The Quarterdeck; Special interview with Pole Star

This month, as Admiral Watson finishes his move back to Washington, DC, we have a special interview with Pole Star's Julian Longson. Why a special interview with Pole Star? Well, Pole Star was the first commercial vessel tracking company to offer free automatic Amver reporting to its customers.

Several other companies, including Transas and Marine Track, now offer free automatic reporting to Amver as well. If your vessel is enrolled in Amver and a customer of any of these companies, feel free to ask how you can take advantage of this program.

Here is a direct link to the audio file.

The Quarterdeck transcript is available here.

You can also download The Quarterdeck in iTunes.

Links

• Pole Star Space Applications
• Transas
• Marine Track

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

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!

Amver crew held by pirates

In a disturbing video the captain of the M/V Leopard, an Amver participant since 1997, makes a plea for the safety of his crew. The Leopard crew, two Danes and four Filipinos, is being held by Somali pirates in a safe haven on shore.



Can't see the video? Click here.

You can learn more about the plight of seafarers by visiting the Save Our Seafarers website.

Welcome Wednesday!

After our 53 years you'd think a person or organization would develop a bit of a swagger. While we're proud of our heritage and may take a bit of liberty and stick our chest out, we're cognizant of what made us the respected organization we are today. You did. Without the collective agreement of the world, that allowing the United States to know their whereabouts at sea is a good thing, this experiment in search and rescue would have been a failure. Instead it has blossomed. So the party hat is coming off and we're celebrating you, the seafarer, for enrolling in Amver. Here are the latest ships helping ensure no call for help goes unanswered.

• ALPHA DIGNITY
• ANNIKA N
• ASIAN GLORY
• C. F. CAMPBELL
• CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE
• EGS CREST
• FALCON NOSTOS
• GAIL
• GRANT CANDIES
• KEN ORCHID
• KOKUKA GLORIOUS
• KOTA RIA
• LADY DORIS
• LADY DORIS
• LAKE DAHLIA
• MORNING CONDUCTOR
• MSC LIVORNO
• MSC SINDY
• MSC TARANTO
• MUNUAKEI
• NEW VISTA
• PACIFIC POPPY
• PANAYIOTA K
• PINNACLE BLISS
• POSEIDON TRIUMPH
• PRABHU SHER
• REGINE
• SEACOR RESOLVE
• SKANDI BERGEN
• ST. LOUIS
• STENA CLEAR SKY
• TAO BRAVE
• VALDARNO
• VALENTE ACE
• VISHVA VIJETA
• VULLY
• WEST SIRIUS
• WESTWARD WIND

Thank you for reading what we have to share, thank you for listening to our monthly podcasts, and thank you for simply supporting our notion that the world can voluntarily work together to save lives at sea.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Japanese tsunami debris, FAQs

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently posted some frequently asked questions about the debris field left after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami this past March.

After the earthquake several Amver participants had questions about safe shipping in the area. There were also several Amver vessels damaged in the tsunami. This debris information should help in further voyage planning. NOAA is also asking for your help in reporting debris fields when you spot them. We learned about this release by reading Dennis Bryant's blog. If you don't read Dennis Bryant's blog every day you should. That's where we learned about this amazing website.

Photo credit: U.S. Pacific Fleet via Flickr

Amver participating Singapore ship saves four fishermen

The Amver participating bulk ship Okiana was on a routine voyage from Savannah, Ga. to Cristobal, Panama when the ship was requested by U.S. Coast Guard rescue personnel to divert and assist a fishing vessel in distress approximately 54 miles east of San Andres Island, Columbia. Captain Leonardo Guieb quickly guided the 652 foot ship towards the fishing boat, which was only 23 miles away.

Captain Guieb ordered the crew to prepare rescue equipment, readied the thrusters and switched the steering to manual. Lookouts were posted and the Captain continued to update rescue authorities in Miami, Fla.

Once Captain Guieb was alongside the disabled fishing vessel his crew embarked one of the four fishermen to discuss possible repairs to the disabled craft. Despite the best efforts of the Okiana crew, they were unable to fix the boat. The three remaining fishermen boarded the Okiana and were given food, water, and accommodations. Their fishing boat was left adrift and the survivors were taken to the Panama Canal where they disembarked.

Once aboard the  Singapore flagged Okiana the fishermen told Captain Guieb they had  been adrift for 20 days surviving on dried fish. When congratulated by the Amver staff for a job well done, Captain Guieb replied in an email "We just did what we believe is our moral obligation to render assistance to anyone who is in peril in the sea."

Well done Captain Guieb and the crew of the Okiana!

Here are some photos of the rescue operations-


The fishing vessel Melany, adrift for 23 days




The crew of the M/V Okiana prepare for rescue operations



The first survivor is aboard the M/V Okiana discussing repair options to his fishing boat

Photo credits: Ship's photo credit of marinetraffic.com
                      Rescue photos courtesy of the crew of the M/V Okiana

Greek ship saves Indonesians adrift at sea

We just learned that the Greek Amver participating ship Nena C rescued six Indonesian people, including a 10 year old boy, after their small boat capsized near Buru Island, Indonesia June 17, 2011.

The 606 foot Panamanian flagged bulk carrier was on a voyage from the Philippines to Australia when they encountered the people in the water. "After sighting people in the water without any lifesaving devices the crew immediately commenced man overboard maneuvers," stated the Captain of the Nena C in an email to the Amver center. "The weather was fresh with a light south southeast breeze and moderate seas up to 2.5 meters," he added.

Lookouts were posted and a rescue boat was launched. Four survivors were immediately rescued by the boat crew while the lookouts directed the rescue boat towards two additional survivors. Within two hours of locating the people in the water they were all safely aboard the Nena C.

The survivors stated they were sailing in a speed boat from Buru Island to Ambon City when their boat capsized and sank.

The survivors were transferred to Coast Guard authorities at the entrance of Teluk Kayeli Bay and taken to Namlea Port.

The Nena C, managed by Fairsky Shipping and Trading Company of Athens, enrolled in Amver in 1998.







Photo credit: vessel photo courtesy of marinetraffic.com
rescue photos courtesy of the crew of the M/V Nena C

Welcome Wednesday!

It's that time again. Time to welcome the latest members enrolled in the Amver system. Who are these mariners that make themselves available to save lives? Take a look!

• AQUA CRYSTAL
• ARDMORE SEAMASTER
• BERRA K
• CHARLIE
• CMA CGM ATTILA
• COSCO PRIDE
• CROSBY POWER
• CRYSTALGATE
• DANUM 119
• DANUM 129
• DESERT PEACE
• GLORIA
• HARBOUR PIONEER
• INAI TERATAI 101
• IVS BEACHWOOD
• JAG RANI
• JUPITER SPIRIT
• KOTA AKBAR
• KOTA HADIAH
• KURUSHIMA
• LAKE DOLPHIN
• MELL SEARAYA
• MY FAIR LADY
• NAVIOS SERENITY
• NORD BARCELONA
• OMAHA
• PACIFIC SUCCESS
• PHOENIX ADVANCE
• PIETER CALAND
• POAVOSA WISDOM III
• POLA
• RED DRAGON
• SFL HUDSON
• SHOU SHAN
• SILVER STAR
• STI HERITAGE
• SUEZ FUZEYYA
• TAO MARINER
• TATYANA
• VIEKODA BAY
• VISION
• VOGE ENTERPRISE
• ZIM ANTWERP

Don't forget the Amver podcast, The Quarterdeck! 

Photo credit: Fotolia

Happy Birthday Amver?

Historically Amver has celebrated its anniversary on July 18th. But this document, recently discovered in the Amver archives, actually pins the anniversary on June 30, 1958 at midnight GMT.

Take a look-




Is Amver still relevant? The recent cruise ship sinking in Russia demonstrates that a coordinated way to organize commercial vessels remains important.  Systems such as Amver that link commercial ships and rescue authorities are critical to saving lives at sea.

Thank you seafarers for ensuring no call for help has gone unanswered for the last 53 years.

Photo credit: Amver archives

Video update: Rescue of 2 sailors

Here is a short video update on our recent Amver rescue of two sailors in the Gulf of Mexico.



Can't see the video? Click here.

Amver Ro/Ro rescues crewmember

The crew of the Amver participating Ro/Ro, Green Lake, had to rescue one of their own when a 54 year old crewman fell off a ladder and went overboard on June 29, 2011. The crew of the U.S. flagged ship immediately threw a life ring and smoke flare as the ship turned to retrieve the man, said a report from Bernews.com. 

The ship diverted to Bermuda and met a pilot boat where the injured crewman was transferred and taken to an ambulance. He was then transported to a hospital, reportedly suffering from injuries to his collar bone and ribs. The Green Lake continued on its voyage to Texas.

The Green Lake enrolled in the Amver system on February 15, 1999 and has earned 10 awards for participation.



Photo credit: bernews.com

Welcome Wednesday!

Is thank you enough? Probably not but we need to thank you anyway. Why such praise? Because 93 vessels enrolled in the Amver system last week. What does that mean? It means situations like this and this can be resolved successfully. Who are these vessels? Take a look!

• AM TUBARAO
• ANANGEL MARINER
• ANAPA
• ANNIKA
• ARNICA
• ASHMORE GUARDIAN
• AZALEA ACE
• BORZNA
• BRASSCHAAT
• BW PEONY
• CHRISTINA J
• CMA CGM GEMINI
• CORRIDO
• CSAV LAUCA
• DONAU TRADER
• ELISABETH MANN BORGESE
• EMERALD SEA
• FAMILY DAY
• FORUM PACIFIC
• FOUR RIGOLETTO
• HONG HA GAS
• INDUS FORTUNE
• JEWEL OF KURE
• KEY INTEGRITY
• KING PEACE
• KONSTANTIN JACOB
• KOTA DAHLIA
• KOTA DAMAI
• KOTA DELIMA
• KOTA DESA
• KOTA DUNIA
• KOTA DUTA
• KOTA GANTENG
• KOTA GEMAR
• KOTA GEMBIRA
• KOTA GUNAWAN
• KOTA HASIL
• KOTA HORMAT
• KOTA INTAN
• KOTA LAHIR
• KOTA LANGSAR
• KOTA LATIF
• KOTA LAWA
• KOTA LAYANG
• KOTA LAYAR
• KOTA LUKIS
• KOTA LUMBA
• KOTA NABIL
• KOTA NAGA
• KOTA NALURI
• KOTA NASRAT
• KOTA NAZAR
• KOTA NAZIM
• KOTA NEBULA
• KOTA NEKAD
• KOTA NELAYAN
• KOTA NILAM
• KOTA RAJA
• KOTA RAKAN
• KOTA RATNA
• KOTA RATU
• KOTA RESTU
• KOTA RUKUN
• KOTA WAJAR
• KOTA WANGI
• KUMIAI SHAGANG
• MERCY WISDOM
• MILOS
• NAFTOCEMENT VIII
• NAFTOCEMENT X
• NAFTOCEMENT XI
• NEVERLAND SUN
• NORD TRAVELLER
• NULIAJUK
• OOCL BEIJING
• OSG COURAGEOUS
• PACIFIC DIAMOND
• PEACE SKY
• PROTEAS
• SALAM MESRA
• SEACOR CONQUEST
• SELATAN DATANG
• SELATAN MAKMUR
• SHEERGOLD
• SOUTHERN FLEUR
• SPAR VEGA
• STELLA ADA
• TARANGER
• TASMAN CASTLE
• TIGER
• TORTEL
• VIKING CORAL
• ZAKHER EAGLE

Remember you can learn more about Amver by listening to the Amver podcast, The Quarterdeck!

Photo credit: Fotolia

Greek Amver ship, US Coast Guard Cutter rescue sailors

The combined efforts of a Greek Amver tanker and the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma saved the lives of two sailors in the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday July 6, 2011.

The two male sailors, a 70 year old and his 35 year old companion, were on a journey from Bay St. Louis, Miss. to Guatemala in a 30 foot sailboat when they suffered rudder damage 180 miles east of Key West, Fla.

Amver to the rescue

Using the Amver system, Coast Guard rescue authorities identified the Greek tanker Petalouda, managed by the Samos Steamship Company of Athens, Greece. The Patalouda was only 40 miles away from the drifting sailboat. The captain of the Patalouda turned the 598 foot tanker towards the distress location and ordered the crew to prepare for rescue operations. While the Bahamian flagged tanker was en route, the Coast Guard launched a C-130 search aircraft from Air Station Clearwater and requested the Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma to sail towards the scene.


Going down with the ship?

The Patalouda arrived on scene and launched a small boat to assess the situation on the sailboat. After determining the rudder could not be fixed the younger sailor was taken aboard the tanker. The 70 year old absolutely refused to come off the sailboat, refused to talk with rescue authorities on the radio, and cut the tow line between his boat and the Amver ship. Rescue authorities allowed the Patalouda to depart the scene with the younger survivor and sail to their next port of call in New Orleans.

Coast Guard, on scene!

Several hours later the Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma, with the assistance of the search aircraft, located the sailboat and took it in tow. The 70 year old sailor was convinced to board the Tahoma and was given a medical examination and food. The Tahoma towed the sailboat to Key West, Fla. where the boat was moored and the survivor disemabarked.

Photo credit: Samos Steamship Company

The Lloyd's List Amver Assisted Rescue At Sea shortlist

Lloyd's List has announced their shortlist for their Global Awards to be held at the London Hilton Park Lane on September 20, 2011. Amver has enjoyed a long relationship with Lloyd's List and nominates vessels for the Amver Assisted Rescue at Sea Award. We typically identify ten ships for special awards and they are submitted to Lloyd's List for review. The night of the awards ceremony the winner is announced. This year we took a different approach, aligning with the rest of the Lloyd's List awards and announce a "shortlist" of three award nominees.

Here are the vessels nominated for the Lloyd's List Amver Assisted Rescue at Sea Award, sponsored by Inmarsat.

• M/V Crystal Pioneer & M/V Hokuetsu Delight for the rescue of 64 students from the Canadian sailing vessel Concordia which sank 344 miles off the coast of Rio de Janiero.

• M/V Torm Esbjerg for the rescue of a lone sailor and his dog after their sailboat caught fire and sank.

• M/V Vega for the rescue of the crew of the factory fishing vessel Athena.

Congratulations to all the Amver nominees! Thank you Lloyd's List and Inmarsat for continuing to recognize the efforts of Amver seafarers.

Russian cruise ship sinks

CNN has reported Russian emergency officials are responding to a cruise ship sinking on the Volga River about 450 miles east of Moscow. 182 people are reportedly aboard the vessel.



Amver has a strong relationship with Russia, the Russian commercial maritime sector, and the Russian Federation emergency response community, EMERCOM.

Related articles

• Russia: dozens feared dead as pleasure boat sinks in Volga river (telegraph.co.uk)
• Russian Tourist Boat Sinks On Volga River With Over 180 People Onboard (huffingtonpost.com)

Amver tanker assists in Arabian Gulf rescue

Originally posted in a press release from the United Kingdom Maritime and Coast Guard Agency

Falmouth Coastguard successfully coordinated the rescue of 13 Indian crewmen from a disabled tanker in the North Arabian Gulf, after crew members contacted Falmouth Coastguard to report that they had been stranded for several days and crew were beginning to fall ill.

On the morning of the 29th June, Falmouth Coastguard received an emailed mayday from the master on board the Motor Tanker Pavit, reporting that they had suffered engine failure two days before and were taking on water through the shaft bearing. They also reported that, in the severe weather conditions, many of the crew were suffering from seasickness, with four of them considered to be seriously ill. Their stated position was 120 nautical miles from the Oman coast.

Falmouth Coastguard initially sent out a broadcast to other vessels in the area, but with the severe weather on scene, none were able to go to the aid of the tanker. Falmouth Coastguard also attempted to hand over coordination to the Omani Coastguard but they were unable take on coordination of the incident

After liaison with the owners of the vessel, the crew on board and the Middle East Authorities, Falmouth Coastguard were able to arrange for a Royal Navy Warship – HMS St Albans and an Indian products tanker (Jag Pushpa) to go to their aid, which arrived at 8.00 am yesterday morning.

HMS St Albans arrived on scene yesterday morning and utilising their helicopter winched the crew off the Pavit and transferred them over to the Jag Pushpa, where a doctor from St Albans had been placed to offer medical assistance.

The Jag Pushpa has agreed to take the crew members and repatriate them back to India.

Ian Guy, Watch Manager, Falmouth Coastguard said:

This was a desperate situation for the crewmen on board, who had been without engines for three days in severe weather conditions, and reported that several crew members had fallen seriously ill.

Falmouth Coastguard has spent two days working with the Middle Eastern authorities to try and send aid to the stranded vessel, and are pleased that working with the Royal Navy, this has been achieved.

The Indian flagged tanker Jag Pushpa has been an Amver participant since 1997.  MRCC Falmouth personnel should also remember that Amver provides information to all rescue coordination centers during maritime emergencies.


Photo credit: MCA

Amver tanker catches fire after pirate attack

According to a U.S. Navy press release, the crew of the Amver participating tanker Brilliante Virtuoso was rescued by the USS Philippine Sea after the tanker caught fire in the Gulf of Aden early July 6, 2011.

The release stated:


Brilliante Virtuoso, a 144,000-ton very large crude carrier, was approximately 20 nautical miles southwest of Aden, Yemen when they issued the call which stated they believed they were under attack by suspected pirates and required assistance. The motor vessel was travelling eastbound from the Suez Canal through the Gulf of Aden at the time of the attack.

Shortly after the suspected attack, Brilliant Virtuoso reported a fire on board which was beyond their control and that their intention was to abandon ship.

Philippine Sea, operating under Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), responded to the distress call. Upon their arrival, they observed smoke coming from the superstructure of the ship and that the crew had abandoned ship in a life-raft. They found no evidence of pirates and concentrated their efforts on assisting the crew members.

The owner of Brilliante Virtuoso has confirmed that all 26 Filipino crew members have been recovered safely by Philippine Sea.

The Brilliante Sea enrolled in the Amver system January 1, 1993 and has earned 12 Amver awards for participation. 


Photo credit: U.S. Navy

Amver participating container ship rescues 4 sailors and cat

Four sailors and a cat are celebrating their nine lives after a hair raising rescue. The group was sailing their 30 foot sailboat from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to their home in Oregon. "We struck a submerged object and lost steering," stated one of the yachtsmen.

The sailors sent out several distress calls and the Hong Kong flagged container ship OOCL Guangzhou heard their call for assistance and diverted to render assistance. The Captain of the OOCL Guangzhou, which enrolled in the Amver system on June 22, 2010, embarked the four sailors after attempts to repair the sailboat failed.

Once the sailors were safely aboard the OOCL Guangzhou the Captain radioed the United States Coast Guard and arranged to meet with the Coast Guard Cutter Galveston Island. The container ship and Coast Guard Cutter rendezvoused near Oahu, Hawaii and the survivors were transferred aboard the Galveston Island.


Photo credit: USCG photo by Petter Officer 3rd Class Anthony L. Soto

Related articles

• Oregon family rescued from disabled boat (bendbulletin.com)

Welcome Wednesday!

The Day of the Seafarer has come and gone but that shouldn't diminish our thanks and respect for those that go to sea. Each week we recognize those vessels that have enrolled in the Amver system, a way of saying thank you to them for making themselves available to rescue fellow mariners if necessary.

Help us welcome the latest members of the Amver system.

• ANANYA NAREE
• AQUAMARINE GAS
• ASTRID
• CASSIOPEIA BULKER
• CHEMSTAR BRAVE
• CONTI SERPENTIN
• CUU LONG GAS
• FRONTIER JACARANDA
• FRONTIER NEIGE
• HERO
• KAMOME VICTORIA
• KOSMAS V
• LAVENDER
• LEGACY
• LYRIC STAR
• NCC AMAL
• NORGAS UNIKUM
• PRINCE OF WALES
• SAI GON GAS
• SARAH GOLD
• STI GLADIATOR
• STOLT AJISAI
• UNION EXPLORER
• VEGA FYNEN
• VIET GAS
• WOODGATE
• WORLD SIRIUS
• ZAKHER ATLANTA

Don't forget to listen to the Amver podcast, Quarterdeck!


Photo credit: Fotolia