Hurricane Sandy and U.S. Coast Guard Port Conditions

Hurricane Sandy has the potential to disrupt port conditions and Amver ships up and down the Eastern Seaboard. What do the various port conditions mean? Here's a great summary.

Pre-Storm Preparations

• Hurricane season begins June 1st.  All vessel owners and operators should review hurricane plans and checklists.  Recommend reviewing the Industry Hurricane Plan.

Port Condition Whiskey- 72 hours prior to Gale Force Winds

• The Captain of the Port will issue radio broadcasts and Marine Safety Information Bulletins (MSIB) as needed to keep mariners informed.

Port Condition X-Ray- 48 hours prior to Gale Force Winds

• The Captain of the Port will update radio broadcasts and issue MSIBs.
• Bunkering and Lightering are prohibited in the inshore anchorages.
• Ships should complete cargo operations.
• Anticipate the Captain of the Port will order the port closed to all vessel movements except for emergency and rescue traffic.

Port Conditions Yankee- 24 hours prior to Gale Force Winds

• The Captain of the Port will update radio broadcasts and issue MSIBs.
• Facilities will be made aware that the Captain of the Port will order cessation of cargo handling operations during condition zulu.
• Ship's personnel should inspect mooring/anchoring lines, paying particular attention to the possibility of storm surge.
• Movements will be permitted by the Captain of the Port only when a suitable lay berth or anchorage space is available nearby.
• As a last resort, large crude tankers may be allowed to ballast down in the channel.
• The Captain of the Port may close the port to all marine traffic except for emergency/rescue traffic when sustained winds exceed 35 knots.

Port Condition Zulu- 12 hours prior to Gale Force Winds

• The Captain of the Port MAY update radio broadcasts and MSIBs to notify the maritime community that the port is closed to all commercial traffic with the exception of emergency/rescue traffic.
• All cargo handling operations will be suspended.
• Ship's personnel should inspect the mooring/anchor lines, paying particular attention to the possibility of storm surge.

Post Storm

• Restoration of commercial operations.
• Channels surveyed to insure safe transit.
• Vessel traffic prioritized.

Are you prepared for Sandy?

Photo credit: USCG

Welcome Wednesday!

Each week ships enroll in the Amver system. They enroll to help save lives at sea. For many, its a tradition to join the Amver network. Mariners may learn about Amver in a maritime academy, from another crew member, or because someone in the company said the vessel should participate.

Companies also participate because they want to ensure someone will be there to rescue them if the unthinkable happens at sea. They join because it is the "right thing to do". They join because they believe participating in a voluntary search and rescue system demonstrates they are better, safer, more conscientious than a company that won't participate in Amver.

Is there a right reason to join? No. And there isn't a "right" company. Any company can participate. Any flag can participate. The bottom line is nobody cares  about your nationality or political affiliation when the chips are down. As long as you are willing to lend a hand, we want you to assist in saving lives.

Help us welcome the latest Amver participants.

• BUNUN WISDOM
• DEEP CYGNUS
• DOUBLE PRIDE
• ENERGY PRIMAVERA
• ESSEX
• FLORIANA
• FMG CLOUDBREAK
• GEO CASPIAN
• GULF VISION
• IONIC HAWK
• KING GREGORY
• LANNA NAREE
• LENI P.
• MSC JOANNA
• NAVE CASSIOPEIA
• NECHES
• NEUTRINO
• OCEAN TITAN
• SHAGANG SUNSHINE
• STENA SCOTIA
• TENNEI MARU
• WESTERN HOUSTON

Have you considered enrolling? What's preventing you from joining?

Photo credit: Fotolia

K Line bulker saves 45 fishermen near Sri Lanka

A K Line managed Amver ship rescued 45 fishermen after being diverted by Australian Maritime Safety Authority officials on October 13, 2012 approximately 270 miles south east of Sri Lanka.

The 738 foot Singapore flagged bulk carrier, M/V Pinnacle Bliss, was diverted by RCC Australia and safely embarked the fishermen after an unknown distress.

The Pinnacle Bliss is taking the fishermen to Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates where they will be allowed to return home.

The Pinnacle Bliss enrolled in Amver on July 18, 2011 and has earned one award for participation.

Photo credit: marinetraffic.com

Welcome Wednesday!

Commitment, dedication, selflessness. Three traits that describe crews that enroll in the Amver system. Vessels and companies don't have to participate. Participation includes assuming a certain degree of risk. Risk of life, risk of economic loss, risk of failure. Despite these risks over 5,000 ships report daily to the Amver system. Help us welcome the latest participants.

• ALEGRIA I
• ALMI SKY
• ATLANTIC MOON
• ATLANTIC VENUS
• FAKARAVA
• GRAIG ROTTERDAM
• ISTRA
• KOURION
• MARLIN
• MEHMET AKSOY
• MSC EUGENIA
• NEAMEH
• NINA-MARIE
• OBSERVATOR
• OCEAN SEAGULL
• RED
• SHANGHAI BULKER
• SHEN HAI
• STAHLA
• STAR NORITA
• STENA FREIGHTER
• THERESA JILIN
• TRANS OCEANIC
• VALE SOHAR
• WEST

What's your reason for joining Amver?

Photo credit: Fotolia 

PACCShip participating Amver ship saves 34

The combined efforts of a PACCShip managed Amver ship and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority led to the rescue of 34 people from a disabled vessel north of Cocos Island on October 11, 2012

According to a report from the Australian Minister for Home Affairs, the distress vessel was located by a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol aircraft supporting RCC Australia.

Rescue authorities diverted the M/V Glorious Sentosa which safely embarked the 34 survivors and transferred them to Australian officials on Christmas Island.

The Panamanian flagged bulk carrier enrolled in the Amver system on May 31, 2010 and earned two Amver awards for participation.

Photo credit: marrintetraffic.com

Welcome Wednesday!

26 more vessels enrolled in the Amver system. 26 more opportunities to save lives. The seas have been quiet and there haven't really been many Amver cases. That doesn't mean the seas are any less dangerous. In fact, many of our most dangerous cases come in October, November, and December. As the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard reminds us, stand a taut watch! Now, help us welcome the latest members of the Amver safety network.

• ALEX P
• APJ SHIRIN
• BAIE ST. PAUL
• BANSUI
• CENTAURUS
• CHAPAQUA ONE
• CROSSWAY
• DESPINA
• FEDERAL MAYUMI
• FEDERAL SPRUCE
• FLAGSHIP IRIS
• GAS LOMBOK
• GLOBAL MAJESTY
• GRAZIA
• HUMBER VIKING
• IOLCOS DIGNITY
• MIRAERO BRAVE
• NORD GUARDIAN
• OCEAN SYMPHONY
• RTM DAMPIER
• SAGITTA
• SEACOR DIAMOND
• SPT CRUSADER
• STAR LAGUNA
• STI ONYX
• VALE HEBEI

Photo credit: Fotolia

Prinsendam, 32 years later

32 years ago the Amver system came to the rescue of the stricken cruise ship Prinsendam after the vessel caught fire in the Gulf of Alaska. Four Amver vessels diverted and assisted in the rescue efforts. The tanker Williamsburgh embarked 175  survivors and served as a platform for U.S. Coast Guard helicopters.

Today Amver continues to save lives near Alaska. Vessels that transit the Arctic are encouraged to enroll in Amver. The Prinsendam rescue helped prove the value of the commercial shipping community in search and rescue. Amver participants stepped up to the challenge, ensuring no call for help shall go unanswered.

Here is a link to the radio log of the SOS sent by the Prinsendam.

Photo credit: USCG

 

Welcome Wednesday!

What's in a name? What's in a ship's name? An ancient Babylonian text says: "Openings to the water I stopped; I searched for cracks and the wanting parts I fixed: Three sari of bitumen I poured over the outside; To the gods I caused oxen to be sacrificed." Each week we list ships, by name, who's crews have enrolled them in Amver. That is the most unique feature of Amver.  We hope you will elect to join as well. If you do, we'll list your ship as well.

Help us welcome the latest ships.

• AZALEA SKY
• BARANEE NAREE
• ETERNAL TRIUMPH
• EVENING STAR
• FAKARAVA
• KOTA CANTIK
• MAERSK NEXUS
• MAGIC VICTORIA
• NIKOLAY ZUYEV
• RUSSELL BOUZIGA
• SAMCO SUNDARBANS
• SAMCO TAIGA
• SANTA URSULA
• STAR LIMA
• STENA HIBERNIA
• STENA POSEIDON
• STI RUBY
• STRAIGHT OF GIBRALTAR
• XIN CHONG QING

Thank you for joining Amver!

Photo credit: Fotolia