Amver ship sinks off Spanish coast

Tradewinds reported today that the Amver participating merchant ship, Kea, sank off the coast of Spain on a journey from Saint Petersburg to Columbia. The Kea enrolled in the Amver system in November, 2000.

Spanish and Portuguese rescue authorities rescued 22 crewmen, two remain missing.

We are happy the majority of the crew was rescued and hope the missing crewmen are located.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Welcome Wednesday!

32 additional ships have enrolled in the Amver system in the past week. It's a good thing too. A South Korean war ship sank and the Nisshin Maru recently sank in the Naruto straight. The importance of Amver participation cannot be overstated. Participation means more resources available to save lives. You can be part of the network dedicated to safety at life at sea.

Here are the latest Amver members:

• LADY ROSENAY
• OCEAN DESTINY
• NEW DYNAMIC
• GAN-SKY
• MAERSK JEFFERSON
• CMA CGM MUSSET
• NORD SINGAPORE
• OVERSEAS MYKONOS
• ANGELA
• BUNGA BAKAWALI
• UBC LAGUNA
• DONG MAI
• DONG BA
• DONG THO
• WG TASMAN
• DONG PHU
• RATNA SHALINI
• MAHA ANOSHA
• ERRIA HELEN
• USHUAIA
• ANANGEL TRANSPORTER
• YAMABUKI
• AMALIENBORG
• NORTHERN JAGUAR
• TARGET
• COSCO JAPAN
• GOOD PRINCESS
• NORTON SOUND
• CONSTELLATION
• BUDAPEST EXPRESS
• LAURA
• DIAMAMTGRACHT

Thank you for joining the Amver ranks! We certainly hope you are never called upon to assist but we are grateful you are available. What is keeping you from enrolling?

Photo credit: Fotolia

MARAD Advisory- Guidance to vessels transiting high risk waters

The Maritime Administration has issued a new advisory to all vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and waters surrounding the Horn of Africa.

The advisory reminds vessels to comply with United States Coast Guard Maritime Security Directive (MARSEC) 104-6 (current version) to combat the continued threat of piracy. There has been a rash of piracy attacks around the Horn of Africa and maritime organizations are not taking the uptick in attacks lightly.

Many of the ships transiting the Gulf of Aden are enrolled in the Amver system. We would hate to see a vessel whose crew is dedicated to safety at sea become victim of a vessel hijacking.

What steps are you taking to avoid and deter piracy?

Related articles by Zemanta

• Most hijacked ships ignored safety precautions (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
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Sailing yacht California photos and update

Last week we blogged about the rescue of Clive Cockram and crew from the disabled sailing yacht California. The Amver participating Nord Nightingale performed the rescue at night during difficult sea conditions.

The Nord Nightingale provided some photos and an updated rescue summary we would like to share.

The Nord Nightingale used their MOB (Man Overboard Boat) to rescue Mr. Cockram on March 22, 2010. According to Captain Morten Helers, Master of the Nord Nightingale, Cockram was a bit unstable on his feet when brought aboard the Danish flagged tanker.



Radio Medical Denmark provided medical advice via satellite to the crew of the Nightingale as they attended to Mr. Cockram's wounds. Vital signs were checked and Mr. Cockram was given medication to prevent infection and the wound was cleaned.

In addition to the medical treatment, Mr. Cockram had an opportunity to clean up and eat a hearty meal. According to the ship's crew, by morning "... he was [in] a really good mood, didn't feel any pain [and] was just hungry."


Pictured from left to right Third Officer S. Olesen, Dennis Flynn, Chief Officer C. Bie, Clive Cockram

Thankfully the Nord Nightingale was enrolled in the Amver system. Your ship could be next to rescue someone in distress at sea. It's not just yachtsmen that require assistance. Amver vessels have been called on to search for aviation accidents and other maritime emergencies.

Will you enroll?

Photo credit: all photos courtesy of the crew of the Nord Nightingale

Amver tanker rescues Clive Cockram

The Amver participating tanker Nord Nightingale braved difficult sea conditions to rescue yachtsman Clive Cockram and another crew member from their stricken yacht after it lost its mast during a leg of the Clipper 09-10 race from Japan to Los Angeles.

According to a Tradewinds story, the Denmark flagged oil tanker Nord Nightingale, owned by Norden and skippered by an American master, was more than happy to provide assistance to the injured yachtsmen. The Nord Nighingale is reportedly sailing for the port of Los Angeles/Long Beach where Cockram and his colleague will disembark.

Photo credit: Rob In Transit

Welcome Wednesday!

Amver is hard at work at the CMA Shipping 2010. While we are trying to enroll more ships in the Amver system let's take a moment and recognize the 39 ships that have enrolled in the past week.

Welcome these new vessels to Amver:

• SEATTLE EXPRESS
• PRABHU SAKHAWAT
• CALLISTO
• LUISIA COLOSSUS
• BUNGA ALPINA
• IKAN SIAKAP
• KENTA
• KEN SEI
• AOM MILENA
• MURORAN
• SKYTHIA
• GLENDA MEREDITH
• XING HAI WAN
• HORIZON DIANA
• CSC AMETHYST
• GUAYAQUIL BRIDGE
• VIJAYANAGAR
• HAN SPIRIT
• OTOWASAN
• SALLALAH LNG
• SITEAM LEADER
• RBD SHANGHAI
• MOUNT KIBO
• BERA
• ITALIC G
• UGLJAN
• INDUSTRIAL DAWN
• ZETA I
• JOSEPH L BLOCK
• DE VROUW GEERTRUIDA
• SWISSCO 168
• E.R.BRANDENBURG
• BRIGHT LAKER
• FRJA SKANDIA
• STOLT FACTO
• ABDELKADER
• ANTILLES VI
• RUDDY
• LANCASTER
  

If you are at CMA Shipping 2010 come see us at booth G-104!

CMA Shipping 2010 day 1

Usually we write about Amver's adventures at trade shows and exhibitions. CMA Shipping 2010 started a little differently. Yes, there is lots of talk about finance, ship security, safety, the environment, and how to improve the impression people have about shipping. We always talk about that stuff. There is also an effort to recruit more ships and have them enroll in Amver as well.

What Dr. Hermann Klein said today at CMA Shipping 2010, however, really struck us as powerful.

Dr. Klein stated, during the opening panel, that "...the maritime industry doesn't cause pollution, our desire for more and more goods causes it..."

Want to catch what else is being said about CMA Shipping 2010? You can follow us on Twitter or search hashtag #shipping10 or follow the CMA Twitter list put together by Coracle.

That sums it up doesn't it?

Photo credit: Fotolia