UPDATE: Amver ship rescues 2 Canadians near Bermuda

The Amver participant, SMT Bontrup, rescued 2 Canadian sailors after one of them suffered a medical emergency on their sailboat approximately 260 miles northwest of Bermuda.

The SMT Bontrup, managed by SMT Ship Management and Transport of Limassol, Cyprus, embarked the two sailors and were met by U.S. Coast Guard officials in Portland, Maine on Saturday, December 15, 2012.

 Coast Guard Captain Christopher Roberge presented an Amver pennant and certificate of appreciation to the captain and crew of the SMT Bontrup.

Photo credit: USCG submitted photo

Pacific sailor rescued by Amver ship Global Explorer

The sailing vessel Makalii and life raft adrift near Palmyra, Atoll.

Yachtsman James Blackford was rescued from his damaged sailboat on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 approximately 85 miles northwest of Palmyra, Atoll.

Blackford was sailing his 60 foot boat, the S/V Makalii, when it lost its mast and began taking on water near the tiny Pacific atoll. He activated his 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacon which alerted U.S. Coast Guard rescue personnel in Honolulu. Rescue authorities immediately sent a rescue aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point and diverted the Amver participating bulk carrier Global Explorer.

The rescue aircraft arrived on scene and dropped survival equipment and a radio to Blackford who was riding out the rough weather in his life raft. Weather conditions on scene were reported to be  heavy rain with rough seas and high winds from the east.

The Cayman Island flagged bulk carrier, Global Explorer, arrived on scene and reported to the Coast Guard that it was too dangerous to attempt a rescue at night and they would continue to monitor Blackford and try to rescue him in the morning. At 9:00 am the crew of the Global Explorer was able to hoist him aboard the ship uninjured.

The Global Explorer, managed by Misuga Kaiun Company of Japan, enrolled in the Amver system on August 31, 1997 and has earned 12 Amver participation awards.

Photo credit: USCG photo

 

Amver ship rescues 2 Canadians near Bermuda

Two Canadian sailors are safely aboard the Amver  participating ship SMT Bontrup after requiring medical evacuation from their 34 foot sloop 260 miles northwest of Bermuda on Wednesday, December 12, 2012.

The sailboat Chessa was headed towards Bermuda when one of the 65 year old Canadian sailors became ill. His partner contacted U.S. Coast Guard rescue authorities in Norfolk, Va. requesting assistance. "He passed out," stated the yachtsman about his sailing companion, "and a strong front is coming over and we are in the low."

The SMT Bontrup, a 656 foot bulk carrier, was sailing from Maracaibo, Venezuela when they were contacted by Coast Guard rescue personnel about the distress. Captain Krzysztof Szwed immediately agreed to divert and assist the sailors.

Three hours after the initial notification, Captain Szwed had the Bahamian Island flagged ship alongside the sloop and began hoisting the sailors aboard. "The first survivor was lifted on board because he could not walk on his legs," the Captain said in an email update to the Coast Guard, "the ship's crew is keeping a vigil by the survivor's cabin."

After a meal aboard the ship both survivors were feeling better and able to contact their families by satellite phone. The SMT Bontrup is sailing to Portland, Maine where the survivors will be met by Customs officials. The SMT Bontrup, managed by SMT Ship Management and Transport of Limassol, Cyprus, enrolled in Amver on January 1, 1979 and has earned 22 Amver awards for participation.

Photo credit: marinetraffic.com

Welcome Wednesday!

We're in the final stretch of 2012. What a year it has been. From the 100th anniversary of the sinking of Titanic to the sinking of the Baltic Ace, this has been a maritime year to remember. Thankfully our Amver partners have continued to support safety at sea. Another 21 vessels enrolled in Amver in the past week. Thank you for continuing to ensure no call for help goes unanswered. We look forward to seeing many of you in 2013!

• APL PARIS
• CARNIVAL BREEZE
• CLIPPER AMBER
• DARANEE NAREE
• DESH SHOBHA
• DINO CHOUEST
• DOBONSOLO
• HYUNDAI MIPO 2346
• HYUNDAI OAKLAND
• IOLCOS HARMONY
• KAAN KALKAVAN
• KING RICE
• MARATHA PRUDENCE
• NATICINA
• NS ENERGY
• PENNY MAE
• POS OVELIA
• SAM LION
• TEXAS
• TRITON
• YUMETAMOU

Photo credit: Fotolia

Amver ship assists ill sailor in the Atlantic

A Swedish sailor aboard a 34 foot catamaran can breathe a sigh of relief after being rescued by the Amver participating ship, Hansa Visby, after experiencing a medical emergency 1,475 miles south east of Bermuda on Thursday November 29, 2012.

The 44 year old male aboard the sailboat Ipixuna contacted local rescue authorities in Gris Nez who then contacted U.S. Coast Guard rescue personnel. The U.S. Coast Guard ran an Amver Surface Picture (SURPIC) and located the 511 foot general cargo ship Hansa Visby 175 miles away from the sailboat and sailing in its direction.  The sailboat, cargo ship, and Coast Guard authorities maintained a two hour communications schedule.

The Hansa Visby, managed by Leonhardt and Blumberg of Hamburg, Germany, arrived on scene and lowered a harness down the pilot ladder. The sick yachtsman from the Ipixuna climbed aboard the cargo ship from a small tender. His brother joined him aboard the ship. The crew of the Hansa Visby provided medical attention to the ill sailor while continuing on their journey to Suriname.

The Hansa Visby enrolled in Amver on January 1, 1989 and has earned 20 Amver Awards for participation.

Photo credit: marinetraffic.com

Welcome Wednesday!

What's the benefit of enrolling in Amver? Besides earning Amver awards, your participation increases the likelihood search and rescue professionals will find a ship near a distress location. That is the difference between life and death for a seafarer. Isn't that reason enough? Help us welcome the latest members of the Amver network, committed to ensuring no call for help goes unanswered.

• AMAZON
• BIANCO VICTORIA BULKER
• BOW DALIAN
• CAPE SEAGULL
• COLORADO
• CREST NAVIGATOR
• E.R. BERN
• GLOVIS MAESTRO
• HERODOTUS
• JENNY MCCALL
• KEY SPRING
• KISHORE
• KORSARO
• MAINLAND
• MANDARIN NOBLE
• MELL STAMFORD
• PATAGONIA
• SAHAM
• SIRA
• TAQAH
• TIMUCIN A
• TINI
• WESTERN KOBE

Photo credit: Fotolia

Amver awards in Dubai

We're just back from a visit to Seatrade Middle East Maritime where we had the pleasure of presenting a host of Amver awards to our Middle Eastern Amver partners in a regional awards ceremony.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates were represented in a ceremony recognizing 26 companies and over 100 vessels. If you don't think the shipping sector in the Middle East is large consider this, there was a combined 688 years of continued service to Amver represented at the ceremony!

The ceremony was a fantastic way to recognize the Middle Eastern shipping community's dedication to safety at sea and we look forward to hosting an even larger ceremony at Seatrade Middle East Maritime in 2014.

Congratulations to all the award recipients!

Photos of the event are available here.

Photo credit: Beverly Howard