Welcome Wednesday!

What a week! Fifteen additional ships have decided to take an extra step in dedicating themselves to safety at sea. We're thrilled you decided to help us ensure no call for help goes unanswered. Thank you for enrolling in Amver. Help us welcome the latest members of our safety network.

• AS LAETITIA
• LIVIA ROSE
• GLOBAL JUPITER
• GLOBAL AMBITION
• GOLDEN CUMULUS
• TIAN JIAN
• ARCTIC GAS
• STOLT PALM
• DARYA AUM
• MARATHI
• FORMENTO THREE
• PERSEPOLIS
• SC VIRGO
• FUKUSHIMA MARU
• TODD E. PROPHET

Photo credit: Fotolia

Three Amver Ships Assist Lone Sailor in Distress

M/V EXPRESS BERLIN ex Hanjin Germany

Three Amver ships had to assist a lone sailor as he experienced mishap after mishap on a journey from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to Los Angeles, Cal.

U.S. Coast Guard rescue personnel in Los Angeles received a notification from the Garmin/Inreach Emergency Call Center that a lone sailor on a 45-foot sailboat was disabled and adrift approximately 700 miles west of Cabo San Lucas and requested a mechanic to help him effect repairs to his sailboat engine.

The Coast Guard, using an Amver Surface Picture, located the 587-foot bulk carrier Indigo Lake which was 340 miles from the sailboat. The captain of the Hong Kong flagged Amver participant diverted and made preparations to embark the sailor. Once the Indigo Lake arrived on scene it rigged a safety net and pilot ladder and provided a lee for the disabled sailboat. The sailor aboard the disabled boat declined to abandon ship and instead requested members of the Indigo Lake make repairs to his engine. The captain of the Indigo Lake could not safely board the sailboat and was released by the Coast Guard.

The sailor reported he was able to lower his jib and main sail and, while the main sail was tattered, was able to make way towards Los Angeles under sail. Rescue authorities then located the Norwegian flagged general cargo ship Star Gran which agreed to divert and see if they could render assistance. The crew of the 646-foot ship agreed to divert and help. The Star Gran was able to located the sailboat, tie it up alongside the ship and lower the chief engineer down to the sailboat to help troubleshoot the engine. The Star Gran briefly embarked the sailor who was given breakfast and talked to Coast Guard authorities via satellite phone. Ultimately the sailor decided to disembark the Amver ship and continue his attempt to Los Angeles. The Star Gran was released by the Coast Guard.

The following day the Coast Guard was contacted by the sailor saying he had turned off his engine to tighten a belt and could not restart his engine. He again requested assistance and Coast Guard rescue personnel, continuing to use the Amver system, located the container ship Express  Berlin and requested they divert and assist the sailor. The captain and crew of the Express Berlin were briefed on the situation and agreed to help.

The Express Berlin arrived on scene, secured the sailboat and sent a team on the sailboat to troubleshoot the engine. The engineering crew of the container ship supplied new batteries along with a spare and for a third time, the sailor declined rescue. The Express Berlin was released only to be recalled after several hours when the sailor stated he was ready to abandon ship. The 76-year old sailor safely embarked the Greek flagged container ship without injury and will remain on board until it reaches its next port call in Taiwan.

The Express Berlin, managed by Danaos Shipping of Greece, enrolled in Amver on March 25, 2011 and has earned seven Amver participation awards. The Star Gran, managed by G2 Ocean of Norway, enrolled in Amver on January 1, 1987 and has earned 27 Amver participation awards. The Indigo Lake, managed by Pacific Basin Shipping of Hong Kong, enrolled in Amver on November 4, 2015 and has earned two Amver participation awards.

Photo credit: marinetraffic.com

Another Amver LNG Carrier Makes a Rescue

The Amver participating LNG carrier Stena Crystal Sky rescued two people from their 23-foot sailboat that encountered severe weather approximately 1,000 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on Thursday, January 18, 2018.

U.S. Coast Guard rescue personnel at the Eleventh District Command Center received notification from the Garmin/Inreach Emergency Call Center that the 23-foot sailboat, on a voyage from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to the Marquesas Islands had experienced difficulties and lost auto-steering after encountering severe weather. The two yachtsmen on board had activated the emergency feature of their Inreach device and requested rescue.

Coast Guard authorities conducted an Amver Surface Picture and located the 977-foot LNG carrier only 280 miles from the sailboat and requested the ship divert to assist. The captain of the Great Britain flagged vessel agreed to assist and changed course to find the stricken sailboat.

The Stena Crystal Sky arrived on scene and, despite winds of 22-knots and waves exceeding 10-feet, launched a small boat to recover the two sailors from their boat. Within an hour of arriving on scene the crew of the Stena Crystal Sky had safely embarked the sailors and left the sailboat adrift. The sailors were uninjured and stayed aboard the LNG carrier until it arrived in Panama.

The Stena Crystal Sky, managed by Stena Bulk of Sweden, enrolled in Amver on January 13, 2012 and has earned six Amver participation awards.

Sailors are strongly encouraged to have a properly registered 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon on their vessel in addition to whatever other communications or emergency texting device they may carry.

Photo credit: marinetraffic.com

Welcome Wednesday!

Some would say one is the loneliest number but we would offer that it only takes one ship to save a life at sea. This week we welcome one new member to the Amver safety network. Thank you for enrolling and stay tuned, because life is always in peril at sea and Amver stands ready to save lives.

• GOODWYN ISLAND

Photo credit: Fotolia

Amver Participating LNG Carrier Saves 6

The Amver participating LNG carrier Methane Kari Elin rescued six people from their 50-foot sailboat after the crew sent a distress text message that their boat had lost its rudder and they were taking on water approximately 1,200 miles east of San Juan, Puerto Rico on December 12, 2017.

U.S Coast Guard rescue personnel in San Juan, Puerto Rico received a report from the International Emergency Response Coordination Center that the 50-foot sailboat had suffered damage and was taking on water. Coast Guard personnel immediately sent messages to all available ships in the area and conducted an Amver Surface Picture. The Bermuda flagged LNG carrier Methane Kari Elin agreed to divert and assist the stricken sailors.

The crew of the 912-foot gas carrier posted additional look outs and arrived on the scene with the disabled sailboat. The crew then began rescue operations and successfully embarked the six survivors who were uninjured. The survivors remained aboard the ship until it reached its next port of call. The sailboat was left adrift approximately 1,100 miles east of Puerto Rico.

The Methane Kari Elin, managed by Shell International Trading and Shipping Company of London, enrolled in Amver on June 24, 2004 and has earned 10 Amver awards for participation.

Photo credit: Marinetraffic.com

Welcome Wednesday!

Welcome 2018! Here is the list of the first vessels that enrolled in Amver this year. We're looking forward to a safe and prosperous year and wish you health, happiness and safe voyages. Thank you for helping usher in our 60th year of saving lives at sea! Now, help us welcome the latest members of the Amver safety network.

• STI GOAL
• SPRING PLOEG
• GEM NO. 5
• VLADIMIR RUSANOV
• MONT GELE
• STI ESLES II

Photo credit: Fotolia