Top 10 posts of 2010

What were the top 10 Amver posts of 2010?  Take a look at what were the most popular posts of 2010.

10.  Concordia rescue update

 9.  IAMSAR Manual Survey

 8.  Amver ship helps rescue crew of Concordia

 7.  How do you enroll a ship in Amver

 6.  Concordia update- Amver ships save school children in high seas rescue

 5.  Amver tanker rescues 4

 4.  Cruise ship averts Antarctic disaster

 3.  Amver ship responds to Carnival Splendor fire

 2.  Free

 1.  Exclusive photos of the Concordia rescue

So it seems the Concordia rescue dominated our top 10 list for 2010.  What will 2011 bring?  Hopefully safer seas.  Happy New Year!


Photo credit: Fotolia

Holiday Greetings

One thing we look forward to each year are the holiday messages we receive from all of our Amver participants.  Here are some of the messages we received this year.  Thank you for helping make 2010 a remarkable record setting year.

Best Regards,

Capt. Conrado S. Alipio

Master of LPG/C CONISTON

Wishing You a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!!!

Wishing Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Vincenzo AMITRANO

Master

M/T MARE ADRIACUM

Season Greetings & Best regards,

Capt. Bipin Kumar Singh

Master Torm Lana

 

TO : AMVER

FROM: MONTE GRANADA

MERRY CHRISTMAS.....

TO: AMVER N.Y.

FM: MV POUNDA

WISHING YOU & YOUR FAMILIES A MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR

BRGDS,MASTER 

to: Amver

fm: Master mv'Daniela Schulte'

Merry Christmas

Best regards

Cpt Vladimir Tavberidze

TO:AMVER

FM:M/V MALINDI

MERRY CHRISTMAS and PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO AMVER.

BRGDS

MASTER

Dear Sir,

G'day, me and all crew on board wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas, splendid and prosperous new year 2011.

Have a Nice Day!

Best Regards,

Capt.Zhang Shiquan

Master of Bianco Bulker

Merry Christmas & a Happy 2011.

Regards,

2/MATE

Pioneer

A/LE MANS EXPRESS/ZDJR9

x/MERRY CHRISTMAS

Z/E0R//

Thanks & Brgds

Capt E.T. Limboy

TO: AMVER USA

FM: MASTER COSMOS VENTURE

X/MERRY CHRISTMAS/NEXT REPORT/262000Z//

AMVER/SP//

A/MSC LESOTHO/A8VO8//

Z/MERRY CHRISTMAS//

Gooday,

Merry Christmas!

AMVER/PR//

A/MT MTM WESTPORT/VRGN6//

Best Regards,

Capt. Thurane Nyi Nyi

MTM Westport

"MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL"

AMVER/PR//

A/AQUITANIA/MADG//

Best Regards

Master

M.V.Aquitania

FROM: GLORIOUS PLUMERIA

TO: AMVER

DT: 25-DECEMBER-2010

X/MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL//

AMVER/PR//

A/SETSUYO STAR/C6VI8//

Y/MERRY CHRISTMAS//

AMVER/PR//

A/CAPE FLAMINGO/MKVN2//

BRGDS,

MASTER

PS:MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES !

AMVER/PR//

A/NORTHWEST SANDPIPER/VNVG/8913150//

Z/EOR//

MERRY CHRISTMAS

TO: AMVER NYK

FM: MASTER CROWN STAR

DD: 25 DEC 2010

Y/MERRY XMAS//

Z/EOR//

fr:MV Ugo De Carlini/ICMB

AUSREP/FR//

A/MV UGO DE CARLINI/ICMB/9511466//

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR..

AMVER/PR//

A/KUALA LUMPUR EXPRESS/DFNB2//

X/MERRY CHRISTMAS//

A/TAHAROA EXPRESS/3EHG8//

MERRY XMAS

MASTER

BRGDS + MERRY CHRISTMAS

MASTER/SUMMER FORTUNE

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our Amver participants as well!

Photo credit: Fotolia 

 

Amver ship battered by waves, 2 crew dead

Tradewinds reported two crewmen from the Amver participating tanker Aegean Angel, the 47 year old captain and 33 year old chief mechanic, were killed when a massive wave struck their ship as it steamed from Estonia to Houston.  The ship is currently en route to Bermuda for assistance.

You may remember the Aegean Angel rescued 11 sailors from the sunken vessel Tell Tale II after it went down 300 miles south of Puerto Rico April 15, 2010 2008. The crew even earned the Lloyd's List Amver Assisted Rescue at Sea award for their efforts.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the crew who died and the entire Arcadia ship management family.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Holiday reading, part 2

What else are we reading this holiday season?  We were given a copy of The Bottom of the Harbor, by Joseph Mitchell, from our friend Peter Johansen of Great American Lines.  Mitchell's book is a collection of short stories focusing on New York harbor during the 40's and 50's when it was at its grittiest.



Can't see the video? Click here.

Welcome Wednesday!

We hope you are enjoying the holiday season.  What was our greatest gift this holiday season?  Your enrollment in Amver.  Thank you, and please thank the following new participants.

•          NORD IMABARI            
•          MAERSK VISBY            
•          KEY EVOLUTION           
•          STENA COMPASS           
•          GEORGIOS P              
•          CMB CHARLOTTE           
•          OCEAN OUTBACK           
•          OOCL JAKARTA            
•          MINERAL STONEHENGE      
•          SHINYO AYUSH            
•          OVERSEAS CHINOOK        
•          STENA TRADER            
•          MILTIADIS JUNIOR III    
•          KALLIOPI                
•          NORTHERN JUSTICE        
•          CALYPSO                 
•          LAMBELU                 
•          OCEAN HARMONY       

Wishing you a prosperous 2011!

Photo credit: Fotolia   

Holiday reading

While the Amver team takes some time off this holiday season we wanted to share what we were reading.  Currently on the nightstand is a copy of Max Hardberger's book Seized.  It's a story of a sea captain battling scoundrels and pirates while recovering stolen ships.  It's a great way to live vicariously through someone else!



Can't see the video? Click here.

Related articles

• Max Hardberger: Repo man of the seas (guardian.co.uk)
• The Repo Man of the Seas (neatorama.com)

Avoid huge ships

We have no idea how we missed this one.  Amazon is selling a book titled How To Avoid Huge Ships, written by Captain John W. Trimmer.  The book is designed to help yachtsmen avoid getting run down by commercial ships.
Despite the intent of the book, many people offering reviews of the book took a more humorous approach. 

Here is an example of one of the cheeky reviews.  We hope you get as big a laugh as we had. Oh, and if you're a sailor of a recreational boat please avoid those huge Amver ships.
 
"It is a perfect example of the cruelty of fate- my life was forever changed by a huge ship. It was the winter of 1991, 2 years before Cap'n Trimmer published this masterpiece. If only I had known... the wanton destruction that only a huge ship can do to life and limb and all smaller vessels. My bonnie wife and I had set sail in our beloved scupper, 'Nam Chowder (a pun from my years in the Navy). We were heaving to in the deep and treacherous waters off Cape Hatteras, when lo and behold a ship appeared, as sinister as Poseidon in denim cutoffs.

"O wife!" I called out. "A huge ship approaches!" But right at that moment, the huge ship sounded her horn, and my cries were drowned out in the overwhelming din. My fair wife continued to snack upon Exxtreme Olestra Pringos with reckless abandon- and so focused on these leakage-inducing sweetmeats that she failed to notice the huge ship, barreling towards us at a blinding 6 knots. I screamed like a hyena, bellowed like a bull, but so intense was her snack craving that my warnings were ignored. Finally I rushed towards the bow, to snatch the bushel of crisps from her unsightly maw and force her help in avoiding our certain shiply doom, but my extremities became tangled in the rigging and I could do nothing but struggle as the huge ship continued its advance, closing within a few hundred cubits.

"Lord, hail this ship and allow us safe passage, I beg of you!" I cried, but it was no use. God and his minions have no time for foolish adventurers upon his seas, who disregard the dangers of huge ships. And so it was, that a huge ship smashed our boat into splinters, and my wife was keelhauled for an eternity, her lifeless, bloated body finally floating to the surface in he wake of the huge ship, still clutching her snak pak. My body was torn assunder, and I sustained such horrific injuries that I shudder to recall that terrible day. Know that I peck out this review with my eyelashes, for the huge ship took everything from me save the use of my facial muscles.

Although he will not admit it, Cap'n Trimmer wrote this book in honor of my late wife, Grossinda, for her memory lives on in every book sold, so that the world may know of the dangers lurking in the bowels of every huge ship. Make no mistake, huge ships are out there and their hunger for fresh souls know no bounds. May everyone read this book and commit to memory its passages, and Grossinda's demise will not be in vain.

It is my creed- to find the huge ship that took everything from me. Armed with this book and the grace of God, I will get my revenge. HUGE SHIP- I COME FOR YOU" 

 

Happy Holidays from Amver

Two Canadians rescued by Amver ship

Two Canadian sailors were plucked from the Pacific Ocean after they were adrift in a life raft for three days approximately 100 miles off the coast of Costa Rica on Dec. 11, 2010.



The Canadians were sailing aboard their 42 foot catamaran from Costa Rica to Nicaragua when it sank and they activated their Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). The EPRIB activation alerted rescue authorities who launched a coast guard search and rescue plane and diverted the Amver participating ship Sunbelt Spirit. Coast Guard personnel from California and Victoria, Canada helped coordinate the rescue which also involved a navy aircraft.

The Sunbelt Spirit, a Marshall Island flagged car carrier/reefer ship, was fully loaded with cars on a voyage from Japan to the United States. Captain Edmund Straszak was only 30 miles from the distress location when he turned his 212 meter ship towards the survivors.

While directing operations from the bridge, Straszak’s crew lowered a ladder to the sailors and helped them board the ship. Once aboard, the crew provided food and medical attention to the two sailors who suffered sunburn and dehydration.

The Sunbelt Spirit, owned by the Great American Lines of Roseland, N.J. enrolled in the Amver system in Dec. 2002 and earned 8 awards for participating in the global search and rescue system.

Amver personnel boarded the Sunbelt Spirit when it came into Newark, N.J. on Dec. 20, 2010 and presented a certificate of appreciation and Amver flag to recognize Captain Straszak and his crew for their rescue efforts.



Here's a video of the rescue operations:



Can't see the video? Click here.

Your ship could be the next to rescue someone.  Just enroll today and you are helping ensure no call for help goes unanswered!


Photo credits: rescue photos by the crew of the Sunbelt Spirit, other photos by Zana Kaba, USCG

Welcome Wednesday!

We are in the final weeks of 2010 and the last few vessels are enrolling in Amver.  Who joined our system in the last week?  Take a look.

• CH DORIS
• TAITAR NO. 4
• HANSA NORDBURG
• SPRING ZEPHYR
• SEABOURN ODYSSEY
• RZS MILESTONE
• LEBOUEF TIDE
• EFFICIENCY OL
• HANJIN SALDANHA BAY
• BW KYOTO
• UNITED DYNAMIC
• E.R. BAYERN
• EMILIE
• EAGLE MATSUYAMA
• PREMA ONE
• DONG-A ERATO
• PANAM PACIFICO
• ACS DIAMOND
• UBC STOCKHOLM
• CMA CGM SAMBHAR
• COSTANZA
• REIYO
• ARIZONA
• WAPPEN VON AUGSBURG

We hope you have a safe and joyous holiday season.  Thank you for your continued support of Amver.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Update on Amver ship sinking

Vietnamese news reports state some commercial ships have assisted in the search for the crew and passengers aboard the ill fated Phu Tan which sank yesterday in the South China Sea.  Tradewinds reports that two survivors have been rescued.

This case, along with the other incidents of vessels sinking in the region, prompted these (here and here links to pdf) alerts from INTERCARGO.
Amver ships should heed these warnings issued by INTERCARGO.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Dangerous seas

Read any maritime publication and you'll see sad stories of vessels being lost at sea.  Clay Maitland wrote about it, Tradewinds highlights the losses in their Casualties section, Lloyds List and The Maritime Executive also cover significant casualties at sea.  How many ships are lost at sea?  That's a good question.  Take a look at some of the ships lost in the last several weeks.

• JOLLY AMARANTO
• NORTH SPIRIT
• PHU TAN
• JIAN FU STAR- with a loss of 13 mariners
• NASCO DIAMOND- with a loss of 21 mariners
• HONG WEI- with a loss of 10 mariners

We're not in the business of figuring out how to stop these losses.  Amver is a rescue program.  The maritime community can be better prepared for these emergencies at sea by having a robust global search and rescue system.  There are many tools for search and rescue professionals.  Amver is one of them.  Enrolling in Amver is the first step in ensuring there are an adequate number of ships available to assist in maritime disasters.  The second step is for search and rescue authorities to actually request Amver data.

Please help us help others so the lives of the 44 mariners listed above were not lost in vain.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Amver ship sinks in South China Sea, 27 missing

Tradewinds reported this morning that the 1,022 teu container ship Phu Tan capsized and sank in the South China Sea sending 27 crew and passengers into the water.  A search is underway for the crew who reportedly took to the water in life jackets. 

The Phu Tan enrolled in the Amver system on January 1, 1998 and is one of several Vietnamese ships participating in the Amver system.

We'll provide more updates as we learn them.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Related articles

• South Korean ship sinks off Antarctica, at least 5 dead (reuters.com)
• Filipino seamen survive ship sinking off Antarctica (globalnation.inquirer.net)
• Christmas Island shipwreck: 27 refugees die on rocks in tragedy (dailymail.co.uk)

Final voyage of the SS American Racer

Thanks to The Maritime twitter stream for posting this gem.  This is the SS American Racer on her voyage to be scrapped.  Why is the American Racer important to maritime history?  It was the first ship to carry containers across the Atlantic.  What does it have to do with Amver?  Not much really, but we thought it was an interesting story and photo worth sharing.




Photo credit: daver6@sbcglobal.net

Welcome Wednesday!

Words cannot express our thanks. Thank you for helping Amver achieve a record number of ships on plot.  On Sunday December 12, 2010 there were 4,107 ships available to assist those in distress.  Why is this important?  Because that day there was a vessel sinking in Antarctica, there was a cruise ship being battered by monster waves in the Mediterranean and countless other incidents were likely happening somewhere at sea.

Help us welcome the latest members of the Amver team.

• MAERSK VILNIUS
• FURNESS ST KILDA
• E.R. BAYONNE
• AURORA SAPPHIRE
• HENAN SCAN
• NYK ROSA
• WARWICK
• NS BORA
• MARINA
• MELODY
• CMB MAE
• COSCO OSAKA
• KIVELI
• STENA POLARIS
• VINASHIN SUN
• VINASHIN STAR
• ANANGEL GRACE
• ECLIPSE
• NEWLEAD TOMI
• POS ALMANDIN
• ALLURE OF THE SEAS
• AVOR 
• SWARNA KAMAL
• METHANE PATRICIA CAMILA

If you haven't enrolled, or are skeptical as to what sort of good enrollment does, look no further than cases like this or this to demonstrate how important Amver participation can be.


Photo credit: Fotolia

Related articles

• Brilliance Of The Seas, Royal Caribbean Ship, Tossed About In Mediterranean (VIDEO) (huffingtonpost.com)

Female captain takes the helm at Cunard

Cunard Lines recently made history by appointing their first female captain.  According to a press release by Cunard, and as reported in the Maritime Executive, Captain Inger Klein Olsen is the first woman to command a Cunard Line ship, the Queen Victoria.

Why do we think this is an important step?  Because the Queen Victoria is enrolled in Amver!

Want to learn more about the role women play in shipping?  Check out WISTA, the Women's International Shipping and Trade Association.

Congratulations Captain Olsen from your partners in safety at Amver!

Photo credit: Cunard

Related articles

• Cunard appoints its first female captain (telegraph.co.uk)
• Cunard Lines Appoints Its First Female Captain (gcaptain.com)

Greek Amver Awards

Over 900 Greek Amver participants were recognized on October 19, 2010 when the Propeller Club Port of Piraeus held their annual awards ceremony at the Intercontinental Hotel in Athens, Greece.  Rear Admiral Cari Thomas, Director of Response Policy, represented the United States Coast Guard.

A hearty thank you to the members of the Propeller Club for their help in promoting Amver.  We also want to thank the people who work behind the scenes at the Propeller Club to host this wonderful night. Finally, thank you to the crews of the ships that spend countless days at sea, away from family, to ensure no call for help goes unanswered.

Enjoy some photos from the event.



Can't see the video? Click here.







Photo credit: Propeller Club Port of Piraeus

Cruise ship averts Antarctic disaster

The cruise ship Clelia II was stuck by a series of rough waves and was partially disabled near the Drake Passage recently while on an Antarctic cruise.  The ship, while widely reported to be part of the Polar Cruise family, is a member of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators which posted this release about the incident.  The Clelia II was assisted by the Amver participating expedition vessel National Geographic Exlorer which enrolled in the Amver system in 2008.

Just how rough were the seas the ships encountered?  Take a look and judge for yourself!



Can't see the video? Click here.

Most efficient ship

Sir Richard Branson has launched a new site that tracks the efficiency of ships at sea.  According to shippingefficiency.org they aim to increase information flow around international shipping and help reduce the environmental impact of the world's shipping fleet.  Ryan Skinner asks the real question.  Is this something worthwhile for shipping or a publicity stunt.

If you are a charterer, will you use a site like this to find the best vessel with the least carbon emissions?

Can emission standards be applied to Amver ships on search and rescue cases?  Will lives saved count as carbon offsets?

Tell us what you think.

Photo credit: Folotia

Related articles

• Ocean-going ships to get ratings on energy efficiency (guardian.co.uk)
• Richard Branson's Carbon War Room Takes Aim At 60,000 Ships (fastcompany.com)

Welcome Wednesday!

Guess how many ships have enrolled in Amver so far this year.  900? Maybe 1,000? Perhaps 1,500?  Would you believe over 1,600 vessels have joined the ranks of mariner helping mariner?  The addition of the 47 vessels listed below brings the total number of ships joining Amver this year to 1,710 ships!  Thank you for helping us provide the necessary tools for search and rescue authorities to save lives.  Amver is a success because of you.  Help us welcome the following vessels.

• SILVER PEGASUS
• CANADIAN HIGHWAY
• LOYAL UNION
• GLORY
• OCEAN FREEDOM
• CMA CGM AMERIGO VESPUCCI
• AXEL
• VALENCIA KNUTSEN
• PACIFIC CHIEFTAIN
• BULK MEXICO
• CAPE MATHILDE
• SKS DOKKA 
• SMIT AWOONGA
• PACIFIC LOHAS
• SWARNA KAVERI
• INCE AKDENIZ
• ARISARA
• PRINCIMAR FAITH
• WESTERN GRACE
• SAAM AZTLAN
• JPO DELPHINUS
• SK SPLENDOR
• FINOA
• MERMAID ACE
• ARCTURUS
• MARGARET RIVER BRIDGE
• MARSELISBORG
• JS BELMAR
• STAR BREEZE
• KING SUGAR
• CAPE VENTURE
• SWARNA BRAHMAPUTRA
• SANTA RITA
• GRAND LEGACY
• AS VINCENTIA
• DEEPWATER CHAPION
• SANTA KATARINA
• ARCTIC LADY
• SHAMROCK MERCURY
• PRINCIMAR STRENGTH
• ORANGE ISLAND
• FRONTIER DISCOVERY
• INCE HAMBURG
• DONG-A OKNOS
• SANTA CLARA
• KEY BOUNDARY
• OOCL DALIAN

Why join Amver?  Just ask the people that were rescued here.  They can tell you why.
Photo credit: Fotolia

French containership rescues 4 yachtsmen

The French containership CMA CGM La Scala, which enrolled in the Amver system just this past October, rescued 4 French yachtsmen over 1,000 miles east southeast of Bermuda on Thursday December 2nd.

The British flagged container ship, on a voyage towards the Suez Canal, was contacted by United States Coast Guard rescue authorities in Portsmouth, Virginia and requested to divert.  When the 1,000 foot container ship arrived on scene the Captain of La Scala reported he could not find anyone in the water.  Rescue authorities directed the Captain and crew to search the waters for the four survivors wearing life jackets.  The La Scala crew quickly found the survivors and hoisted them to safety.

This is another example of how Amver serves as a force multiplier in search and rescue cases.

Here is a brief audio transaction between the La Scala and rescue personnel.



Can't see or hear the clip? Click here.

Thad Allen speaks at the International Boat Show

If you weren't able to attend Thad Allen's presentation today at the International Boat Show here is the breakdown of Tweets we provided.  It was nice to see our old boss today.  Despite a hoarse voice he provided an excellent overview of leadership in complex incidents drawing on his experience from Hurricane Katrina, Haiti, and the Deepwater Horizon spill.  He also answered questions from the audience.

What's he up to now?  He's working as a Fellow at the Rand Corporation.  Want to hear more from Allen?  Check out his interview with the Harvard Business Review.  All tweets are paraphrased.

On with the Tweets:

If you don't have unity of effort you won't effectively respond 2 an incident ADM Allen #iwbs10
We lost continuity of govt in the initial stages of #Katrina ADM Allen #iwbs10
#Deepwaterhorizon was closer to Apollo 13 than the Exxon Valdez-ADM Allen #iwbs10
The worst thing you can do is try & run an incident from Wash, DC- ADM Allen #iwbs10
Washington, DC- the 3,000 mile screwdriver! -ADM Allen#iwbs10

ADM Allen's use of vessels of opportunity in#deepwaterhorizon reminds me of the vessels used to evac British soldiers at Dunkirk #iwbs10


There will never be another incident where volunteers won't be involved, including social media -ADM Allen #iwbs10#gov20


If you can't bring these volunteers into the process they'll go straight 2 the press & U have bigger issues-ADM Allen#iwbs10


It didn't matter if I trusted BP, what mattered if BP trusted me -ADM Allen #iwbs10


ADM Allen was asked what he thought was his greatest accomplishment "transforming the USCG 2 B more flexible/agile" #iwbs10


ADM Allen asked his biggest disappointment "not getting an Authorization Bill" #iwbs10


"The public's tolerance of the Responsible Party is inversely proportionate 2 the size of the spill" ADM Allen #iwbs10

Welcome Wednesday!

Every week we are amazed at the rate you enroll ships.  Another 33 vessels have agreed to join the Amver safety network and we are thankful for your participation.  What's keeping you from joining?  Maybe you don't know the advantages to membership.  You can read about the Amver system or download our fact sheet here (link to pdf).  Why join?  Because you can save lives like this case, this case, or this case.  Still don't think Amver ships make a difference?  Don't forget, it was an Amver ship that was first on the scene of the recent cruise ship fire off the coast of Mexico. Still need convincing? Then check out this short video describing Amver. 

In the meantime please help us welcome the following ships:

• CHINA STEEL ENTREPRENEUR
• HULIN
• HSIN MAY
• HISTRIA DIAMOND
• SAN FELICE
• SHAGANGFIRST ERA
• PRISCO IRINA
• INCE FORTUNE
• SHAH
• NORD SEOUL
• PARAMOUNT HALIFAX
• WARNOW MERKUR
• INA-LOTTE
• OCEAN GEM
• BUNGA ASTER
• VINASHIN LINER 1
• PACIFIC HURON
• BEATRIX
• ALCMENE
• MOLESON
• SWARNA GODAVARI
• TOISA DAUNTLESS
• CAP JERVIS
• SKANDI PEREGRINO
• ORIENT ACCORD
• SAAM TEPEYAC
• TANGO II
• YUE DIAN 83
• BELUGA STAVANGER
• IKAN BAGAT
• POSILLIPO
• NORD IZUMO

We look forward to seeing many more names here in the future!


Photo credit: Fotolia

Related articles

• Engine room fire breaks out on carnival cruise ship leaving passengers stranded at sea (gcaptain.com)