JUN 2014)

3. 1481/14(56). EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA. LIBYA. VESSEL, NUMEROUS PERSONS ON BOARD, IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE IN 33–20N 013–18E. VESSELS IN VICINITY REQUESTED TO KEEP A SHARP LOOKOUT, ASSIST IF POSSIBLE. REPORTS TO MRCC ROME, INMARSAT-C: 424744220, PHONE: 39 065 908 4527, 39 065 908 4409, FAX: 3 906 592 2737, 39 065 908 4793, E-MAIL: ITMRCC@MIT.GOV.IT. (141141Z JUN 2014)

4. 1507/14(56). EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA. LIBYA. VESSEL UNREPORTED. LAST KNOWN POSITION 33–30N 012–44E AT 152349Z JUN. VESSELS IN VICINITY REQUESTED TO KEEP A SHARP LOOKOUT, ASSIST IF POSSIBLE. REPORTS TO MRCC ROME, INMARSAT-C: 424744220, PHONE: 39 065 908 4527, 39 065 908 4409, FAX: 39 065 92 2737, 39 065 908 4793, E-MAIL: ITMRCC@MIT.GOV.IT. (181028Z JUN 2014)

https://collateral.medium.com/ghost-boat/Broadcast_Warning2.pdf

5. 1521/14(52,53,56). EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA. 1. GEOPHYSICAL OPERATIONS IN PROGRESS UNTIL 24 OCT BY M/V FILOMENA PRIMA IN AREA BETWEEN 34–05.4N 34–09.6N AND 012–03.4E 012–07.1E. 1000 METER BERTH REQUESTED. 2. CANCEL THIS MSG 25 OCT 14. (201258Z JUN 2014)

6. 1526/14(54,56). EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA. DISTRESS SIGNAL RECEIVED FROM VESSEL, 300 PERSONS ON BOARD, IN 33–32N 023–44E AT 211805Z JUN. VESSELS IN VICINITY REQUESTED TO KEEP A SHARP LOOKOUT, ASSIST IF POSSIBLE. REPORTS TO MRCC ROME, INMARSAT-C: 424744220, PHONE: 39 065 908 4527, 39 065 908 4409, FAX: 390 6592 2737, 3906 5908 4793, E-MAIL: ITMRCC@MIT.GOV.IT. (212129Z JUN 2014)

7. 1546/14(53,56). EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA. LIBYA. VESSEL, NUMEROUS PERSONS ON BOARD, REQUESTING ASSISTANCE IN 33–39.0N 014–18.9E. VESSELS IN VICINITY REQUESTED TO KEEP A SHARP LOOKOUT, ASSIST IF POSSIBLE. REPORTS TO MRCC ROME, INMARSAT-C: 424744220, PHONE: 3906 5908 4527, 3906 5908 4409, FAX: 390 6592 2737, 3906 5908 4793, E-MAIL: ITMRCC@MIT.GOV.IT. (241450Z JUN 2014)

https://collateral.medium.com/ghost-boat/Broadcast_Warning3.pdf

8. 1591/14(53,56). EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA. LIBYA. VESSEL, NUMEROUS PERSONS ON BOARD, SANK IN 33–31N 013–52E. VESSELS IN VICINITY REQUESTED TO KEEP A SHARP LOOKOUT, ASSIST IF POSSIBLE. REPORTS MRCC ROME, INMARSAT-C: 424744220, PHONE: 3906 5908 4527, 3906 5908 4409, FAX: 390 6592 2737, 3906 5908 4793, E-MAIL: ITMRCC@MIT.GOV.IT. (281632Z JUN 2014)

9. 1605/14(52,53). WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA. 1. SURVEY OPERATIONS IN PROGRESS UNTIL 062359Z JUL BY WAVE GLIDERS IN AREA BETWEEN 41–07N 37–54N AND 007–25E 004–52E. 2. CANCEL THIS MSG 070159Z JUL 14. (301436Z JUN 2014)

10. 1621/14(53). WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA. 1. OCEANOGRAPHIC OPERATIONS 04 THRU 24 JUL BY M/V LE SUROIT IN AREA BETWEEN 40–00N 44–00N AND 003–00E 010–00E. 2. CANCEL THIS MSG 25 JUL 14. (031212Z JUL 2014)

https://collateral.medium.com/ghost-boat/Broadcast_Warning4.pdf

11. 1630/14(52). WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA. TUNISIA-NORTH COAST. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS. 1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 07 THRU 13 JUL IN AREA BETWEEN 37–45N 38–00N AND 010–15E 010–30E. 2. CANCEL THIS MSG 14 JUL 14. (041538Z JUL 2014)

12. 1638/14(52,56). EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA. LIBYA. VESSEL, 350 PERSONS ON BOARD, TAKING ON WATER IN 33–35N 011–57E. VESSELS IN VICINITY REQUESTED TO KEEP A SHARP LOOKOUT, ASSIST IF POSSIBLE. REPORTS MRCC ROME, INMARSAT-C: 424744220, PHONE: 3906 5908 4527, 3906 5908 4409, FAX: 390 6592 2737, 3906 5908 4793, E-MAIL: ITMRCC@MIT.GOV.IT. (060824Z JUL 2014)

13. 1621/14(53). WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA. 1. OCEANOGRAPHIC OPERATIONS 04 THRU 24 JUL BY M/V LE SUROIT IN AREA BETWEEN 40–00N 44–00N AND 003–00E 010–00E. 2. CANCEL THIS MSG 25 JUL 14. (031212Z JUL 2014)

I’ve mapped the co-ordinates from each report here:

http://www.gps-coordinates.net/latitude-longitude/40/3/6/roadmap

My (non-expert) takeaway from the reports:

1. Most of these concern incidents where a vessel has got into trouble (taking on water, persons overboard, sinking).
2. Most of the “vessel in difficulty” incidents occurred off the coast of Tripoli, Libya.
3. The most promising lead from these reports lies with identifying the crew/operator of the MV Filomena Prima (see note #5 above) which was performing survey work off the coast of Tunisia (34–05.4N 34–09.6N AND 012–03.4E 012–07.1E.) between July and October 25th, 2014.

Note: MV Filomena Prima is an Italian registered fishing vessel. As of 19th September 2015, it was located off the coast of Italy.

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/details/ships/shipid:279526/mmsi:247238900/imo:8652859/vessel:FILOMINA_PRIMA