Connecticut Maritime Association Luncheon

If you live or work in the New York metro area you might want to consider attending today's Connecticut Maritime Time Association luncheon. The guest speaker is James Christodoulou, CEO of Industrial Shipping Enterprise Corporation. He's the guy you saw on television as the piracy expert during the Maersk Alabama incident. Why is he an expert in piracy? Perhaps because Mr. Christodoulou successfully negotiated the release of the M/V Biscaglia. His topic is the human, operational, and financial impact of piracy. It should be an interesting talk.

What? Your not a member of the CMA! Membership (link to pdf) is inexpensive and the networking is priceless (disclaimer- Amver is a member). You can rub elbows with some amazing people at CMA events.

The CMA is taking the luncheon on the road in June to Washington, DC on June 4th at the Army and Navy Club and then back to Connecticut on June 18th where Rear Admiral Allen Worley, Superintendant of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is the scheduled speaker.

What's your best CMA story?

Photo Credit: originally uploaded to Flickr by ilmungo

Welcome Wednesday!

On the heels of a successful Amver awards ceremony in Washington, DC we are happy to bring you the latest list of new Amver participants. Each of these ships have agreed to voluntarily report to the Amver program and, if necessary, divert to assist a fellow mariner in distress. And now, the new participants!

• KWINTEBANK
• GULF CASTLE
• GOLDEN SPIRIT
• PENG HU WAN
• RHONESTERN
• PREM VEENA
• BLUE JADE
• NYK RIGEL
• ASTRANTIA
• HADA
• ORE BAYOVAR
• DREGGEN
• PACIFIC VOYAGER
• GREAT LEADER
• LUKE THOMAS
• MEERKATZE
• CARLA RICKMERS
• PT KOTOR
• CG CHRISCHURCH

Congratulations to the new enrollees. We look forward to having you as part of the Amver family.

Photo Credit: Fotolia

Hail To The NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter

A hat tip to the crew of the NOAA ship Gordon Gunter who sent along this photo of them proudly displaying their Amver pennant.

Pictured from left to right are LTJG Ryan Wattam, LT Hector Casanova, NOAA fisheries biologist Carrie Horton, LCDR Brian Parker, and ENS Michael Robbie.

In the words of the Gunter crew, "Amver, we don't leave port without it!"

Congratulations on earning your Amver pennant and thank you for sending the picture.

What about your ship? If you send us your photo we will be happy to post it to the Amver blog!

Photo credit: crew of the Gordon Gunter

Amver Awards; A Success!

Turnout was great for the first Amver awards ceremony in the United States since the late 1990s. USCG Vice Commandant Vivien Crea, Maritime Administration Acting Deputy Director James Caponiti, Rear Admirals Brian Salerno and Jim Watson, along with USCG Chief of Search and Rescue Captain David McBride and Amver Director Benjamin Strong lent their support to the Amver awards ceremony.



Susan Clark, of the Maritime Administration, sang a verse from the Mariner's Hymn before a moving video was debuted by the Amver system. USCG Vice Admiral Vivien Crea gave a personal and thoughtful address to the attendees.



Amver is proud of the 81 U.S. companies earning Amver awards for their dedication to safety at sea. This dedication is demonstrated not only by their participation but by their call to action.

One of the vessels participating in Amver and called upon to assist was the Maritime Administration's training ship Golden Bear, home ported at the California Maritime Academy, which rescued 2 sailors August 17, 2008.

The Amver ceremony would not have been a success without the involvement of Mr. Will Watson. Thank you, Will, for your efforts in bringing the Amver awards to Washington, DC. In addition to Mr. Watson, sponsors Blank and Rome, Inmarsat, Lockheed Martin, NAMMA, and NAMEPA also helped make the awards a reality. The media sponsors were Lloyd's Register Fairplay and Safety at Sea International.

Thank you to everyone who participated. We look forward to returning to the National Press Club next year!

Photo Credit: USCG photo by Beverly Howard
Video Credit: Video prepared by Beverly Howard

Amver Awards Today In Washington

Are you coming to the U.S. Amver Awards Ceremony in Washington, DC today? Information on the ceremony can be found here. Besides U.S. Amver award recipients guests such as United States Coast Guard Rear Admiral Brian Salerno and United States Coast Guard Vice Commandant Vivien Crea will be attending. Stop by to pay tribute to the many U.S. shipping companies participating in the Amver system dedicated to safety at sea.

See you there!

Amver Podcast On MadMariner

Interested in learning more about the Amver system? Check out Mad Mariner's web site for a link to the Amver podcast and hear all about our search and rescue system.

Do you have a podcast or website? Would you like to learn how Amver saves lives or uses commercial ships to coordinate rescues at sea? Drop a line to Benjamin Strong for interview or speaking requests. Amver is always happy to share stories of how search and rescue authorities can increase their search capabilities with Amver.

Did you listen to the interview? Tell us what you think!

Photo Credit: Fotolia

Welcome Wednesday!

Despite changes in vessel tracking technology shipping companies recognize the value of enrolling in, and reporting to, Amver. As technologies do improve and provide a clearer picture of what is out on the water Amver remains relevant. In fact, Amver contributes to search and rescue by often identifying vessels not otherwise tracked. Don't look for Amver to disappear anytime soon. Now, this week's newest Amver members.

• FOUR KITAKAMI
• ASPASIA LEMOS
• PATRIOTIC
• MARGRETHE MAERSK
• MANDARIN GLORY
• NEW PROSPECT
• DISCOVERER CLEAR LEADER
• AGRARI
• MEDI DUBLIN
• HILDA KNUTSEN
• MSC ANDES
• NORTHERN SPIRIT
• TSUNOMINE
• ITAL OTTIMA
• GAN-VENTURE
• NYK MARIA
• DORRA
• SABRINA EXPRESS
• KING BRIAN
• ATHINA
• PERSEUS
• UACC IBN AL HAITHAM
• ALONA
• MARILENA

Would you like to enroll your vessels in Amver but you don't know how? Read our previous post on how to enroll your ships and your vessel's names will be highlighted in an upcoming Welcome Wednesday post.

Photo credit: Fotolia