Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Welcome Wednesday!

23 more vessels are part of the Amver system. 23 more second chances. 23 more times likely that a mariner in distress can be saved. Thank you for supporting and enrolling in the Amver system. Also, a big thanks to the following ships for helping save lives at sea.
  • AL MAYEDA
  • AMPRITRIE
  • AP STON
  • ASIAN CHAMPION
  • BOW FULING
  • ELSE
  • FAIRMOUNT SUMMIT
  • FRIENDLY ISLANDS
  • FUSION
  • HELVETIA ONE
  • K. RUBY
  • KEITH COWAN
  • MAERSK WAKAMATSU
  • MANTA III
  • MED ARCTIC
  • OOCL LONDON
  • PAC SEGINUS
  • SKY KNIGHT
  • SOLEY-4
  • STADION II
  • SUIGO
  • TOISA SERENADE
  • VALE LIWA
Have you joined yet?

Photo credit: Fotolia

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Welcome Wednesday!

20 more vessels have enrolled in the Amver system. We're thankful each week as more and more ships continue to demonstrate a desire to help others at sea. Those that go to sea understand the blanket of protection Amver provides. Those who have been rescued are grateful. Help us welcome the latest members of the Amver system.
  • ADELANTE
  • ANAGEL ASPIRATION
  • ANDROMEDA GLORY
  • CAPE KALA KANE
  • CASPAIN
  • CENTER
  • EMIL
  • EVELYN SCHULTE
  • KAGOSHIMA MARU
  • MAERSK TANJONG
  • MOL MANEUVER
  • MR. JONAH
  • MSC LA SPEZIA
  • NEPTYTANK
  • PACIFIC LAUREL
  • POS AVENTURIN
  • SEA STAR
  • SOUTHERN FIGHTER
  • VIVACE
  • YIN NENG
Thank you for helping ensure no call for help goes unanswered.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Amver participating cruise ship rescues 70 in Alaska

The Amver participating cruise ship Volendam assisted in the rescue of 76 passengers from the sightseeing boat Baranof Wind after it struck a rock in Glacier Bay, Alaska and started taking on water on August 19, 2012. The Volendam embarked 70 passengers.

The Volendam, an Amver participant since it enrolled in 1999, is managed by Holland America Line and has earned 7 Amver awards for participation.

This rescue demonstrates the power of partnerships forged between Amver participants and the U.S. Coast Guard and serves as an example of how rescue efforts in the Arctic, or other areas with limited search and rescue resources, may be achieved using commercial ships.

It was another Holland America Line cruise ship, the Princendam, that caught fire in the Gulf of Alaska in 1980 and required the evacuation of all 520 passengers, many were rescued by Amver ships. Perhaps this was Holland America Line's way of paying safety forward.

Bravo Zulu to the crew of the Volendam for helping saves lives at sea!

Ship photo credit: Wikipedia
Baranof Wind photo credit: Holland America Line

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Welcome Wednesday!

What ships enrolled in Amver in the past week? Take a look. These ships, their crews and management, have gone an extra step to commit to ensuring no call for help goes unanswered. Help us welcome them to Amver safety network.
  • CARLOTA C
  • CHANG HE
  • FUGA
  • KING MILO
  • KM NAGOYA
  • MSC ANASTASIA
  • NCC SAMA
  • NORDROSE
  • ORIENT APPROACH
  • SABINE
  • SANDINO
  • SHINING DRAGON
  • SINGAPORE BULKER
  • STOLT COURAGE
  • THIRA SEA
  • VALROSSA
  • VENUS SHINING
Thank you for joining us, helping save lives at sea!

Photo credit: Fotolia

Monday, August 13, 2012

U.S. Navy vessel, Amver ship collide

According to a news release from the United States Navy, the Guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) collided with the Amver participating tanker Otowasan in the Straight of Hormuz approximately 1:00 am local time on August 12, 2012. There were no injuries reported.

The Panamanian flagged tanker, managed by MOL Tankership Managmenet, enrolled in the Amver system on March 14, 2010 and has earned one Amver award for participation.

Amver differs from AIS or LIRT and is used for search and rescue, not anti-collision or security purposes. Want to learn more about Amver? Just check out our Amver 101 story.

U.S. Navy photo by by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Sunderman/Released.

Otowasan photo courtesty of marinetraffic.com

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Greek Amver ship saves Canadian sailor

A 72 year old Canadian sailor, on a voyage from Maui to Vancouver, was plucked from the sailboat Turicum by a Greek Amver participant on Tuesday August 7, 2012, 1040 nautical miles north northeast of Hawaii after experiencing a condition that required medical attention.

The 72 year old Vancouver resident was returning on the 44 foot sailing vessel when a medical condition worsened and he became dehydrated. The crew of the Turicum notified U.S. Coast Guard rescue authorities in Honolulu who began querying the Amver system for commercial ships that could assist.

The Hanjin Vancouver initially agreed to divert and assist the sailor but the Greek flagged Navarino was closer and agreed to divert towards the sailboat and help the ill yachtsmen.

"We are 320 miles from the Turicum's last reported position," stated the Captain of the Navarino, "we expect to meet in 12 hours. Please pass to the vessel to maintain 150 meridian." The Captain rendezvoused with the Turicum ahead of schedule and maneuvered the 1000 foot container ship within 4 meters of the sailboat, providing a lee from the wind. The crew of the Navarino then used a tether to transfer the sailor through the pilot entrance. The sailor was uninjured in the transfer.

The Navarino, previously named Hyundai Navarino
A U.S. Coast Guard flight surgeon instructed the crew of the Navarino to assess the sailor. The crew reported he was still experiencing some health issues, but had normal vital signs and was able to sleep. The Navarino will bring the sailor to its next port call, Los Angeles, Calf. on August 10, 2012.

The Navarino, managed by Costamare Shipping Company of Athens, Greece, enrolled in Amver on June 8, 2012 2010 and has earned two awards for participation.

The Navarino provides its vessel position through an agreement with Pole Star which gives commercial ships the opportunity to report to the Amver system automatically and free of charge as part of its Fleet Management system.

Image credit: Vic Maui return
Photo credit: marinetraffic.com

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Welcome Wednesday!

Vessels are enrolling in Amver at an Olympic pace! What ships are the latest to join the Amver safety network? Take a look and help us welcome those vessels ensuring no call for help shall go unanswered!

  • AMERICAN PHOENIX
  • ANANGEL VIGOUR
  • APL LONDON
  • AROMA
  • AS VERESIA
  • BAHIA I
  • CAPE VALENCIA
  • FEDERAL SPEY
  • FOUR TURANDOT
  • GLOBAL DAWN
  • GNG CONRAD I
  • GRAND CONCORD
  • HANJIN QINGDAO
  • KNOSSOS WAVE
  • LOCH LOMOND
  • MAINPORT KELLS
  • NAVE ATRIA
  • NOBLE SALUTE
  • NORD MONTREAL
  • ROLAND A. FALGOUT
  • SEBASTIANO CABOTO
  • SEVEN PACIFIC
  • STADT AACHEN
  • STX QUEEN
  • TEN YU MARU
  • UNITED GALAXY
  • VISHAVA ANAND
  • WESTERN TOKYO
Thank you for helping save lives at sea!

Photo credit: Fotolia

Monday, August 6, 2012

Amver and the Olympics

What do Amver and the Olympics have in common? More than you might think. The connection is in name only- names of ships enrolled in the Amver system. We thought it would be interesting to see how many ships named Olympic are actually in the Amver system. It turns out there are 20. Here they are-
  • OCEAN OLYMPIC
  • FRIO OLYMPIC
  • OLYMPIC LOYALTY
  • OLYMPIC SERENITY
  • OLYMPICS I
  • OLYMPIC PRIDE
  • OLYMPIC FAITH
  • OLYMPIC SPONSOR
  • OLYMPIC
  • OLYMPIC MELODY
  • OLYMPIC LEGACY
  • OLYMPIC FLAIR
  • OLYMPIC FLAME
  • OLYMPIC CARRIER
  • OLYMPIC SPIRIT II
  • OLYMPIC LEGEND
  • OLYMPIC FLAG
  • OLYMPIC FUTURE
  • OLYMPIC LIBERTY
  • ALGOMA OLYMPIC
A quick search on marinetraffic.com shows images for 115 ships with Olympic in their name. Maybe we need to offer gold medals to encourage greater participation?

Photo credit: Department for Communities and Local Government via Flickr

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Happy Coast Guard Day

Happy 222 birthday to the United States Coast Guard!



Friday, August 3, 2012

Amver 101

We've written posts about the Amver system, how to enroll a ship, and how to request Amver information to manage a search and rescue case. Here is everything, in one convenient post.

What is Amver?
How to enroll in Amver
How to request Amver information (for search and rescue authorities)
Amver handouts (if you want something to print and distribute)
Bookmark this post, it's your one stop shop for Amver information!

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Welcome Wednesday!

Week after week ships enroll in the Amver system. Most of these ships will never be called on to perform a rescue. Thankfully, however, they are available to ensure no call for help goes unanswered. Thank you for joining the Amver system.
  • AET RESPONSIBILITY
  • AMORINA
  • AP ARGOSY
  • AP ASTAREA
  • ARUNA HULYA
  • BELO HORIZONTE
  • CHANG CHUAN
  • CHANG HANG HAO HAI
  • CHANG QING
  • DENSA WHALE
  • ELIZA
  • FENNICA
  • FLAGSHIP ORCHARD
  • FREJA LUPUS
  • GO SIRIUS
  • HANJIN ODESSA
  • IKAN PANDAN
  • IOLCOS AMBITION
  • JACK EDWARDS
  • JULIA N
  • MANDARIN HANTONG
  • MOL GROWTH
  • MOL MODERN
  • MSC MARGRIT
  • NORDICA
  • OLZA
  • PRIME GINGER
  • RIO GRANDE
  • S. A. AGULHAS II
  • SAGAR SHAKTI
  • SHIKO MARU
  • SLETTNES
  • SOYO
  • STAR ATHENA
  • TAKESHIO
  • XIN SHENG
  • XIN XING
  • YANASENI
We hope you consider joining this elite team of lifesavers.

Photo credit: Fotolia