Dramatic video of Amver rescue of lone yachtsman

The Amver participating box ship Kuala Lumpur Express rescued a lone sailor 450 miles southeast of Cape Cod, Mass., on Monday, June 2, 2014.

Rescue authorities at the US Coast Guard First District received a report from Canadian rescue personnel of a 42-foot Belgian flagged sailboat with one person onboard. The sailor departed Newfoundland on May 27 enroute to Belgium and had been providing regular updates to a friend. The sailor's last report was that his boat was taking on water and felt like it "... was breaking up," so the friend immediately sought assistance.

US personnel launched a rescue aircraft and, using the Amver system, requested the German flagged ship to assist in the rescue. According to a Coast Guard rescue pilot, "Once on scene we saw that the sails were torn, she was dead in the water and was not responding on the radio."

The Kuala Lumpur Express was in communications with the rescue aircraft and raised some concerns about risk to the crew if their rescue boat was deployed. Waves were heavy swells more than 20 feet with 40 knot winds. The conditions were dangerous but the master of the Amver ship maneuvered upwind and upswell to create a lee, then deployed the rescue boat. "We were surprised how small the rescue boat was," the aircraft pilot added.

You can see in the video the challenges the crew of the Kuala Lumpur Express faced when they rescued the sailor.

Can't see the video? Click here.

"In all, I was very impressed by the skill and professionalism of the captain and crew of the Kuala Lumpur Express, and they undertook this lifesaving mission at great risk to themselves. Without their heroic action the solo sailor would likely not have been recovered," said  Coast Guard Commander Lance Isakson.

The sailor was not suffering from any injuries and was taken to the ship's next port of call in France. The Kuala Lumpur  Express, managed by Hapag-Lloyd of Hamburg, Germany, enrolled in Amver on June 3, 2008 and has earned five Amver participation awards.

Photo credit: marrinetraffic.com
Video credit: USCG

Welcome Wednesday!

Seventeen more vessels have enrolled in Amver. That is seventeen more opportunities for people to be rescued at sea. We can't thank these crews and companies enough for dedicating themselves to the extra effort of reporting to Amver and making themselves available for search and rescue. Help us welcome them to the Amver network. If you aren't part of this amazing search and rescue community, consider joining.

• ELIZABETH A. MCCALL
• HANJIN NAMU
• ARIES LEADER
• BRAD DARTEZ
• ULSAN EXPRESS
• GOLDEN AVENUE
• GOLDEN ADVENTURE
• CIELO DI GAETA
• BOW TRIBUTE
• SAILING SKY
• WEDELLSBORG
• WARINSART
• ASTERIX
• CAMELLIA DREAM
• MARAN GAS EFESSOS
• ASIA RUBY II
• SILVER MONIKA

Photo credit: Fotolia

Welcome Wednesday!

Take a peek at what ships enrolled in the Amver system this week. Twelve ships have committed to saving lives at sea. Is your ship listed? If not, consider joining the Amver network and helping us ensure no call for help goes unanswered.

• GOLDENEYE
• AM ZENICA
• HOPA I
• JOHANN OLDENDORFF
• MORNING PRIDE
• QMS DELTA
• SMEW
• CLEAN OCEAN
• COREBEST OL
• AMAZON WARRIOR
• NY TRADER I
• GEO CORAL

Photo credit: Fotolia

Amver tanker rescues sailor with medical condition

The Amver participating tanker Leni P rescued a 26-year-old sailor with possible appendicitis from a sailboat 750 miles northeast of Bermuda on Monday, May 26, 2014.

French rescue authorities received a distress call from the sailboat Piccolo II reporting a crew member was suffering from severe abdominal pains.

French authorities contacted U.S Coast Guard rescue personnel who consulted with a flight surgeon who agreed with the French doctor's recommendation of a medevac. Using the Amver system, the Leni P was located 80 miles away and agreed to divert and embark the ill sailor.

The Leni P arrived on scene reporting weather conditions a bit rough with waves of six to 10 feet and 15 knot winds. The tanker launched their small boat to safely complete the rescue. The sailor was taken to sick bay and the Leni P continued on its journey to the Azores where the sailor was transferred to medical personal.

The Leni P, managed by Marine Trust of Athens, Greece, enrolled in the Amver system on October 19, 2012.

Photo credit: marinetraffic.com

Welcome Wednesday!

It's been a busy week at Amver. Your participation and willingness to rescue those in peril at sea is obvious in the lives saved this week. Thank you. If you haven't enrolled, consider the example set by the ships listed below.

• REGAL PRINCESS
• LEO VOYAGER
• FALMOUTH BAY
• MARAN GAS POSIDONIA
• CAP SAN MALEAS
• CRESTY
• GLOBAL VISION
• GOLDEN DAISY
• ALKYONI SB
• IVS KESTREL
• BUSY BEE
• HONG SHENG 6
• BOURBON HIMALYA
• YOZAN
• NORDIC ALIANCA
• DENISE A. BOUCHARD
• ALBERT
• MONOIKOS
• ATLANTIC FIR

Photo credit: Fotolia

Amver participating cruise ship saves 2 Cubans

The U.S. Coast Guard was notified by the Amver participating cruise ship Carnival Victory that the ship's crew had rescued two Cuban migrants from a rustic raft taking on water approximately 53 miles southwest of Key West, Fla., on Sunday, May 25, 2014.

The crew of the Carnival Victory located the raft and launched a motor life boat to embark the duo without incident or injury. The ship's crew checked the survivors for injury and notified Coast Guard officials who requested the Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell meet the cruise ship to transfer the migrants.

Here is video of the rescue:



 Can't see the video? Click here.

The Panamanian flagged Carnival Victory enrolled in Amver on August 5, 2014 and has earned 12 Amver participation awards.

Video credit: YouTube via Amy Lester

Amver tanker rescues three yachtsmen off North Carolina

The Amver participating tanker Bow Clipper rescued three yachtsmen after their sailboat was beset by weather more than 300 miles off the coast of North Carolina on Thursday, May 22, 2014.

Rescue personnel at the U.S. Coast Guard command center in Portsmouth, Va., received notification from the 41-foot sailboat Elusive that the boat had sustained significant damage during a storm and it was too windy to fly the main sail, the jib was ripped and the crew was attempting to repair a broken belt on the engine. The sailboat crew reported winds of 35 knots and 25-foot waves.

Rescue authorities queried the Amver system and located the Norwegian flagged tanker near the sailboat. The captain of the Bow Clipper agreed to change course and assist the sailboat. The Bow Clipper was able to coordinate the rescue efforts with the sailboat using marine radio communications.

The crew of the Bow Clipper safely embarked the three sailors and attempted to take the boat in tow but the tow broke in the severe weather. The three sailors were in good health and spirits and the Bow Clipper was taking them to their next port call.

The Bow Clipper, managed by Odfjell Management of Norway, enrolled in the Amver system on July 17, 1995 and has earned eighteen Amver participation awards.

Photo credit: marinetraffic.com