U.S. Embassy & Korean Shipowners' Host Amver Awards Ceremony

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul and the Korean Shipowner's Association hosted an Amver awards ceremony in Seoul, Korea on Monday December 14, 2009. There were 51 Korean ships earning awards, representing 15 companies.

Mr. Mark Tokola, Deputy Chief of Mission, United States Embassy Seoul, gave the keynote address to the award recipients and other attendees. United States Coast Guard International Port Security liaison to South Korea, Lieutenant Commander Patricia Springer, represented the Coast Guard.

Award recipients included the Dong Jin Shipping Company, EUKOR Car Carriers, Haeyoung Maritime Services Company, Hanjin Ship Management Company, Hanjin Shipping Company, Hyundai Merchant Marine Company, Korea Line Corporation, Laurus Ship Management Company, SH Marine, ShippingBank Company, SK Shipping Company, STX Pan Ocean Company, Vesta Shipping Company, and Wilhelmsen Ship Management (Korea).

Congratulations to the Award winners! Amver also thanks the Korean Shipowner's Association for their dedication to ensuring no call for help goes unanswered and we look forward to having an even greater number of Korean vessels enroll in Amver and earn awards.

Photo credit: LCDR Patricia Springer

Vive Amver! Final Update On Bermuda Rescue

Three French sailors will be home for the holidays after being rescued from their capsized sailboat 600 miles east northeast of Bermuda early Sunday morning December 13, 2009. Fortunately the yachtsmen were well prepared with survival equipment and a 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, or EPIRB.

The French trio first encountered trouble when their 40 foot sailboat, F Et Mer, capsized the evening of December 12th. According to survivor reports, they sent a distress signal but were unable to deploy the lifeboat due to damage sustained in the capsize.

Rescue officials, having received the distress beacon's signal, requested the Bahamian flagged cargo ship Wellington Star to divert and steam towards the last known position of the F Et Mer. Captain Eduard Rogov, master of the Amver participating cargo ship, was only 92 miles from the location of the French sailors when he set a course to rescue them.

Once Captain Rogov was on the scene he quickly saw the yacht had also suffered a broken mast, damaged rudder, and hull damage. "They were taking on water at about five gallons an hour," said Captain Rogov. "The weather and night conditions complicated the rescue. I estimated the winds to be Force 9 on the Beaufort Scale [47-54 mph] with waves in excess of 26 feet," he added.

Despite the challenging conditions, Captain Rogov's crew was able to rescue all three Frenchmen. The crew of the Wellington Star quickly evaluated their condition and gave them dry clothes and food. The Wellington Star is managed by Dobson Fleet Management Ltd of Cyprus.

"The Coast Guard provides the technology to coordinate the Amver alerts, but it is the commitment of our partners in the commercial shipping community that makes this program successful," said Rear Admiral Wayne Justice, Commander of the United States Coast Guard's Fifth District and the command center responsible for coordinating the rescue.

The fate of the sailboat was not as fortunate. The F Et Mer was left adrift and marked as a hazard to navigation. The survivors were taken to the Wellington Star's next port call, New Bedford, MA where there were met by U.S. officials to help them return home.

Photo credit: crew of the M/V Wellington Star

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Welcome Wednesday!

It's nice to see ships continue to enroll in the Amver system during the holiday season. It gives us a sense of giving back and thankfulness. We are thankful that you feel it is important to make yourselves available to assist mariners in distress, even if that means missing a port call. We know your participation could cost you money. That's the gift you give us and the maritime community. What impact does Amver have on safety at sea? All you have to do is read about rescues like this or this to know Amver has a significant positive impact on safety at sea.

Because this is the season of celebration why don't we celebrate the latest members of the Amver family.

• DOUBLE ROC
• OASIS OF THE SEAS
• SETAGAWA
• CORONA OPTIMUM
• CAPE DAWSON
• UBC TARRAGONA
• NORDISLE
• MUSANAH
• UMM SLAL
• COREOCEAN OL
• SAMSON SUPPLIER
• BULK
• VOGE DIGNITY
• APL WASHINGTON
• INCE ANADOLU
• NORGAS CATHINKA
• STARLING
• SKANDI SANTOS
• STEN BERGEN
• CALY MANX
• SUNSHINE STATE
• MOL EMISSARY
• ZHU JIANG
• UBC MONTREAL

Thank you for enrolling and have a happy and safe holiday!

Photo credit: Fotolia

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Amver Container Ship Assists Fishing Vessel

The Amver participating container ship ACX Diamond was diverted by United States Coast Guard rescue authorities to assist a disabled fishing vessel approximately 100 miles northwest of the island of Ponape on October 4, 2009.


The NFC Chuuk adrift approximately 100 miles northwest of Ponape

The ACX Diamond, a Singapore flagged container ship, was on a voyage from New Zealand to Toxyo when rescue authorities in Guam contacted the ship about a distress beacon approximately 136 miles from their location. The Diamond was diverted because it participates in the Amver search and rescue system. It enrolled in July, 2009.

Captain Carino, master of the Diamon, ordered the crew to sail to the distress location and prepare for rescue operations. After eight hours the Diamond arrived alongside the fishing vessel NFC Chuuk dead in the water. " We had been adrift for four days with main engine troubles and no spare parts," said Fabian Maithay, Captain of the NFC Chuuk.


The crew of the ACX Diamond prepares for rescue operations

After coming alongside the Chuuk, Captain Carino's crew determined repairs were impossible and towed the vessel towards the FSS Independence which had been dispatched by rescue authorities to complete the rescue. All seven crewmen of the NFC Chuuk were in good health.


The fishing vessel NFC Chuuk under tow by the ACX Diamond

Photo credit: Crew of the ACX Diamond

Chinese Ships Receive Amver Awards

We were honored and proud to host an Amver awards ceremony on December 2, 2009 at the Marintec Shipping Exhibition in Shanghai, China to recognize 15 Chinese ships participating in the Amver search and rescue system.

The Hebei Ocean Shipping Company’s Safety Department Manager, Captain Li Bing,
was on hand to receive the award on behalf of their vessel Sea Glory. The Sea Glory
earned its first Amver award for making itself available to assist in maritime emergencies
at least 128 days in 2008.


Captain Li Bing (left) receives the blue Amver pennant from Benjamin Strong, Amver director, and United States Coast Guard liaison to China, Captain George Vance.

HOSCO wasn’t alone in earning this coveted safety award. China LNG Shipping
Company, China Shipping Development Company, COSCO, Dalian Ocean Shipping
Company, East Sunrise Ship Management, Bernhard Schulte Ship Management (China)
Company, and the Shanghai Marukichi Ship Management Company earned awards for a
total of 51 years of participation in the only global voluntary search and rescue system.

The United States Coast Guard Liaison to China, Captain George Vance, was on hand to
tout the U.S. Coast Guard’s and China’s recent collaborations. In addition to Captain
Vance, Donghai Rescue Bureau Director General Captain Sun FuMin and Shanghai
Maritime Safety Administration Vice Director Shang Wei were on hand to congratulate the
award winners.

We hope more Chinese ships enroll in Amver and we look forward to attending Marintec 2011 to host another awards ceremony!

Photo credit: USCG photo by Beverly Howard

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Video Of Amver Rescue Near Bermuda

As promised we have an update on the Amver rescue of three French sailors 600 miles east northeast of Bermuda. Below is video from the United States Coast Guard C-130 aircraft. The video shows the difficult nature of these rescues and the bravery of both the crew of the rescue ship, Wellington Star, and the survivors.

The survivors should arrive in New Bedford, Mass in the coming days.




Video credit: USCG video prepared by PA2 Kendrick, taken by USCG Air Station Elizabeth City C-130 crew

French Sailors Rescued

Amver has learned of a recent rescue of 3 French sailors 600 miles east northeast of Bermuda. The United States Coast Guard Fifth District Public Affairs office reported the rescue early Sunday morning December 13, 2009.

The Amver participating M/V Wellington Star answered the call for assistance. With assistance from a United States Coast Guard C-130 aircraft from Air Station Elizabeth City, rescued the sailors and is enroute with them to their next port of call in New Bedford, Mass.

We will keep you updated on the rescue operation and provide photos as soon as we receive them.