Were any Amver ships damaged in the Japanese tsunami?

The Maritime Bulletin has a good list of vessels sunk or damaged in last week's tsunami. We checked to see how many were enrolled in Amver.

List of vessels sunk or damaged in Japan

• CORAL RING, IMO number 9337092, was damaged while discharging coal at Onahama. All crew reported safe. An Amver participant.
• SHIROUMA, IMO number 9181895, ran aground near Haramati. The crew is safe. An Amver participant.
• C.S. VICTORY, IMO number 9266140, was in Ishinomali when the tsunami struck and sank in shallow water in the harbor. An Amver participant.
• CHINASTEEL INTEGRITY, IMO number 9266140, pushed aground in Kashima when tsunami struck. An Amver participant.
• ASIA SYMPHONY, IMO number 9178070, was washed onto the road along the shore of Kamaishi by the tsunami. Not an Amver participant.
• GLOVIS MERCURY, IMO number 8907307, was washed up on shore in Sendai, Japan due to tsunami. Not an Amver participant.
• KHRIZOLITOVIY, IMO number 8730481, while in Ofunato port was grounded and dragged back to sea in the tsunami. Several crew injured. Not an Amver participant.
• VESSEL UNDER CONSTRUCTION, ship with 80 crew/workers washed out to sea but all crew were rescued. Not yet enrolled in Amver.
• KOSHIN MARU, IMO Number 9222728, presumed grounded or sank. Not an Amver participant.
• EMU ARROW, IMO Number 9144392, discharging cargo in port of Kashima when it collided with other ships but remained afloat. An Amver participant.

Photo credit: DVIDSHUB

MARAD Advisory for vessels transiting to or from Japan or waters in the vicinity

The United States Maritime Administration has issued an Advisory for vessels sailing to, from, or around Japan in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami. The key points are:

• Vessels avoid transiting within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant at position 37 degrees 19 minutes north, 141 degrees 01 minutes east. 

• Mariners are advised to monitor and comply with NAVTEX and NAVAREA XI warning. Mariners should keep abreast of information being provided by the government of Japan relating to any further potential impacts.

• In the event a vessel bound for a U.S. Port transits within the 50-mile (80 kilometer) precautionary area, the U.S. Coast Guard recommends the vessel's master submit transit information, including the date and total time within the precautionary area, to the cognizant U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port using the comment block of the 96-hour advanced notice of arrival.

Top 10 reasons to attend Shipping 2011

Are you attending the Connecticut Maritime Association's Shipping 2011 conference and exhibition in Stamford, Conn. March 21-23, 2011? No? Perhaps you should reconsider. Need a reason to attend? Here are CMA's top 10 reasons to attend. Full steam ahead!

Top 10 Reasons to attend

1. Superb networking opportunities and plenty of time to conduct business.
2. Topical and valuable conference program with customizable multi-track seminars.
3. Key decision and policy makers in one place, at one time (including our own Coast Guard Commandant, Admiral Bob Papp).
4. Diverse, dynamic and global exhibits showcasing exceptional services, products and innovations.
5. Launch a new product or service to an attentive and knowledgeable audience.
6. Initiate, pursue and accomplish a year's worth of business in just two and a half days- saving time and money!
7. An event put on by the shipping industry for the shipping industry.
8. Located in the midst of the shipping's mind and management for North America. Where decisions are made and business gets done.
9. Creative sponsorship opportunities.
10. If you have not been to one yet, come see for yourself why everyone raves about the CMA.

And a bonus reason to attend CMA Shipping 2011? 

• To meet the Amver staff at booth G-104!

If you can't participate in person there are several ways to stay tuned in. You can follow what's going on via Twitter by searching #cma2011 or you can watch the piracy panel live by accessing the UStream webcast on Tuesday March 22, 2011 at 14:15 Eastern Daylight Time.


Photo credit: Fotolia

What is the Coast Guard doing about piracy?

In case you're wondering what the U.S. Coast Guard is doing about piracy you need look no farther than the official blog of the United States Coast Guard. On Tuesday March 15, 2011 Rear Admiral Kevin Cook, director of Prevention Policy, testified on the piracy issue before the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. Admiral Cook's testimony ranged from piracy to mariner safety. Admiral Cook reiterated the Coast Guard remains committed to helping reduce the threat of piracy.

Read some of the other things we've written on piracy.

You can read Admiral Cook's testimony here.


Photo credit: Fotolia

Welcome Wednesday!

Have you enrolled your vessels in Amver? Why not? Do you prefer to keep your vessels movements off the grid? Between AIS and other vessel tracking schemes your vessels whereabouts are already public. Why participate in Amver if authorities may already know where your ship is? Because the Amver system predicts the location of your ship, has information about your medical crew, and can determine the best vessel to respond. If you want to learn more about Amver take a peek at our video.

Help us welcome the latest members of the Amver search and rescue system. We look forward to having you join us as well!

• VIENNA EXPRESS
• BULGARIA
• GRACEFUL MADONA
• SEAVICTORY
• E. R. BAVARIA
• TOHOKU MARU
• BELUGA FORESIGHT
• MORNING MIRACLE
• ZAMBEZI STAR
• ALASKA SPIRIT
• CHEM LYRA
• STOLT AVANCE
• FS AQUARIUS
• SEAHOPE II
• STAR KINN
• SANKO LYNK
• YASA KAPTAN ERBIL

Don't forget about the Amver podcast, Quarterdeck. You can listen to it here or search iTunes for Quarterdeck.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Atlantic rower rescued by Amver ship

Atlantic rower Victor Mooney was rescued Thursday March 10, 2011 by the Greek Amver ship Norfolk after his boat, Never Give Up, sank 250 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands as he attempted to row from the Cape Verde Islands to New York.

Mr. Mooney, from Queens, New York, was attempting to raise money for AIDS medicines and awareness of voluntary HIV testing.

The captain of the Norfolk said he was notified by rescue authorities in Gris Nez and Dakar to divert and find the rower. Within two hours of receiving the request to divert, a crewman from the Norfolk spotted a flashing light which turned out to be Mr. Mooney in his life raft.

The Norfolk crew immediately started rescue operations and had Mr. Mooney aboard the ship within a few hours of locating him. "He was in good health despite weak legs," reported the Norfolk crew.  The Norfolk, a 288 meter Capesize bulk carrier flying the Cypriot flag, enrolled in the Amver system on Sep. 6, 2002 and has earned eight Amver participation awards. The Norfolk is operated by Diana Shipping of Athens, Greece.

Mooney had been adrift almost two weeks and even sighted another ship which passed by without offering assistance. "I'm blessed to be alive," wrote Mooney from the Norfolk.

Mr. Mooney should arrive in Brazil on Tuesday March 15, 2011 and will return to the United States shortly thereafter.


Photo credit: Fotolia

UPDATE: Pacific Ocean Tsunami Alert

The Philippine Coast Guard has issued a Notice to Mariners regarding the Tsunami Alert for the Pacific Ocean. You can learn more at their website. You can also get the latest tsunami alerts from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

Ships in the Pacific Ocean should take necessary precautions for a Tsunami. What if you're on a boat or ship? Professor Stephen Nelson of Tulane University suggests you move the ship to deep water, at least 100 fathoms, or leave the vessel at the pier and immediately seek higher ground.

The Tsunami Alert was issued after a large earthquake off the coast of Japan.

Photo credit: Fotolia