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.

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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

Come Celebrate National Maritime Day and US Amver Awards

After two years of virtual meetings and staying apart we are excited to announce that the U.S. Amver Awards ceremony and National Maritime Day celebration will return to Washington, DC as an in-person event. Mark your calendar for May 19, 2022!

Once again the North American Marine Environmental Protection Association (NAMEPA) is our host at the National Press Club for Safety at Sea seminar, National Maritime Day recognition and combined U.S. Coast Guard Amver and William M. Benhkert Awards.

Come join us at the National Press Club in Washington, DC to reconnect with colleagues, see old friends and celebrate National Maritime Day and an unparalleled commitment to safety and stewardship at sea. We look forward to seeing you there!

Photo credit: USCG photo by Beverly Howard

It's Time to Reconnect!

All roads to reconnecting lead through Connecticut. If you are in the shipping industry I hope you are as excited as we are to the return of CMA Shipping Expo and Conference that makes its jubilant return to Stamford, Conn. March 29th to the 31st. 

The last two years have taken a toll on our industry and the Amver team is looking forward to safely reconnecting at the iconic Stamford Hilton. If you are interested in learning more about our voluntary search and rescue system and how we are evolving to meet the challenges of the future, come see us!

It's time to see each other, learn from each other, and thank the brave men and women in our industry who have kept the world going. Not only have seafarers faced incredible challenges at home and sea, they have continue to provide unparalleled search and rescue services around the world. We look forward to seeing you in Connecticut!

Amver and a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter team up to rescue three people off Costa Rica

U.S. Coast Guard authorities at the Eleventh District Rescue Coordination Center diverted the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Northland and the Amver bulker Avra.GR after rescue personnel in Costa Rica requested assistance with a vessel fire and three people in the water approximately 150 miles south of Gulfito, Costa Rica on Tuesday, August 17, 2021.

The cutter Northland deployed it's rescue helicopter which located the vessel in distress while the Northland crew launched an over the horizon rescue boat to safely embark the three survivors. The survivors were then transferred to the Marshall Island flagged bulker Avra.GR. The Avra.GR will disembark the survivors in Costa Rica.

The 587-foot Amver ship was only 58 miles away from the distress location when it was identified by rescue authorities and asked to assist. The Avra.GR, managed by M/Maritime of Greece, enrolled in Amver on June 10, 2016 and has earned two Amver participation awards.

Updated August 23, 2021: The Avra.GR is managed by M/Maritime of Greece.

Photo credit: USCG Photo