Rescue authorities in Boston used the Amver to divert two ships to rescue a 81-year old German sailor after his sailboat became disabled 340 miles southeast of Cape Cod, Mass. on June 15, 2021.
The sailor, aboard a 36-foot sailboat that suffered damage including losing its mast, notified the U.S. Coast Guard who launched a rescue aircraft and, utilizing the Amver search and rescue system, diverted the Amver ships Tysla and Mare Picenum to assist the sailor.
The crew of the rescue aircraft was able to locate the sailboat and provide its precise location to the Amver ships. The Maltese-flagged Tylsa provided communications while the 898-foot Italian flagged Mare Picenum began preparing for rescue operations and lowered a ladder to embark the lone sailor. The Mare Picenum was only 25 miles away from the distress location.
The crew of the Mare Picenum was able to safely embark the sailor and provided him dry clothing and food. He remained aboard the ship until it reached its next port of call.
"Seafarers are force multipliers in any search and rescue case," said Benjamin Strong, AMVER director, for the Coast Guard. "The heroic efforts to rescue the German yachtsman are in keeping with the highest tradition of mariners helping mariners. The actions taken by the crew of Mare Picenum reinforce the relevance and importance of the Coast Guard Amver system, and the role it plats in global search and rescue."
The Tysla, managed by Wilhelmssen Ship Management of Norway, enrolled in Amver on February 23, 2012 and has earned ten Amver participation awards. The Mare Picenum, managed by Teekay Tankers Chartering of Canada, enrolled in Amver on October 3, 2011 and has earned three Amver participation awards.
Photo credit: USCG
