Announcing the Quarterdeck Podcast

Welcome to the first edition of the Quarterdeck! What is a quarterdeck? According to Wikipedia, traditionally in port, the quarterdeck is the most important place on the ship, and is the central control point for all its major activities. We believe the Quarterdeck podcast will be an important part of your maritime listening and hope it will become a central point of your listening.

The Quarterdeck podcast, brought to you by Amver, will be a monthly discussion between Mr. Benjamin Strong and Admiral James Watson Deputy Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area. Topics will vary between search and rescue, inspections, maritime safety, interviews with influential maritime figures, and whatever else is timely or important in the maritime sector.  Most importantly we want YOU to tell us what you want to hear.

Here is a direct link to the Quarterdeck audio file.

The Quarterdeck transcript is available here.

Leave your show suggestions and questions in the comments.

A special thanks to our friend Barbara Patton for designing the Quarterdeck logo.

The Quarterdeck theme song is Botany Bay by the Blaggards, available on musicalley.com.

UPDATE: Amver ship heads towards Libya

The Greeks aren't wasting any time in evacuating their citizens from Libya. The Greek government chartered the Amver participating tanker Minerva Antonia to evacuate its citizens from the port Ras Lanuf Tradewinds reported Wednesday.  The Minerva Antonia is managed by Minerva Marine and enrolled in the Amver system on December 1, 2008.  Greece isn't alone in using ships to evacuate citizens.  The United States and Turkey are using ferries to evacuate citizens as well.

Using vessels as a means of evacuating personnel from danger zones isn't new. We've discussed the topic before after reading Chris Albon's post on the Naval Institute blog.

UPDATE

According to a report from Lloyd's List, the Greek tanker Minerva Antonia loaded a cargo of low sulfur fuel at the port of Ros Lanuf but did not embark any Greek citizens for evacuation out of Libya. Clearance for the Greeks to be evacuated could not be obtained through the national oil company controlling the terminal, the report continued.  Lloyd's List also stated that reports the Greek ship was prepared to evacuate up to 300 people was exaggerated.


Efforts to evacuate United States citizens by ferry were continuing.  According to State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley, on Twitter, the ferry was unable to depart Libya because of bad weather but would depart for Malta when weather conditions were favorable.

Photo credit:  www.marinetraffic.com

Welcome Wednesday!

While piracy, Iranian ships transiting the Suez Canal, and the crisis in Libya take the front page of the maritime media its easy to forget what's going on in the background.  One thing you can count on are vessels enrolling in the Amver system.  Who joined this week?  Take a look.

• 
  
•          KIKKI C                 
•          B ELEPHANT              
•          ASIAN BLOSSOM           
•          EMMA                    
•          NAWATA BHUM             
•          GAS ALKHALEEJ           
•          MAERSK WESTPORT         
•          ATLANTIC KLIPPER        
•          GREATSHIP MAMTA         
•          ETC NEFERTARI           
•          DUMUN                   
•          TORM AGNES              
•          SOUTHERN LILY           
•          GOLDEN MARINE           
•          FLINTER ARCTIC          
•          ZIM ALABAMA             
•          OCEAN SUMMER            
•          DIAMOND ASPIRE          
•           MAKO                    
•          PRINSESA SIRENA         
•          LAKE DEER               
•          COSTA MARINA            
•          LUCY OLDENDORFF         
•          ROBERTO RIZZO           
•          FAIRCHEM KISO           
•          BBC BERGEN              
•          CHESAPEAKE HIGHWAY      
•          VAVA II                 
•          ELSBORG                 
•          EXPEDITION              
•          GAN-TRIBUTE             
•          COSTA PACIFICA          
•          HONEST SPRING           

Have you joined the Amver system yet?


Photo credit: Fotolia

Amver congratulates Angeliki Frangou

The Connecticut Maritime Association recently named Angeliki Frangou the 2011 Commodore.  Ms. Frangou will assume her role as Commodore at the annual CMA Conference on March 23, 2011.

The Award is given each year to a person in the international maritime industry who has contributed to the growth and development of the industry.

Ms. Frangou has been Navios Maritime Holdings Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since inception in 2005. Ms. Frangou is also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Navios Maritime Partners, L.P.  and Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation.

Amver will be exhibiting at CMA Shipping 2011 at booth G-104 and we look forward to seeing you there!

Photo credit: Fotolia

What does a pirate attack sound like?

If you've been a reader of the Amver blog you know we've covered piracy issues in the past. If you are a mariner you've been made aware of the dangerous piracy situation in the Indian Ocean. If you've never sailed those waters, however, you may not know what a piracy attack sounds like. Take a listen to this pirate attack from the Maritime Bulletin.

Now you know.


Photo credit: Fotolia

Related articles

• Somali Pirates Hijack Yacht With American Couple (nytimes.com)
• INTERTANKO's Complete Guide To Preventing And Dealing With Pirate Attacks (businessinsider.com)

Welcome Wednesday!

Another week, another list of newly enrolled Amver ships. With no shortage of headlines for the shipping industry vessel owners, managers, and crews continue to see the value of participating in the Amver system.  Help us welcome the latest participants.

•          PACIFIC BORA            
•          ZAGORA                  
•          HANJIN NEW YORK        
•          PERCIVAL               
•          METHANE MICKIE HARPER   
•          SAGA                    
•          ENA DYNASTY             
•          MATSUSHIRO              
•          AS VALERIA              
•          DANIEL N                
•          V8 STEALTH II           
•          WANGARATTA              
•          ROYAL HARMONY           
•          CMA CGM TURQUOISE       
•          MERMAID RELIANCE        
•          KEY CALLA               
•          RAMIRA                  
•          ROYAL FAIRNESS          
•          ALPINE MELINA           
•          HANJIN ALGECIRAS        
•          SKOMVAER                
•          COASTAL JAGUAR          
•          HANJIN SHIKOKU          
•          YI MENG SHAN            
•          HOMAM STAR              
•          SKANDI HERCULES         
•          TENACIOUS               
•          MOON BREEZE             
•          BULKTEC                 
•          GLOBAL PRODUCER III     
•          NAVIOS ETOILE           
•          ONEGO SELEINA           
•          BREVIK BRIDGE           
•          SINDHU SANKALP         
•          OCEAN SPIRIT            
•          FIRST I     

Are you part of the Amver system?           

Photo credit: Fotolia

Amver ship saves German sailors

Four German sailors were rescued by the Amver participating vessel Bow Engineer after Argentinian rescue authorities requested and Amver surface picture.  The German sailors's boat had lost power when they requested assistance.The Bow Engineer enrolled in the Amver system on April 21, 2006 and is managed by the Norwegian Ofdjell company.

The rescue took place at the yellow pin on the photo to the right. We'll provide more updates as we learn the details.

Amver ship rescues French sailor

The Amver participating ship Sebring Express rescued a French sailor Thursday Feb. 3, 2011 approximately 1,300 miles east of Puerto Rico after his sailboat was possibly stuck by a whale.  The Frenchman, sailing from the Canary Islands to Guadeloupe, was unharmed and will be dropped off in Jacksonville, Florida when the Sebring Express docks on Feb. 9, 2011.  The Coast Guard will be on hand to present a certificate of appreciation and Amver pennant to the Philippine flagged ship.

The Sebring Express enrolled in Amver on Sep. 21, 2010.  The Philippine flagged car carrier is managed by Vroon B.V. of the Netherlands.

The Captain of the Sebring Express summed things up best by saying "... he's very lucky because God is with us..."


Here is a recording between the Sebring Express and Coast Guard rescue authorities.



Can't see the video? Click this link.

Photo credit: Alec Sanson via shipspotting.com 

Welcome Wednesday!

32 ships enrolled in Amver in the past week. Thank you for the continued support of this remarkable search and rescue system. Are you hesitant to enroll? Are you worried your vessel positions may be exploited for reasons other than search and rescue? We take great pride in the fact Amver position reports are only used in actual maritime emergencies.

Other products, such as our density plot, may show vessel position trends but never identify actual Amver participants. The only identifying information is disclosed is during search and rescue incidents and then only to professional search and rescue agencies. Now, let's welcome the latest members of the Amver safety network!

•          CITRON                  
•          UNITED IDEAL            
•          CSAV RIO MALLECO        
•          YIN PING                
•          JEWEL OF DUBAI          
•          CECILIE K               
•          CHEM NORMA              
•          PARAMOUNT HYDRA         
•          EMERALD EXPRESS         
•          POINSETTIA              
•          MAGSENGER 1             
•          BOW HECTOR              
•          BORKUM                  
•          BENITO BUONO            
•          GLOBAL PASSION          
•          ASTORIA                 
•          LYMAN MARTIN            
•          PACIFIC VALOUR          
•          SAIPEM 10000            
•          GOLDEN SHADOW           
•          VANSHI                  
•          CMA CGM WAGNER          
•          OCTOPUS                 
•          VENUS SPIRIT            
•          ALMATHEA                
•          AD MATSU                
•          IVS KNOT                
•          DALMATIA                
•          STX EDELWEISS           
•          COLUMBIA                
•          OMAHA BELLE             
•          SANKO ORION             

Are you ready to enroll your ship in Amver?

Photo credit: Fotolia

Amver congratulates The Federal Maritime Commission on 50 year anniversary

The United States Federal Maritime Commission turns 50 this year. What is the FMC?  According to their website-

The Federal Maritime Commission:

• Monitors activities of ocean common carriers, marine terminal operators, conferences, ports, and ocean transportation intermediaries (OTIs) who operate in the U.S. foreign commerce to ensure they maintain just and reasonable practices, and oversees the financial responsibility of passenger vessel operators.
• Maintains a trade monitoring and enforcement program designed to assist regulated entities in achieving compliance, and to detect and appropriately remedy malpractices and violations set forth in section 10 of the Shipping Act.
• Monitors the laws and practices of foreign governments which could have a discriminatory or otherwise adverse impact on shipping conditions in the U.S.
• Enforces special regulatory requirements applicable to ocean common carriers owned or controlled by foreign governments ("controlled carriers").
• Processes and reviews agreements and service contracts.
• Reviews common carriers’ privately published tariff systems for accessibility and accuracy.
• Issues licenses to qualified OTIs in the U.S. and ensures all maintain evidence of financial responsibility.
• Ensures passenger vessel operators demonstrate adequate financial responsibility for casualty and non-performance.

Happy birthday FMC from your friends at Amver! Read more about their 50th anniversary in Chairman Lidinsky's comments.

Keeping up with piracy

Want to learn what's happening around the Gulf of Aden, the Horn of  Africa, or the Indian Ocean?  The European  Union Naval Forces (EU NAVOR) Somalia have their own website and feed to keep you posted on the latest piracy related matters in the Indian Ocean. We care about our Amver participants and want to be sure you have the latest news and information about piracy.  Want to see what other piracy stories we have?  Check out

• Piracy Update 
• Piracy Perspective
• Piracy, a Harvard Business Case Review
• Piracy or Terrorism?
• How Piracy Is Messing With Shipping

What steps are you taking to avoid piracy?  Are you avoiding the area around Somalia entirely?

Photo credit: Fotolia

Egyptian unrest affecting shipping?

Thanks to our friend Vincent Pica for pointing us to the BBC story about container ships being rerouted because of the unrest in Egypt. According to the story, Hanjin and AP Moller-Maersk have suspended Egyptian port terminal operations because of the unrest.  Both companies have vessels enrolled in the Amver system.

Hanjin shipping posted a release on their site stating some deliveries (both east and westbound) may be delayed because of the on-going unrest. Hanjin is continuing to take bookings for cargo destine for Egypt.

Are your ships being affected by the activities? Are your vessels avoiding the Suez Canal?

Photo credit: Fotolia

Related articles

• Re-routing of container ships as Egypt unrest continues (newstatesman.com)
• Cargo disruptions choke Egypt ports: sources (reuters.com)

Veteran Amver ships grounds in Antarctica

The cruise vessel Polar Star ran aground in Antarctica Monday, Jan. 31, 2011. MSNBC reported the cruise ship was anchoring near Detaille when it struck an uncharted rock and breached its outer hull. Rescue authorities were notified. The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators has updates on the situation as well. Fortunately none of the 115 passengers were injured. The ship is now under its own power and sailing for Arctowski Station where it will undergo inspection before returning to port in Ushuaia.

The Polar Star is a veteran Amver participant. The ship enrolled in the Amver system on Jan. 1, 1976 and has been reporting ever since earning almost 35 Amver participation awards.

Photo credit: rojobro

Related articles

• Antarctic Cruise Ship Has Close Scrape (dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Halifax-owned cruise ship damaged off Antarctica (cbc.ca)
• Breaking: Antarctic tourist ship "Polar Star" on the rocks (gadling.com)

Welcome Wednesday!

It's that time again. Time to recognize excellence in safety at sea.  How do we do that?  We recognize excellence by identifying the latest vessels enrolled in the Amver system.  Is your vessel listed below?  Why not?  If it is listed, thank you.  Want to know a little more about Amver?  Take a peek at this short video explaining what Amver does. In the meantime help us welcome the following 43 vessels.

• MYSTIC STRIKER
• ENERGY LULA
• AAL BRISBANE
• PAMISOS
• MISS SIMONA
• TPC VANCOUVER
• RUGIA
• GREAT REWARD
• POS SYDNEY
• OCEAN GLOBE
• KAROLINE SNUG
• CAPE CLAUDINE
• BELUGA WINDWARD
• CHEMTRANS ELBE
• BLUE SAPPHIRE
• CERVIA
• HANJIN MATSUYAMA
• CSAV LLANQUIHUE
• NORD SETOUCHI
• HARRIETTE N
• DIAMOND STAR
• PROMISE 2
• CRETAN WAVE
• REIBERA DEL DUERO KNUTSEN
• POOLSTER
• NORBE IX
• FORNTIER KOTOBUKI
• CAPE MAGNOLIA
• OCEAN COLOSSUS
• NORBE VIII
• EASTERN ASIA
• ORSOLA BOTTIGLIERI
• MERMAID GUARDIAN
• KING CORN
• ALASKABORG
• NORD VELA
• ISLA SANTA CRUZ
• ZEYCAN ANA
• JH YOUNG
• EDZARD SCHULTE
• YUE DIAN 85
• CONTI PERIDOT
• MAIRINI

We hope you will consider enrolling your vessels and joining the ranks of mariner helping mariner.


Photo credit: Fotolia