Announcing the Quarterdeck Podcast

Welcome to the first edition of the Quarterdeck! What is a quarterdeck? According to Wikipedia, traditionally in port, the quarterdeck is the most important place on the ship, and is the central control point for all its major activities. We believe the Quarterdeck podcast will be an important part of your maritime listening and hope it will become a central point of your listening.

The Quarterdeck podcast, brought to you by Amver, will be a monthly discussion between Mr. Benjamin Strong and Admiral James Watson Deputy Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area. Topics will vary between search and rescue, inspections, maritime safety, interviews with influential maritime figures, and whatever else is timely or important in the maritime sector.  Most importantly we want YOU to tell us what you want to hear.

Here is a direct link to the Quarterdeck audio file.

The Quarterdeck transcript is available here.

Leave your show suggestions and questions in the comments.

A special thanks to our friend Barbara Patton for designing the Quarterdeck logo.

The Quarterdeck theme song is Botany Bay by the Blaggards, available on musicalley.com.

UPDATE: Amver ship heads towards Libya

The Greeks aren't wasting any time in evacuating their citizens from Libya. The Greek government chartered the Amver participating tanker Minerva Antonia to evacuate its citizens from the port Ras Lanuf Tradewinds reported Wednesday.  The Minerva Antonia is managed by Minerva Marine and enrolled in the Amver system on December 1, 2008.  Greece isn't alone in using ships to evacuate citizens.  The United States and Turkey are using ferries to evacuate citizens as well.

Using vessels as a means of evacuating personnel from danger zones isn't new. We've discussed the topic before after reading Chris Albon's post on the Naval Institute blog.

UPDATE

According to a report from Lloyd's List, the Greek tanker Minerva Antonia loaded a cargo of low sulfur fuel at the port of Ros Lanuf but did not embark any Greek citizens for evacuation out of Libya. Clearance for the Greeks to be evacuated could not be obtained through the national oil company controlling the terminal, the report continued.  Lloyd's List also stated that reports the Greek ship was prepared to evacuate up to 300 people was exaggerated.


Efforts to evacuate United States citizens by ferry were continuing.  According to State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley, on Twitter, the ferry was unable to depart Libya because of bad weather but would depart for Malta when weather conditions were favorable.

Photo credit:  www.marinetraffic.com

Welcome Wednesday!

While piracy, Iranian ships transiting the Suez Canal, and the crisis in Libya take the front page of the maritime media its easy to forget what's going on in the background.  One thing you can count on are vessels enrolling in the Amver system.  Who joined this week?  Take a look.

• 
  
•          KIKKI C                 
•          B ELEPHANT              
•          ASIAN BLOSSOM           
•          EMMA                    
•          NAWATA BHUM             
•          GAS ALKHALEEJ           
•          MAERSK WESTPORT         
•          ATLANTIC KLIPPER        
•          GREATSHIP MAMTA         
•          ETC NEFERTARI           
•          DUMUN                   
•          TORM AGNES              
•          SOUTHERN LILY           
•          GOLDEN MARINE           
•          FLINTER ARCTIC          
•          ZIM ALABAMA             
•          OCEAN SUMMER            
•          DIAMOND ASPIRE          
•           MAKO                    
•          PRINSESA SIRENA         
•          LAKE DEER               
•          COSTA MARINA            
•          LUCY OLDENDORFF         
•          ROBERTO RIZZO           
•          FAIRCHEM KISO           
•          BBC BERGEN              
•          CHESAPEAKE HIGHWAY      
•          VAVA II                 
•          ELSBORG                 
•          EXPEDITION              
•          GAN-TRIBUTE             
•          COSTA PACIFICA          
•          HONEST SPRING           

Have you joined the Amver system yet?


Photo credit: Fotolia

Amver congratulates Angeliki Frangou

The Connecticut Maritime Association recently named Angeliki Frangou the 2011 Commodore.  Ms. Frangou will assume her role as Commodore at the annual CMA Conference on March 23, 2011.

The Award is given each year to a person in the international maritime industry who has contributed to the growth and development of the industry.

Ms. Frangou has been Navios Maritime Holdings Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since inception in 2005. Ms. Frangou is also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Navios Maritime Partners, L.P.  and Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation.

Amver will be exhibiting at CMA Shipping 2011 at booth G-104 and we look forward to seeing you there!

Photo credit: Fotolia

What does a pirate attack sound like?

If you've been a reader of the Amver blog you know we've covered piracy issues in the past. If you are a mariner you've been made aware of the dangerous piracy situation in the Indian Ocean. If you've never sailed those waters, however, you may not know what a piracy attack sounds like. Take a listen to this pirate attack from the Maritime Bulletin.

Now you know.


Photo credit: Fotolia

Related articles

• Somali Pirates Hijack Yacht With American Couple (nytimes.com)
• INTERTANKO's Complete Guide To Preventing And Dealing With Pirate Attacks (businessinsider.com)

Welcome Wednesday!

Another week, another list of newly enrolled Amver ships. With no shortage of headlines for the shipping industry vessel owners, managers, and crews continue to see the value of participating in the Amver system.  Help us welcome the latest participants.

•          PACIFIC BORA            
•          ZAGORA                  
•          HANJIN NEW YORK        
•          PERCIVAL               
•          METHANE MICKIE HARPER   
•          SAGA                    
•          ENA DYNASTY             
•          MATSUSHIRO              
•          AS VALERIA              
•          DANIEL N                
•          V8 STEALTH II           
•          WANGARATTA              
•          ROYAL HARMONY           
•          CMA CGM TURQUOISE       
•          MERMAID RELIANCE        
•          KEY CALLA               
•          RAMIRA                  
•          ROYAL FAIRNESS          
•          ALPINE MELINA           
•          HANJIN ALGECIRAS        
•          SKOMVAER                
•          COASTAL JAGUAR          
•          HANJIN SHIKOKU          
•          YI MENG SHAN            
•          HOMAM STAR              
•          SKANDI HERCULES         
•          TENACIOUS               
•          MOON BREEZE             
•          BULKTEC                 
•          GLOBAL PRODUCER III     
•          NAVIOS ETOILE           
•          ONEGO SELEINA           
•          BREVIK BRIDGE           
•          SINDHU SANKALP         
•          OCEAN SPIRIT            
•          FIRST I     

Are you part of the Amver system?           

Photo credit: Fotolia

Amver ship saves German sailors

Four German sailors were rescued by the Amver participating vessel Bow Engineer after Argentinian rescue authorities requested and Amver surface picture.  The German sailors's boat had lost power when they requested assistance.The Bow Engineer enrolled in the Amver system on April 21, 2006 and is managed by the Norwegian Ofdjell company.

The rescue took place at the yellow pin on the photo to the right. We'll provide more updates as we learn the details.