Friday, September 30, 2011

Amver Awards in Russia

DSC_3809

The Amver team had a successful trip to NEVA, the Russian shipping exhibition in Saint Petersburg. We met lots of Amver participants and held an Amver awards ceremony recognizing heroism and dedication to safety at sea by Russian vessels. We had the pleasure of meeting representatives from The Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, Sovcomflot, and Vega Joint Stock Company among others.

Here is a list of the Russian award recipients-
  • Akros Fishing Company
  • Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute
  • Atomflot
  • Far Eastern Regional Hydrometeorological Research Institute
  • Far-Eastern Shipping Company (FESCO)
  • IDK Comany
  • Murmansk Basin Administration for Fishery Protection and Conservation
  • Murmansk Shipping Company (MSC)
  • Murmansk Trawl Fleet Company
  • Sakhalin Shipping Company (SASCO)
  • SCF Novoship JSC (Sovcomflot)
  • PP Shirshov Institute of Oceanology
  • Unicom Management Services
  • Vega Joint Stock Comany
Congratulations to all the award recipients!

Photo credit: USCG Photo by Beverly Howard

Thursday, September 29, 2011

2011 Amver Assisted Rescue at Sea Award Winner

Lloyd's List recently held their annual awards dinner in London on Sept. 20, 2011. The Amver Assisted Rescue at Sea Award, sponsored by Inmarsat, went to MOL Lines for the rescue of students from the sunken training ship Concordia by two of their Amver participating vessels.

The Amver Assisted Rescue at Sea Award praises seafarers for rescue activities demonstrating extraordinary courage and seamanship. This year's award honors the MOL-owned wood chip carriers Hokuetsu Delight and Crystal Pioneer, which rescued all 64 persons adrift from the sailing ship Concordia, which capsized in the Atlantic Ocean 550 km southeast of Rio de Janeiro.

The 57 meter Concordia, operated as a floating school, encountered fierce winds on February 17, 2010 and capsized around 8:00 pm that night, with the crew and trainees, high school and university students, abandoning ship. Search and rescue activities took place from the night of the incident until the morning of the 19th. Despite high winds, choppy seas, and limited pre-dawn visibility, the two wood chip carriers searched for and located the shipwreck survivors.

The task was all the more difficult considering that the huge wood chip carriers are easily affected by winds and difficult to maneuver. However, the highly skilled officers and crew members completed the rescue operation without any secondary injuries or damage.

In the winner photo:

Winner Mr. Mitsuhiro Iwata, Manager Director, Mitsui O.S.K. Bulk Shipping (Europe) Sponsor representative, Allison Horrocks, Senior Vice President Corporate Governance and Company Secretary, Inmarsat
Host: Matthew Parris

Photo credits: Lloyd's List

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Welcome Wednesday!

We're back from a successful trip to Russia where we presented Amver awards to vessels of the Russian Federation. But that's for another blog post. In the meantime we want to recognize the 41 new ships that have enrolled in the Amver network. These ships have committed to ensuring no call for help goes unanswered. Have you signed up your ships? You should. It's easy and free. The costs to participate are minimal. There are several commercial ways to participate as well, if you are a Pole Star or Transas customer.

In the meantime please help us welcome the new Amver members!

  • ABU DHABI-III
  • AL YASAT- II
  • ANNELIES ILENA
  • BERGE EVEREST
  • BERGEN TRADER
  • BLUE FIN
  • CAPE SAMPAGITA
  • CELANOVA
  • CMB BORIS
  • CPO EUROPE
  • E. R. BORDEAUX
  • EASTERN RUBY
  • ELVIRA BULKER
  • FAR SKY
  • GENCO AVRA
  • HEBEI KING
  • JAG ARYA
  • KANG SHENG
  • KARIMU
  • KASTELLI WAVE
  • KIMBERLY C
  • MBA ROSARIA
  • MINERAL MANILA
  • ONEGO BORA
  • PACIFIC FALCON
  • PALVA
  • PETREL BULKER
  • POMER
  • ROXEN STAR
  • SHAGANG HONGCHANG
  • SIMANO
  • SINAR SOLO
  • SONANGOL RANGEL
  • SUEZ RAJAN
  • SUNLEAF GRACE
  • TASSIE BRIDGE
  • TENDER SALUTE
  • VICTORIOUS ACE
  • VISHVA NIDHI
  • WAWASAN TOPAZ
  • YANGTZE CROWN
Don't forget to check out the Amver podcast, The Quarterdeck!

Photo credit: Fotolia

Monday, September 26, 2011

Amver and the Inbound Marketing Summit

How do marketers like Amver share their story? In the old days it was print advertising or other means of interruption. Now we use inbound marketing techniques like those we learned at the Inbound Marketing Summit this month in Boston. Take a look at what went on.



Can't see the video? Click here.


Video courtesy of the Pulse Network.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Marshall Island flagged Amver ship rescues 12

A international search and rescue effort involving MRCC Madrid, U.S. Coast Guard rescue coordinators and an Amver ship resulted in 12 sailors being rescued from their vessel. On September 9, 2011 Spanish rescue authorities requested an Amver surface picture to assist a boat in distress in their search and rescue region.

The request was routed through the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area command center and Amver information was immediately sent back to Madrid. The Marshall Island flagged tanker, Cape Tallin, was near the distress and diverted to offer assistance.

Once on scene the crew of the Cape Tallin, managed by Columbia Shipmanagement of Cyprus, quickly rescued the 12 sailors. The Cape Tallin enrolled in the Amver system in April, 2009 and has earned three Amver participation awards.

Photo credit: marrinetraffic.com

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Welcome Wednesday!

You did it! You helped Amver achieve 5,000 vessels on plot! Five years ago we used to tout the number of days the Amver plot was over 3,000 vessels. This past Sunday the Amver plot achieved 5,067 vessels available for search and rescue. For that we are eternally grateful. Thank you. Who helped us achieve this goal? Vessels like those listed below, vessels enrolled in the Amver system.

  • ANAKENA
  • BALSA 59
  • BAOGANG SPIRIT
  • BAOSTEEL EMOTION
  • BERNARD A
  • BGP PROSPECTOR
  • BULK ORION
  • BULKERS ALESSIA
  • DESERT HOPE
  • DS VISION
  • EAGLE MELBOURNE
  • EAGLE TEXAS
  • EASTERN BUND
  • ELKA DELOS
  • EVGENIA
  • FANTASTIC
  • GRETA
  • HANSA SALZBURG
  • HIROSHIMA
  • IKOMASAN
  • JUNO
  • MBA FUTURE
  • MOTIVATOR
  • NAFTOCEMENT IX
  • NORGAS CAMILLA
  • NORTH SEA
  • PENTA
  • PORT MACAU
  • Q ARION
  • RHOON
  • SEA VOYAGER
  • TEIZAN
  • VIRGEN MARIA B
Congratulations for helping us reach 5,000 ships on plot!

Photo credit: Fotolia

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Visit Amver in Saint Petersburg, Russia

Exhibition NEVA 2009

Come visit the Amver team at the NEVA 2011 Shipping Exhibition in Saint Petersburg, Russia this week. We are exhibiting in booth 733. We would love to meet you, tell you a bit more about Amver and get your ships enrolled.

We are also hosting an Amver awards ceremony on Friday September 23, 2011 at 1100 hours in Hall 7 in conference hall 7-2 recognizing Russian Federation Amver participants.

Приезжайте AMVER команда НЕВА 2011 Доставка выставка в Санкт-Петербурге, Россия на этой неделе. Мы показываем на стенде 733. Мы будем рады встретиться с вами, рассказать вам немного больше о AMVER и получитьваши корабли поступил.

Мы также хостинг церемонии AMVER награды в пятницу 23 сентября 2011 в 11.00 часов в зале № 7, в конференц-зале 7-2 признании Русского ФедерацииAMVER участников.

Monday, September 19, 2011

IMO guidance on private security personnel on ships

There is updated guidance from the International Maritime Organization on the use of privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP). The guidance is a product of the intercessional meeting of the Maritime Security and Piracy Working Group meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee. Amver participants will find this information useful.

  • MSC.1/Circ. 1409 on Interim Recommendations for port and coastal States regarding the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area.
  • MSC.1/Circ. 1406/Rev.1 on Revised Interim Recommendations for flag States regarding the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area.
  • MSC.1/Circ. 1405/Rev.1 on Revised Interim Guidance to shipowners, ship operators and shipmasters on the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area
  • a joint MSC and Facilitation Committee (FAL) circular on Questionnaire on information on port and coastal State requirements related to privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships, which is aimed at gathering information on current requirements.
The circulars provide interim guidance and recommendations to be taken into account when considering the use of PCASP if and when a flag State determines that such measure would be lawful and, following a full risk assessment, appropriate.

As stated in the circulars, the interim guidance and recommendations "are not intended to endorse or institutionalize" the use of armed guards. Therefore, they do not represent any fundamental change of policy by the Organization in this regard. It is for each flag State, individually, to decide whether or not PCASP should be authorized for use on board ships flying their flag. If a flag State decides to perm is this practice, it is up to that State to determine the conditions under which authorization will be granted.

The use of PCASP should not be considered as an alternative to Best Management Practices (BMP) and other protective measures. BMP4 has recently been issued by the shipping industry and will shortly be disseminated by IMO (as MSC.1/Circ. 1339). 

You can hear more about United States Coast Guard involvement in anti-piracy efforts in this episode of The Quarterdeck podcast.

Photo credit: IMO

Friday, September 16, 2011

Amver ship assists in rescue of French sailors

The Amver participating tanker, Unique Sunshine, and an oil rig tender, Maersk Chancellor, were called upon to assist in the rescue of four sailors from a sailboat 1,400 miles east-northeasr of Provincetown, Mass. on Thursday September 8, 2011.

Rescue personnel received a distress alert from the 36 foot sailboat Roule Ta Bille after it capsized in rough weather. The sailors had a 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon as well as a SPOT emergency alert beacon.

United States Coast Guard rescue personnel from the First District Command Center worked closely with rescue authorities from Canadian Joint Rescue Coordination Center Halifax to divert a Canadian C-130 aircraft and the two commercial ships.

The Unique Sunshine arrived on scene first and provided communications and provided a lee to the sailboat until the Maersk Chancellor could arrive and safely embark the four yachtsmen. The rescue was complicated by 45 knot winds and 30 foot waves.

The Maersk Chancellor was able to safely embark the four sailors and brought them to port in Newfoundland. While the Maersk Chancellor isn't enrolled in Amver (yet!) the Unique Sunshine is not only enrolled in Amver but has been called on to assist in another case.

Oh, and to the crew of the Maersk Chancellor- Bravo Zulu! Now sign up for Amver here (please)!

Photo credit: crew of the Maersk Chancellor 


Thursday, September 15, 2011

Coast Guard Mariner Flag Forum launches

Have you seen the Coast Guard Mariner Flag Forum? The new forum, run by Admiral Jim Watson, co-host of the Quarterdeck podcast, is a way for professional mariners and maritime executives to foster open communications between the Coast Guard and the maritime community. This is a great way for Amver participants to ask questions or broaden their relationship with the Coast Guard.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Welcome Wednesday!

Who enrolled in Amver in the past week? Take a look below. If you don't see your vessels name perhaps you should consider encouraging your operations department to enroll your vessels today. Why? Because your ships could save a life. Now, help us welcome the latest members of the Amver safety network.


  • AGRIA
  • ALTAIR LEADER
  • BLUE MCKINLEY
  • BRIDGEGATE
  • BRIGIT MAERSK
  • BRILLIANT ACE
  • CHORUS
  • CRINIS
  • DIANE
  • HAKO ESTEEM
  • LADY MONA
  • MOL CREATION
  • OVERSEAS MILOS
  • PARSIFAL
  • PRABHU MOHINI
  • ROADRUNNER BULKER
  • SHAGANG HONGFA
  • SOYO
  • TINGHIR
  • TORM OCEAN
  • TRUST INTEGRITY
Don't forget about The Quarterdeck, the Amver podcast.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

What's it like at the North Pole?

If you've ever wondered what it's like at the North Pole your ship has come in, literally.

The USCG Cutter Healy is on it's Arctic West Summer 11 cruise and broadcasting on Twitter.

But if you want to really see what's going on you should click on the link to the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory for picture updates from the Healy's aloft con. Oh, and the Healy is enrolled in Amver as well!

Photo credit: USCGC Healy

Monday, September 12, 2011

Top 10 Flag of Registry

Here is an interesting list the Amver team found on the Maritime Administration website. It's the list of the top 10 Flags of Registry and the number of ships registered to each (current as of October, 2010).


  1. Panama 4,436
  2. Liberia 2,083
  3. Hong Kong 1,088
  4. Marshall Islands 1,069
  5. Singapore 1,005
  6. China 955
  7. Malta 885
  8. Bahamas 821
  9. Greece 605
  10. Cyprus 567

Photo credit: Fotolia



Sunday, September 11, 2011

Remembering September 11

The Amver offices have been located in lower Manhattan since Amver was founded in 1958. Today we remember the events of September 11, 2001 and the contribution made by the maritime community helping to save lives that day.

Friday, September 9, 2011

The Quarterdeck; September 11 ten years later

This month's Quarterdeck comes a bit early as we remember September 11, 2001. Amver was fortunate enough to sit down with Coast Guard Captain Linda Fagan, Sector New York Commanding Officer and Captain of the Port of New York.

In this episode Captain Fagan discusses the maritime response to September 11th, how things have changed in New York harbor and the cooperation that has helped the response to incidents like the airplane crash in the Hudson River and Hurricane Irene.

Captain Fagan also says she wants to hear from you. If you have a question or comment for Captain Fagan feel free to share it in the comments section and we will pass it along to her.

Here is a direct link to The Quarterdeck audio file.

The Quarterdeck transcript is available here.

Links

Is there something specific you would like to hear on The Quarterdeck? Leave your suggestion in the comments below and we'll do our best to cover it in an upcoming episode!


Rescue at Water's Edge, Merchant Mariners on September 11

The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Maritime Administration are proud to share this incredible  story of survival and selfless actions by the maritime community in New York. When the call for all available boats went out, the mariners of New York answered the call.




If you can't see the video click here.

You can help make sure no call for help goes unanswered by enrolling your ships in Amver today.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Who needs to plan for a mass rescue? You do!

If you're looking for an example why organizations like the United States Coast Guard have a Mass Rescue Operations program you don't need to look much further than this story from Korea. According to  the Jeju Weekly, a Korean ferry caught fire sending all the passengers into the water. Twenty three Korean Coast Guard and Navy vessels, along with helicopters, rescued 128 passengers. 

The IMO also recognized the need for a robust mass rescue program in COMSAR Circular 31. There are several other mass rescue related documents you may find useful, including:

Are you prepared to assist in a mass rescue? 

Photo credit: Fotolia

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Welcome Wednesday!

In the United States, and perhaps around the world, it's back to school season. We figured it was a good time to remind the shipping community where they can learn more about Amver. If you need a copy of the Amver User's Manual you can find it here. Just curious what Amver does? You can see a short video about us here. The Amver fact sheet is available here. If you need to learn how to enroll in Amver, read this. Now, let's welcome those ships that are at the head of the class!


  • AIDALUNA
  • ALPHA CONFIDENCE
  • ALPINE HALLIE
  • ALSTERDIJK
  • BLANK
  • BOURBON HAMELIN
  • CMA CGM TANCREDI
  • COSCO HARMONY
  • D SKALKEAS
  • DHIRUBHAI DEEPWATER KG2
  • DOUBLE PRESTIGE
  • DWIGHT S. RAMSAY
  • FREJA TAURUS
  • GLOBAL KING
  • GUOYU51
  • JOSE LEONARDO CHIRINOS
  • KIRAN AFRICA
  • MAYAN QUEEN IV
  • MEHUIN
  • NCC SAFA
  • NEO
  • NORD AQUARIUS
  • SAMCO AMAZON
  • STRAITSMAN
  • TRUST AGILITY
  • TSHD RIVER BEE
  • U-SEA CORBITA
  • VISHVA MALHAR
  • WYAMBI
  • YELENA
  • ZIM CONSTANZA
If you haven't enrolled yet consider the benefits. You'll be helping save lives at sea... like these.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

MARAD Advisory, Risk to Vessels Transiting High Risk Waters

From the Maritime Administration and of importance to our Amver participants.

Advisory #:2011-05
Date Issued:Aug 31 2011
To:MARINERS
Subject:RISK TO VESSELS TRANSITING HIGH RISK WATERS


1.   THIS MARAD ADVISORY PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THE RISK TO VESSELS TRANSITING THE HIGH RISK WATERS (HRW) OF THE GULF OF ADEN (GOA), RED SEA, INDIAN OCEAN, ARABIAN SEA AND WATERS OFF THE HORN OF AFRICA (SOMALIA).

2.   THIS ADVISORY WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE MARAD WEB SITE AT WWW.MARAD.DOT.GOV UNDER THE HORN OF AFRICA PIRACY PORTAL AND ON THE US COAST GUARD HOMEPORT SITE AT HOMEPORT.USCG.MIL/PIRACY.  OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION IS ALSO POSTED ON THESE WEB SITES.

3.   U.S.-FLAG OPERATORS WITH SHIPS IN THE AFFECTED AREAS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD THIS ADVISORY TO THEIR SHIPS BY THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS MEANS.

4.   U.S.- FLAG SHIPS OPERATING IN HRW ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH US COAST GUARD MARITIME SECURITY (MARSEC) DIRECTIVE 104-6 (CURRENT VERSION). POC IS LCDR JAMES FOGLE, US COAST GUARD, AT 202-372-1038 OR JAMES.T.FOGLE@USCG.MIL.  NONE OF THE GUIDANCE IN THIS NOTICE IS MEANT TO SUPERSEDE MARSEC DIRECTIVE 104-6 (CURRENT VERSION) OR SUPPORTING PORT SECURITY ADVISORIES.
5.  PIRATES ARE ATTACKING VESSELS, INCLUDING YACHTS AND OTHER NON COMMERCIAL VESSELS – SUCH AS SAILBOATS , IN THE GULF OF ADEN, ARABIAN SEA, INDIAN OCEAN, SOUTHERN RED SEA, AND MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL. PIRATES ARE FIRING AUTOMATIC WEAPONS AND ROCKET PROPELLED GRENADES (RPG) IN AN ATTEMPT TO BOARD AND HIJACK VESSELS.  IF AN ATTACK IS SUCCESSFUL AND THE VESSEL IS HIJACKED, PIRATES DIRECT VESSELS TO THE SOMALI COAST AND THEREAFTER DEMAND RANSOM FOR THE SAFE RELEASE OF VESSELS AND CREW.  PIRATES USE HIJACKED FISHING AND MERCHANT VESSELS TO CONDUCT PIRACY OPERATIONS AS MOTHER VESSELS TO SAIL FAR FROM THE SOMALI COAST TO ATTACK AND HIJACK VESSELS IN TRANSIT OR AT ANCHOR.  SMALLER SKIFFS ARE LAUNCHED FROM THE PIRATE MOTHER VESSEL TO ATTACK TARGETED VESSELS.

6.  RECENT ATTACKS IN THE SOUTHERN RED SEA AND TO A SHIP AT ANCHOR IN OMAN SHOULD SERVE TO WARN ALL VESSELS OPERATING IN THE HRW THAT THE PIRATES HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO ADAPT TO SHIP PROTECTION MEASURES. THE TRANSITION BETWEEN MONSOON SEASONS BETWEEN OCT THRU NOV WILL BE MORE FAVORABLE FOR PIRATE SKIFF ATTACKS.  MASTERS AND OPERATORS SHOULD ANTICIPATE ATTACKS THAT MAY VARY FROM PAST TACTICS. IN LIGHT OF THE EXTENSION OF THE THREAT TO PORTS AND TERRITORIAL WATERS, MASTERS AND OPERATORS ARE ADVISED TO MAINTAIN ALL APPLICABLE DEFENSIVE AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES THAT ARE LEGALLY PERMISSIBLE DURING THE VESSEL’S TIME IN PORT OR AT ANCHOR.
7.  TRANSIT BY YACHTS AND PRIVATELY OWNED SAILING VESSELS THROUGH HRW IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AND MAY RESULT IN CAPTURE BY PIRATES. THE COAST GUARD ADVISES AGAINST ALL OPERATION OF OR TRAVEL BY YACHT AND PLEASURE CRAFT IN HRW.  VESSELS THAT MAKE THIS PASSAGE DESPITE THIS WARNING SHOULD MAKE CONTACT IN ADVANCE WITH THE NAVAL AUTHORITIES. IN ADDITION, AMERICAN CITIZENS ABOARD SHOULD INFORM THE NEAREST U.S. EMBASSY OR CONSULATE OF THEIR PLANS TO TRANSIT THE AREA AND/OR UPDATE THEIR INFORMATION VIA THE SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM (STEP) ON WWW.TRAVEL.STATE.GOV.  BASIC GUIDANCE FOR TRANSIT CAN BE FOUND AT HTTP://WWW.MSCHOA.ORG/YACHTINGGUIDANCE/PAGES/YACHTINGGUIDANCEONE.ASPX.  IF YOU ARE DUE TO TRAVEL THE AREA OF HIGH THREAT, PLEASE INFORM MSC (HOA) BY EMAILING POSTMASTER@MSCHOA.ORG, WITH THE SUBJECT LINE 'YACHT VESSEL MOVEMENT'.

8.   RELATED COAST GUARD NOTICE: THE U.S. COAST GUARD ISSUED A NOTICE TO MARINERS ADVISORY FOR YACHTS AND SAILING VESSELS. FOR THE TEXT OF THE COAST GUARD NOTICE, PLEASE GO TO HTTP://HOMEPORT.USCG.MIL/PIRACY.

9.   ALL VESSELS SHOULD REGISTER FOR ACCESS TO MSCHOA WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.MSCHOA.ORG TO OBTAIN UP TO DATE INFORMATION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND CONDITIONS IN THE REGION.

10.  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ADVISORY, CONTACT CAPTAIN ROBERT FORD, MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF SECURITY, CODE: MAR-420, ROOM W25-308, 1200 NEW JERSEY AVE, S.E., WASHINGTON, DC 20590, TELEPHONE 202-366-0223, FACSIMILE 202-366-3954, TLX II 710.822.9426 (MARAD DOT WSH), OR EMAIL: MARADSECURITY@DOT.GOV.

11.  CANCEL ADVISORY 2011-01.

Friday, September 2, 2011

The Quarterdeck; Hurriquake edition!

Welcome to the hurriquake edition of The Quarterdeck! We're a few days late getting the August edition of the Amver podcast Quarterdeck posted. We were hit with an earthquake and hurricane all in the same week!

Regardless of events we are happy to bring you episode 7 of the Quarterdeck. In this episode we discuss a few Amver rescues and Admiral Watson rejoins us to discuss his new duties at Coast Guard Headquarters Prevention Policy Directorate and other issues surrounding commercial mariners, including proposed changes to the STCW.

Here is a direct link to the Quarterdeck audio file.

The Quarterdeck transcript is available here.

Links

The Quarterdeck theme song is Botany Bay by the Blaggards available on musicalley.com. Don't forget to download The Quarterdeck in iTunes!

Is there something specific you would like to hear on The Quarterdeck? Leave your suggestion in the comments below and we'll do our best to cover it in an upcoming episode!