Once more the
International Propeller Club of the United States, International Port of Piraeus in cooperation with the United States Embassy of the Hellenic Republic and the United States Coast Guard organized the
Amver Awards ceremony.
The ceremony took place at the Athenaeum Intercontinental Hotel on October 13, 20011, among 880 members of the maritime community. One hundred thirty six Greek controlled shipping companies received 94 awards on behalf of 944 vessels participating in the Amver system.
The President of the Propeller Club, Mr. Antonios Stamos Faraklas and the Deputy Chief of Mission, Mrs. Virginia Lynn Bennet of the United States Embassy of American to the Hellenic Republic, welcomed guests. The President remarked "We need to work together, owners and seafarers to achieve the common goals of safety at sea. During these times of world crisis, which has not left shipping untouched, by joining the Amver program you assist our common target, providing safety for the seafarer".
Hope dies last
Secretary General, Mr. Theodoros Kontes, Ceremony coordinator, invited the immediate past President of the Propeller Club and President of Intercargo, Mr. Nicky Pappadakis, who was presented by the President, the Propeller Club Special Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding services to the Greek and International Shipping community. Mr. Pappadakis thanked the Propeller Club for the award and said "Hope dies last, and many thought they were dead before being rescued by a ship in the Amver scheme, emphasizing the importance of the Amver program."
The representative of the United States Coast Guard, Read Admiral James Watson, Director of Prevention Policy for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship said he had never seen so many Amver participants and reflected on the fact that of the 5,742 participants in the Amver search and rescue system "In any one day an average of 4,000 ships worldwide are available to save lives". "So far 265 lives have been save this year," Admiral Watson added.
Governor Vasileios Mantzavinos announced the Amver Awards which were presented by Rear Admiral Watson, DCM Mrs. Virginia Lynn Bennet, with top receiving companies Tsakos Shipping and Trading with 53 awards. Mr. George Anomeritis, President of OLD and CEO, Vice Admiral of the Hellenic Coast Guard announced the Amver awards which were presented by Coast Guard Rear Admiral James Watson, DCM, Mrs. Virginia Lynn Bennet, with top receiving award company, Tsakos Shipping and Trading with 53 awards.
Mr. George Anomeritis, President of OLP and CEO, Vice Admiral of the Hellenic Coast Guard, Mr. Constaninos Soulis, Secretary General of Safety and Navigation Mr. Athanasios Christopoulos, Secretary General of Shipping, Mr. Nikolaos Litinas, Secretary General and Port and Port Policy Mr. Athanassios Pallis, Mr. John Plakiotakis, New Democracy Political Party responsible for the shipping domain, Second Vice President of the International Propeller Club Mr. Markos Foros, Dr. John Coustas, Chairman of HELMEPA were all on hand.
Following Mr. Dimitrios J. Fafalios, Propeller Club, Maritime Committee Coordinator, referred to the heavy artillery of Greece, namely Merchant Shipping and its contributions to Libyan evacuation and announced the Special Propeller Club Rescue Awards.
Honored by their presence, Captain Panayiotis Tsakos, Found of the Tsakos Group, H.E. Baizan Walter, Embassy of Malta, Mr. Rolle Davy, Bahamas Maritime Authority, Mr. Dalakas Aristidis, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (Class NK), Mr. Houlirakis from ABS.
Also present were the Assistant U.S. Navy Attaché, CDR Jonathan Schwartz, Deputy Counselor for Economic Affairs Daniel Ross, U.S. Embassy.
Attended by Messrs: Mr. Elias Tsaokos Entrust Maritime, Mr. Apostolos Dougak, Regional Vice President of the Propeller Club for Northern Europe and Africa, Mrs. Despina Foros Tsirozidis, Second Vice President of the Propeller Club, Mr.s Katerina Kalafatides, Mr. Gregory Timagenis, First Vice President of the Propeller Club, mr. V. Katratozos, Mr. Zorbalas, Mr. Vasileious Koutentakis, Mr. K. Rokkos, Mr. I Perantinos Atlantic Bulk Carriers, mr. D. Patrikios General Manager of Springfield Shipping, Mr. S. Bertilone a RINA Regional Manager for Greece and Mr. S. Zolotas Head of RINA- Piraeus, Mr. K. Koutsoubellis Excel Maritime, Mr. D. Constantinou and C. Constantinou, Managing Director Moore Stephens Greece and Board member of the Propeller Club, Mr. F. Teissier Managing Director of Bureau Veritas, Mr. Alex Tomazos Warstilla Group, Mr. Poulovassillis Lloyds Register, representatives of DNV, Danaos Shipping Company Ltd, Kassian Maritime, Cayman Registry, Mrs. Lemou, members and friends of the Propeller Club.
GOLD
SPONSORS
TSAKOS
COLUMBIA SHIPMANAGEMENT ("TCM") S.A.
ABS
EUROPE Ltd.
CLASS NK
SILVER
SPONSORS
MARYVILLE
MARITIME INC
MARFIN EGNATIA BANK
MOORE STEPHENS CHARTERED
ACCOUNTANTS
CHARTWORLD SHIPPING CORPORATION & MAJESTIC
INTERNATIONAL CRUISES
THE BAHAMAS MARITIME AUTHORITY
BRONZE
SPONSORS
HELLENIC
LlOYD'S SA
OLP
DELTASKY CONGRESS & TOURS LLC
RBS
VIP
COCTAIL SPONSORS
WARTSILA
CASS
TECHNAVA
DNV
RECEPTION-OPEN
BAR
THE MARSHALL
ISLANDS REGISTRY
CHEVRON
A.P&A Group of Companies
SEVERN
TRENT DE NORA
REGISTRATION
SPONSOR
BUREAU
VERITAS
HOSPITALITY
SPONSOR
INTERCONTINENTAL
HOTEL
AMVER
NEWSLETTER
RINA
Congratulations to all those who earned Amver awards in 2010 and thank you to the sponsors, the Propeller Club Port of Piraeus, to the Greek maritime community, and to the men and woman who go to sea. All of you help contribute to safety at sea and ensure no call for help goes unanswered.
Photo credit: Propeller Club, Port of Piraeus
