Welcome Wednesday!

You may be on holiday. It's summer and many people are taking some well deserved rest. You know who isn't taking a break? Seafarers, that's who. Ships continue on their voyages, training continues and watch standers continue to work. Life at sea isn't glamorous, but it's necessary. To all the men and women underway and those that support them, thank you. Here is the list of those ships that have taken an extra step to ensure no call for help goes unanswered. They enrolled in Amver last week. Thank you!

• MARVEL KITE
• MARSHAL VASILEVSKIY
• NEW VISION
• FAIRCHEM COPPER
• VOLCAN DE TAGORO
• ELANDRA PINE
• MSC JEWEL
• NISSOS SANTORINI
• BBG NANNING
• SANTA TERESA
• SCARABEO 8
• KRONPRINS HAAKON
• MCC CHITTAGONG
• SINGAPORE VOYAGER
• LEIV EIRIKSSON
• VOS CHAMPION
• STAMATIA

Photo credit: Fotolio

Amver Participating Cruise Ship Saves Three

Three crew were rescued by the Amver participating cruise ship Sea Princess after their 100-foot passenger ship sank approximately 171 miles south of Haiti on Saturday, July 27, 2019.

U.S. Coast Guard rescue personnel in San Juan received a call for assistance from rescue authorities at Rescue Coordination Center Curacao. RCC Curacao reported the 100-foot passenger vessel Miss Debbie was taking on water and suffering an engine failure. The supply vessel reported winds of 18 knots and waves of six to ten feet.

Coast Guard personnel immediately queried the Amver system and located the 856-foot cruise ship Sea Princess and requested the ship divert and assist in search and rescue operations. The crew of the Bermuda flagged cruise ship changed course and headed to the last known position of the Miss Debbie.

Rescue authorities in Curacao launched an aircraft and located the three survivors in a life raft. The vessel had completely sunk. The Sea Princess arrived on scene within three hours of being notified and rescued the three people from their life raft. The survivors will disembark in Curacao.

The Sea Princess, managed by Princess Cruise Lines, joined Amver on December 6, 1998 and has earned more than 13 participation awards.

Photo credit: marinetraffic.com

Greek Amver Bulker Saves Sailor In Dramatic Atlantic Rescue

The Greek Amver participating bulk ship Virtuous Striker saved a sailor from his stricken catamaran approximately 330 miles south east of Nantucket on Wednesday, July 24, 2019.

U.S Coast Guard rescue personnel at the First District Command Center received a Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon alert for the 37-foot catamaran Ishmael and launched a Coast Guard search aircraft and diverted the Amver bulk ship Virtuous Striker via an Amver Surface Picture.
The captain of the Virtuous Striker reported winds of greater than 50 knots and waves exceeding 10 feet. "It will take us approximately 14 hours to arrive on scene but we are diverting to assist," he reported to rescue authorities.

The Coast Guard aircraft was able to locate the sailing vessel and drop a radio and survival supplies. Radio communications were difficult because of the severe weather conditions.

The Amver ship was able to locate the sailor. The weather conditions had improved somewhat with winds decreasing to 25-knots and waves down to 8 to 10-feet. "We have safely rescued the sailor"," captain Vitaliy Skidanov reported to the Coast Guard. "He will remain with us until we arrive at our next port call in Mississippi."

The Virtuous Striker, managed by Enterprise Shipping and Trading of Greece, enrolled in Amver on January 21, 2011 and has earned ten Amver participation awards.

video credit: U.S. Coast Guard

Tsakos Amver Tanker Rescues Canadian Sailor

Multiple Amver participating ships were called upon in the rescue of a solo Canadian sailor from his disabled sailboat approximately 750 miles east of North Carolina on July 5, 2019.

U.S. Coast Guard rescue authorities at the Fifth District Command Center received an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) alert and coordinated with their French rescue colleagues at Gris Nez along with launching a Coast Guard search aircraft and alerting the Amver network. The Amver ship Stavanger TS agreed to divert and assist in search and rescue operations.

The Coast Guard rescue aircraft was able to locate the sailor who reported, "I've lost my rudder and need assistance," via radio to the aircraft crew. The sailor was on a voyage from Saint Martin to Halifax, Canada with a stop over in Bermuda when he encountered the rudder failure.

The 816-foot crude oil tanker Stavanger TS was able to locate the sailor and safely embark him. "The 72-year old male was rescued from the sailboat and the boat was left adrift. The survivor is uninjured. We will disembark him at our next port call," reported Stavanger TS captain Savvas Maris.

The Stavanger TS, managed by Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd, enrolled in Amver on August 8, 2017 and has earned two Amver participation awards. This is its first reported rescue.

Photo credit: marinetraffic.com 

Welcome Wednesday!

Shipping remains dangerous. From fire, flooding and other perils there is no shortage of things that can go wrong at sea. Seafarers use caution, adhere to standards and regulations, and are lifesavers. Without the dedication of crews and the shore-side teams that support them Amver would fail. Thank you for helping us ensure no call for help goes unanswered. Please help us welcome the latest members of the Amver safety network.

• MAERSK CABO VERDE
• MSC SHUBA B
• ASIAN PROGRESS VI
• ONE CYGNUS
• SEA COUGAR
• HIGHLAND EAGLE
• MAJESTIC MAERSK
• MAGLEBY MAERSK
• VOLGA MAERSK
• MILAN MAERSK
• LANDGRIDGE GLORY
• ADRIANO KNUTSEN
• GREEN CELEBRITY

Photo credit: Fotolia

Welcome Wednesday!

Who joined Amver this week? Nine more vessels dedicated to saving lives at sea. There is no shortage of emergencies at sea and we're reminded of that almost every day. Thankfully, companies and vessels like those listed below work to ensure no call for help goes unanswered. Help us welcome the latest members of the Amver safety network.

• DORTHE OLDENDORFF
• MAERSK MC-KINNEY MOLLER
• MORTEN MAERSK 
• BOXER
• FLEX CONSTELLATION
• FRIEDRICH SCHULTE
• EIGER EXPLORER
• SEA WOLF
• SEA EAGLE

Photo credit: Fotolia

Amver Oil Tanker Saves Swedish Sailor

A Swedish sailor was rescued from his sailboat after he lost all electronics and developed rudder and sail issues approximately 500 miles southeast of Nantucket on Sunday, May 23, 2019.

United States Coast Guard rescue authorities at the First District Rescue  Coordination Center received a distress alert for the 33-foot sailboat and request the Amver participating oil tanker Front Leopard divert and assist the sailor. A U.S. Coast Guard C-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft was also dispatched to the scene. The Captain of the Marshall Island flagged tanker reported "I can be on the scene in three hours."

The Front Leopard captain arrived at the distress location and emailed back to the Coast Guard, "There is no vessel in the distress position but we see a suspicious radar target drifting to our south at two knots. We also observed a red flare in the same position, approximately four miles away. We are altering course to that location and I have four lookouts posted and the powerful searchlight illuminated."

Shortly after that report the 823-foot tanker located the boat with the 63-year old sailor aboard. Despite 10-foot waves and 20 knot winds, the crew of the Front Leopard was able to safely rescue the sailor using the Jacobs Ladder. The sailor was in good health and remained aboard the Front Leopard until it arrived in Houston.

The Front Leopard, managed by Frontline Management of Bermuda, enrolled in Amver on April 12, 2016 and has earned four Amver awards for participation.

Video credit: U.S. Coast Guard

Welcome Wednesday!

Tomorrow in the United States we celebrate our independence. Every day we celebrate independence from fear with Amver. Your participation in the world's only voluntary search and rescue system should offer relief to those who go to sea. Your dedication to safety at sea knows no bounds. Thank you for continuing to support the Amver system and ensuring no call for help goes unanswered.

• CAPT EMMETT
• MARINA CARIBE
• ENSEMBLE
• VUOKSI MAERSK
• NEW JOURNEY
• TROPIC ISLAND
• STREAM PACIFIC
• SOUTHERN HAWK
• RED NOVA
• NISSOS DESPOTIKO
• WILLOW
• MURCIA MAERSK
• VIKING JUPITER
• CL RHINE RIVER
• MARINA VICTORIA V
• ESTEEM ASTRO

Photo credit: Fotolia