Amver, Saving Lives at Sea Since 1958

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Amver infographic, or how piracy is messing with ships

Our colleagues at the United States Coast Guard Operations Systems Center brought this to our attention and we wanted to share it with you. Thanks Jayden!

Its difficult to really see the impact piracy has on shipping. Its not like you can look down from earth and see a snapshot of all the ships in the world. Oh wait, you can see a bird's eye view of all the Amver ships in the world. Check out these Amver density plots. The first is from April 2007 and the second is from April 2010.

April 2007 Amver density plot

April 2010 Amver density plot

Notice the gaping white spot around the Horn of Africa in the April 2010 density plot? That big white area signifies NO Amver ships have sailed through those waters in the entire month. It is a striking comparison to April 2007. In fact, each square represents one degree (60 minutes latitude by 60 minutes longitude). Amver ships are definitely avoiding the Somali coast.

When will this nonsense end? Clay Maitland has some thoughts on the piracy issue, President Obama has issued an Executive Order on the matter, and the Maersk Alabama pirate, captured in the dramatic take down of his colleagues, recently pleaded guilty to piracy charges in New York.

What do you think will help solve the piracy problem?

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Welcome Wednesday!

You keep doing it don't you? Just when we think there aren't any more ships to enroll we see another group enrolling in the Amver system. Thank you for surprising us every week. Despite the quiet nature of our work we can tell you your participation matters. Just the other day a group of United States Coast Guard officers commented on how they rely on Amver. Your participation means large areas of ocean are safe and mariners are safe. Please help us welcome the latest threads in our blanket of safety.

PARAMOUNT HANOVER
YUTAI BREEZE
KOHZAN MARU III
SAMHO TRITON
FRONT ODIN
OVERSEAS SANTORINI
STAVROULA
ANNEGRET
NS AFRICA
GREBE
CLIPPER IZUM
MORNING CORNELIA
JIUJIANG
VANCOUVER EXPRESS
MCP ALSTERTAL
BUNGA KENANGA
SE PELAGICA
SAGARJEET
CMB EDOUARD
BALTIC BEAR
DD VOYAGER
OVERSEAS MARTINEZ
BRO HAWAII
DL ROSE
FIRST IBIS
SOLANA
ZEN-NOH GRAIN PEGASUS
AGIOS NIKOLOAS IV
CHEMROAD NOVA
ENTERPRISE STAR
BESIKTAS GALATA
STADT BERLIN
NORD DELPHINUS

Have you joined yet? If not, why not?

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Life at sea

Lloyd's List started a new blog feature and they want you to be a part of it. The Life at Sea feature will highlight stories of seafarers. We invite all of our Amver participants to share their stories with Lloyd's List.

What will Lloyd's List do with these stories of life at sea? That remains to be seen. For now they will be shared with their readership and, hopefully, not behind a pay wall. Tom Leander, the driving force behind the initiative, wants to share these stories as a way of celebrating the Year of the Seafarer. We think its a great idea. Maybe someone will share a story of why then enrolled in Amver or of a dramatic rescue...

Photo credit: Neptunecanada

Monday, May 24, 2010

Pirates nabbed, Russian style

The Naval Institute blog recently posted a link to the story about Somali pirates apprehended by Russian Commandos after seizing a Russian Amver participating ship. Here is video of the take down and subsequent search of the vessel.

Warning, this video is graphic and contains some strong nautical (and other) language and may not be safe for some workplaces.

Can't see the video? Click here.

What do you think? Would a more robust military presence help deter piracy?

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Who dunit? How the Coast Guard identifies oil.

It's been reported that tar balls have started washing up on beaches in Key West, Florida and the fear is they are from the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Fortunately the United States Coast Guard was able to determine these tar balls were not from the Deepwater Horizon incident.

So how does the Coast Guard know where oil comes from? Just watch this video to see Coast Guard Marine Science Lab in action.

Can't see the video? Click here.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Welcome Wednesday!

You remember the IMO declared 2010 the "Year of the Seafarer" right? The brother and sisterhood of the sea is most certainly evident in the mariners and shipping companies enrolling there vessels in Amver. Just this past week you helped us read an all time record for the number of ships available in a day to divert and assist. There were 3,853 ships on the Amver plot on Sunday May 16th! Who are the latest members that helped us achieve such an incredible goal? Let's welcome them:

OCEAN LEO
INCE EGE
GRETA C
NYK ROMULUS
IKAN SELIGI
NORD INTELLIGENCE
ZIM ROTTERDAM
DORIC VICTORY
COSCO PHILIPPINES
COMMANDER
SAKURA WAVE
SEA BAY
BLUE
SOPHIA D
CASPIAN GALAXY
STAR KVARVEN
C DISCOVERY
GOOD PRIDE
AZURA
ROLLDOCK SUN
UASC SHUWAIKH
HK CHALLENGER
FLUMAR BRASIL
DELTA KANARIS
MCKEE SONS
RBD THINK POSITIVE
CHALLENGE POLARIS
KING ORE
OCEAN PROSPERITY
STRELITZIA
CAPE TALARA
GLORIOUS SUNSHINE
SEMUA PERDANA
C. ATLAS
PACHACAMAC
ORIENT CENTAUR
GSF C. R. LUIGS

These ships ensure no call for help, like this one, goes unanswered. Do you have questions about Amver? Want to learn more? You can ask us in person! We will be exhibiting at Posidonia in Athens, Greece. See you in June!

Photo credit: Fotolia

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

American sailor rescued

An American yachtsman learned about the Amver system the hard way! The 47 year old sailor was on a voyage from Costa Rica to Hawaii in his 34 foot sailboat when, on May 8th, he felt something bang up against the hull and dislodge his rudder. Further inspection revealed water pouring in through the rudder shaft. Fortunately the Isle of Man flagged Amver participant, Ostende Max, diverted and rescued the sailor. These incredible photos show the rescue unfold.