Welcome Wednesday

The ranks of Amver participants continues to grow. Thank you for your continued support of the Amver safety network. Seafarers are willing to risk their lives and companies risk profit by diverting to assist a mariner in distress. This week's members join an elite group of seafarers who are committed to risking it all in the name of safety at sea. Help us welcome these new ships.

• CHIN YOU WEN
• CHIN SIANG WEN
• CHIN YOU MING
• PHAROS
• MSC CHINA
• ARIONAS
• JILL GLORY
• EVA INSTANBUL
• HUNG HWA NO. 202
• CAPT TASOS
• BOLD TERN
• LARGO EMERALD
• CMA CGM MERCANTOUR

Photo credit: Fotolia

Welcome Wednesday

Safety never goes out of style. While Amver's history may be rooted in the Titanic disaster, Amver still attracts new vessels today. Twenty five more ships enrolled this week. The blanket of protection provided by these volunteer lifesavers gets tighter with every new participant. Help us welcome these ships who ensure no call for help goes unanswered!

• CHUN HAO
• WAN HAI 353
• WAN HAI A10
• GOU TONG NO. 3
• CHUN FU FA NO. 6
• GOU TONG NO. 101
• WAN HAI A103
• WAN HAI A05
• WAN HAI A12
• LIEN DAR
• SHIN DAR
• SDM CHONGQING
• NORTH AIR
• FERRYMAR FMWN
• SHUN YU
• HUNG SHING NO. 212
• PETALI
• STENA PROVIDENT
• AMOUREUX
• YM THERESA
• HONG YI
• HONG CHIN
• HUNG YI NO. 2
• JIN HWEI SHIANG
• JIN FONG SHUUN

Photo credit: Fotolia

Welcome Wednesday

With the holiday season approaching it is important to remember how all those good get to us. Spending months at sea, away from family, often in dangerous seas is the seafarer. The seafarer brings us those things we need and the things we want. And, when called upon, the seafarer risks their lives to save others. Help us welcome the latest participants in the Amver safety network who ensure no call for help goes unanswered.

• JI DAH YNG
• JI DAH GAN
• ZI LI F
• ZI DA YE
• HSIEH FENG NO. 789
• ZI DA HONG
• ZI DA HSIN
• ZI DA WANG
• HER HUNG NO. 16
• TUNAGO NO. 52
• CHEMROAD JUPITER
• MSC METTE
• MH SANDEF JORD
• LOWLANDS FIDELITY
• MORPHOU
• HOU CHUN NO. 1
• SUMIRE LEADER
• LIAN HORNG NO. 777
• LIAN HORNG NO. 67
• SHIN LUNG NO. 168
• FU CHIAN 
• JAI LONG
• EVER ACME

Photo credit: Fotolia

Welcome Wednesday!

The world relies on shipping. Most of what we receive and consume comes by ship. The men and women who take to the sea or support shipping from shoreside offices around the world are largely unseen. We want to extend a thank you to all of you. Whether you are a bridge team member, officer, engineer, able bodies seaman, charterer, shoreside administrator- you all contribute to commerce and within the Amver system, safety at sea. We couldn't make the oceans safer without you. Help us welcome the latest members of the Amver safety network.

• ENEOS GUNJO
• LENA KNUTSEN
• GREAT TRADER
• PG HOLLY
• BRIGHT SAKURA
• OEL INDIA
• HSIEH FENG NO. 788
• CLIPPER BARI- STAR
• HUMORIST
• SONANGOL NJINGA MBANDE
• GCL MAHI
• FEDERAL HAMILTON
• HSIEH FENG NO. 789
• DARYA RADHE
• PARIS KNUTSEN
• FJ FRESIA
• YM MASCOT

Photo credit: Fotoila

Welcome Wednesday

There is something comforting about the fact there are thousands, approximately 6,000 a day, ships sailing the world's oceans and available for search and rescue. Seafarers, yachtsmen, and those who are so desperate that they take to the seas, should take comfort knowing that Amver is there to help them in their moment of need. Help us welcome the newest members of the Amver safety network.

• ROSTRUM ANTARCTICA
• CINDY GLORY
• DEEPWATER AQUILLA
• VIKING MARS

Photo credit: Fotolia

Welcome Wednessday

Seven new ships joined Amver this week. Why is this important? Amver ships help fill a void that traditional search and rescue resources can't fill. The United States Coast Guard and our partners around the world are professional and pride themselves on answering calls for help. But, we can't be everywhere. This is where Amver fills the void. An Amver ship can rescue a person anywhere in the world within a few hours. Amver is a force multiplier and we are grateful our participants ensure no call for help goes unanswered. Help us welcome the latest Amver members.

• CL HENGYANG
• YEOSU VOYAGER
• MSC SOFIA
• EXPLORA I
• EVER ALOT
• MSC VIVIENNE
• UBUNTU EMPATHY

Photo credit: Fotolia

Welcome Wednesday

If you're wondering who joined Amver this week, look no further. We had five new ships enroll, ensuring no call for help goes unanswered. Why is something like Amver important? Take the most recent case of a grounded cruise ship with 206 people aboard near Greenland. That is reason enough to have robust options like these vessels to assist in search and rescue anywhere in the world. Please help us welcome our latest members.

• MSC MONICA CHRISTINA
• MARCELLA
• CARLTON TRADER
• ANGELA GLORY
• EVA BRIGHT

Photo credit: Fotolia

Welcome Wednesday

Another week, another list of new ships that joined Amver this week. In various forms, this feature has been a constant part of Amver history since the Amver program was established in 1958. It's important to recognize good acts, even those that largely go unnoticed by the rest of the world. The dedication to safety at sea by these crews and their shoreside colleagues doesn't go unnoticed by the United States Coast Guard. Thank you for helping ensure no call for help goes unanswered.

• MARAN GAS MARSEILLE
• JIH YU NO. 968
• JIH YU NO. 668
• JIH YU NO. 868
• JIH YU NO. 168
• JIH YU NO. 568
• ULTRA VIRTUE
• GOLDEN JOHN

Photo credit: Fotolia

Welcome Wednesday

It's been a busy week at Amver with several new participants. We enjoy bringing you this feature of the ships enrolled in Amver. We are particularly excited to see the growth of Amver in Taiwan. If you aren't participating, please consider signing up today. In the meantime, help us welcome the latest Amver participants.

• MING MAN
• SHUENN MAN NO. 626
• SHUENN MAN NO. 273
• SHUENN MAN NO. 100
• SHUENN MAN NO. 23
• SPITSBERGEN
• HE MAN H
• BOW OLYMPUS
• ORION JESSICA
• CL XIANGXI
• NORTH GAS

Photo credit: Fotolia

Welcome Wednesday

If one thing is certain it's that shipping has continued during and after the pandemic. We are thankful for the countless seafarers who have endured long tours at sea, time away from family, and limited shore leave or time off. The dedication of seafarers is what helped get us through the pandemic and through to the other side. We recognize things may not be the way they were, but one thing has remained constant; ships continue to commit to safety at sea and enroll in Amver. Here is the list of the latest ships that joined Amver this week.

• MEGHINA HOPE
• UBUNTO HUMANITY

Photo credit: Fotolia

Cruise Ships Earn Amver Awards

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) recently hosted an Amver Awards presentation during their Special Session of the Maritime Safety and Marine Environmental Matters Committee meeting in Washington, DC on October 12, 2022.

Amver Awards were presented to Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, MSC, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean.  "More than 100 cruise ships earned Amver awards," said Amver Director Benjamin Strong. "That is more than 100 resources available for search and rescue from the North Pole to the South Pole," added Strong.

Many thanks to Jennifer Willians, CLIA Vice President for Maritime Policy, for providing a venue to present the Amver Awards. We look forward to continuing the strong relationship between our cruise industry Amver participants and CLIA and look forward to presenting even more awards in 2023!

Photo credit: CLIA photo

Amver Participating Cruise Ship Saves Six

On a recent voyage from Tampa, Fla. to Cozumel, Mexico the Amver participating cruise ship Carnival Paradise rescue six people from a rustic vessel.

As evident in the video by passengers, the migrants were in a makeshift boat that resembled a large dresser or wooden box.

Can't see the video?  Click here.

The Carnival Paradise enrolled in Amver on November 2, 1998 and has earned 21 Amver participation awards. The migrants were handed over to authorities when the vessel docked in Tampa. We congratulate the crew of the Carnival Paradise for a job well done!

Video credit: It's A Salty Life via YouTube

Has Your Ship Rescued People At Sea?

At Amver we like to highlight the good work and lifesaving work done by our participants. One way we do that is by sharing your stories of saving lives at sea. We get that information from various sources. Often, we are notified by United States Coast Guard rescue personnel. Sometimes we hear directly from a ship. Other times we hear from a Flag state or read something in a maritime journal or newspaper.

In order to make it easier for you to report saving lives at sea we are reminding our participants they can report rescues on the Amver homepage. Simply click the orange button titled Rescue Report and fill out the details of your operation. This sends a report to the Amver office at the United States Coast Guard. Keep in mind this is NOT an official report and does not take the place of your requirements in accordance with the IAMSAR Manual or reporting to a Rescue Coordination Center.

We hope you will use this tool as a means to keep the Amver office up to date with your rescue operations. It gives us a better idea of how many people are rescued each year.

To the ships that have already started using this tool, thank you! We hope the rest of our Amver participants will consider using this tool as well.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Amver Participating Container Ship Saves Two

The Amver participating container ship London Express rescued two sailors from their disabled sailboat approximately 136 miles west of Havana, Cuba on Friday, September 2, 2022.

U.S. Coast Guard rescue authorities at the Seventh District Command Center were notified by satellite phone of 20-foot sailboat that had been disabled and adrift off Cuba since August, 28, 2022 and were low on supplies. The sailors requested assistance. The U.S. Coast Guard contacted their Cuban search and rescue partner and launched a search aircraft to locate the boat. 

Coast Guard rescue authorities also queried the Amver system and located the 964-foot London Express and requested the ship to divert and assist. The captain of the Bermuda-flagged ship stated he was only 30 minutes from the last known position of the sailboat and agreed to divert and help. Within an hour of being notified the Amver ship was alongside the sailboat and engaged in rescue operations. 

The crew of the London Express had favorable weather condition while performing the rescue with winds of only 15-knots and waves of three feet. "We have rescued the two sailors who are in good health and will disembark them at our next port call in Mexico," London Express captain Karthickraja emailed to the Coast Guard.

The London Express, managed by Hapag-Lloyd of Germany, enrolled in Amver on February 7, 1999 and has earned 15 Amver participation awards.

Photo credit: marinetraffic.com

Amver Awards Presented in Germany

German shipping representatives gathered in Hamburg, Germany at the Ubersee Club on the evening of Wednesday, September 7, 2022 to celebrate safety at sea and receive their United States Coast Guard Amver awards. The gathering was part of the larger SMM 2022, held biennially.

More than 340 ships earned awards by making themselves available to assist in search and rescue around the world. "We are so grateful we are able to gather in person and recognize the good work done by our shipping partners." stated Benjamin Strong, Amver Director. 

Mr. Jason Chue, United States Consul General Hamburg, reinforced the relationship between Hamburg, German shipping, and the United States. 

The event was made possible through the generous sponsorships from the American Bureau of Shipping, StormGeo, and Vikand. We are thankful for their continued support of Amver. 

Congratulations to all the recipients!

Photo credit: USCG photo by Beverly Howard

Amver Ship Assists 74 Year Old Sailor 2,000 Miles Southeast of Oahu

The Amver participating chemical tanker Bass was able to assist a solo yachtsman who's boat suffered a fuel line leak and refrigeration failure approximately 2,000 miles southeast of Oahu, Hawaii on July 15, 2022.

Coast Guard rescue authorities at the Fourteenth District Command Center received notification from a second hand party who received an email from the skipper of the sailboat Princes Del Mar. The skipper reported he had repaired a faulty fuel line but lost all refrigeration and was requesting fuel and food from any passing merchant ships.

Coast Guard rescue personnel, using the Amver system, located the Vietnamese flagged chemical tanker Bass and requested the ship divert to assist the sailor. The Bass agreed to divert and was able to locate the sailboat and establish communications with the skipper who reported conditions on his boat had greatly improved, he was in good physical and mental health, and he was prepared to complete his transit to Hawaii. Coast Guard personnel released the Amver ship and maintained a communications schedule with the lone sailor. 

The sailor requested to stop communication checks with the Coast Guard after he entered a trade wind pattern and anticipated making it to Hilo, Hawaii without issue. 

The Bass, managed by Ovtrans Petrol Transport Services of Vietnam, enrolled in Amver on February 20, 2009 and has earned six Amver participation awards.

Photo credit: Marine Traffic (photographed under its previous name Chembulk Jakarta)

Tote Managed Amver Ship Rescues Injured Sailor

The Tote managed SS Pacific Tracker rescued a sailor suffering from a medical emergency aboard his sailboat approximately 450 miles southwest of Monterey, California on July 9, 2022.

The sailor suffered a severe nose bleed which was uncontrollable with gauge and anticoagulants. U.S. Coast Guard rescue authorities at the Eleventh District Command Center queried the Amver system and located the 662-foot Naval Auxiliary vessel and requested the ship divert to embark the injured sailor.

Captain Jeffery Royer, master of the Pacific Tracker, agreed to divert and embark the injured sailor. After a conference call between Captain Royer and Coast Guard authorities a plan was developed. The sailor was safely embarked and the ship's nurse was able to help stabilize the patient. 

A U.S. Coast Guard rescue helicopter was able to meet the Pacific Tracker and the sailor was airlifted to emergency medical services waiting at U.S. Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco.

Photo credit: Tote

Amver Participating Cruise Ship Saves 16 Migrants

The Amver participating cruise ship Mardi Gras rescued 16 migrants from a rustic boat taking on water approximately 23 miles north west of Elbow Cay, Fla. on June 3, 2022. 

The captain of the Mardi Gras notified rescue personnel at the U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District Rescue Coordination Center. "We have located a small vessel with approximately 16 people aboard, no propulsion and no lifejackets," the ship's crew reported. 

Deteriorating weather and fearing the vessel would capsize, the crew of the Mardi Gras rescued the 16 survivors. Video of the rescue is below.

Can't see the video? Click here.

Amver Bulk Carrier Helps Rescue Survivors From Sunken Tanker

 

On Friday, May 27, 2022 the Amver participating bulk carrier UBC STAVANGER assisted in rescue operations when a 296-foot coastal tanker sank 129 miles off the coast of Curacao.

The 561-foot UBC STAVANGER, part of a larger rescue force including a Cuban commercial ship sent to assist, immediately mustered the crew and began looking for survivors. 

"At 9:25 in the morning local time we received a notification from Dutch Caribbean rescue authorities to assist a sunken tanker and look for people in the water," said UBC STAVANGER Captain Joel Bernasol.  "We rescued five people, four from a life raft and one survivor who was found in the water." he added.

The survivors were uninjured and disembarked at the Port of Point Lisas in Trinidad and Tobago.

The UBC STAVANGER, managed by Mastermind Shipmanagement of Cyprus, enrolled in Amver on March 28, 2005 and has earned 12 Amver participation awards. 

Photo credit: crew of the UBC Stavanger

Amver Oil Tanker Rescues Solo Sailor

On Monday, May 23, 2022 the Amver participating oil tanker CHEMICAL CONTENDER rescued a lone sailor from his 24-foot sailboat after the boat became disabled approximately 158 miles east of Cape Henry, Va.

The 61-year-old sailor departed Virginia attempting to row across the Atlantic when he encountered 25 knot winds and eight to ten foot seas and activated his Garmin in-Reach device requesting assistance. U.S. Coast Guard rescue authorities received his alert and immediately queried the Amver system. The Liberian flagged tanker CHEMICAL CONTENDER was located less than ten miles from the stricken rowboat and the ship's captain agreed to divert and assist. Thankfully, the Liberian flagged tanker was only ten miles away from the rowboat.

Despite the challenging weather conditions on scene, Captain Zorlu and the crew of the CHEMICAL CONTENDER were not only able to safely embark the yachtsman, but successfully bring his sailboat aboard the ship as well.

The CHEMICAL CONTENDER was steaming from Baltimore when it was called to assist and kept the survivor and his boat onboard the ship until it reached Houston, Texas where he was disembarked. The CHEMICAL CONTENDER, managed by Chemship in the Netherlands, enrolled in Amver on November 8, 2018 and has earned four Amver participation awards.

Photo credit: Crew of the Chemical Contender