Tsunami debris a possible risk to Amver ships

Here is an interesting report from MSNBC about the possible threat to shipping and the U.S. Coast from the large swath of debris washed out in the Pacific Ocean after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. This could also pose a risk to Amver ships transiting the Pacific. Have you encountered any debris?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Welcome Wednesday!

We never cease to be amazed by the numbers of vessels enrolling in the Amver system. Another 61 ships have agreed to divert, to make themselves available in time of need, to possibly save a life. We appreciate this dedication to safety at sea. Help us welcome the latest members of the Amver safety network.

• AQUA VENTURE
• ARDENNE VENTURE
• ARMADA TUAH 101
• ATHENA
• ATLANTIC PROGRESS
• BEIJING VENTURE
• BON ACCORD
• BULK ECUADOR
• CAPE ASIA
• CAPE MANILA
• CAPE VICTORY
• CS CALLA
• DALIAN VENTURE
• DAMAS VICTORY
• DN MILLET
• EASTERN JADE
• EKULO CHEYENNE
• EKULO TORNADO 5601
• ELAND
• ENERGY
• FLAMINA
• FLORES PALM
• FORTUNATO
• GRAND AMANDA
• HANJIN HINASE
• HD PRIDE
• IKAN PARANG
• INCE ILGAZ
• INDUSTRIAL FREEDOM
• JANICE N
• JASA SETIA
• JAVA PALM
• KALIBOBO SPIRIT
• KOTA CARUM
• L/B MYRTLE
• LARA VENTURE
• LAS TORTOLAS
• LONDON TRADER
• MARIA V. LIVANOS
• MOL GRANDEUR
• MOONLIGHT VENTURE
• NADINE VENTURE
• NCC NASMA
• NEW VENTURE
• OCEAN HAWK
• OOCL CANADA
• ORANGE STARS
• PAC BANDA
• PAC DUBHE
• PAC NATUNA
• SEA PIONEER
• SEA VOYAGER
• SPAR CORONA
• SULAWESI PALM
• SUVRETTA
• TRINITY GLORY
• TUMINI
• TURMOIL
• VENTURE SPIRIT
• WESTERN MOSCOW
• ZUIDERKRUIS

Why hasn't your ship enrolled yet?

Photo credit: Fotolia

Amver Awards in Greece

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

Welcome Wednesday!

Who enrolled in Amver in the past week? Take a look. Another 23 ships have agreed to assist when needed and we are grateful for their dedication to safety at sea. Perhaps your ship is listed below. If not, this is how easy it is to join Amver. In the meantime help us welcome the latest participants.

• AL SHEEHANIYA
• ALTE WESER
• ATHINA L
• BBC HUDSON
• BETTY PFANKUCH
• BORONIA K
• CONTI LAPISLAZULI
• DEEP STIM BRASIL I
• DIAMOND WIND
• DREAM JASMINE
• FOUR BUTTERFLY
• GAZ SYNERGY
• GOLDEN UNITY
• IVS MAGPIE
• KOTA RANCAK
• L/B KAYD
• MAERSK BATAM
• MALANJE
• MARIA M
• NAKOLO
• PARTAWATI
• SFL KATE
• SONGA ECLIPSE

Don't forget, we want to hear your rescue stories. Will you share them with us?

Photo credit: Fotolia

We want to hear from you

Do you sail on an Amver ship? Have you rescued someone at sea? We want to hear from you. Share your stories with us and the rest of the Amver audience. Write your story and email it to us here. This is your chance to tell the world how you contribute to safety at sea.

Are you a shipping company? Why not submit a story of heroism from one of your crews or ships? Perhaps you are the Propeller Club, why not solicit your members for rescue stories?

We'll publish what we receive here for the rest of the world to read. It's time to celebrate shipping and the good works of Amver!

Photo credit: Fotolia

Propeller Club, Port of Piraeus hosts annual Amver awards

It's that time of year again. Time for the illuminati of shipping to pack into the Intercontinental Hotel in Athens for the annual Propeller Club, Port of Piraeus Amver awards dinner. Tonight hundreds will gather to celebrate safety at sea and a  tradition of seamanship that is unrivaled.

Over 940 Greek ships will be recognized tonight. It's certainly a party that's not to be missed. 

Congratulations to the Greek Amver award recipients! Thank you for your continued support.

Συγχαρητήρια στην Ελληνική αποδέκτες βραβείο AMVER!

Welcome Wednesday!

It's time to take a moment and welcome the latest members of the Amver safety network. Another 43 ships enrolled in Amver in the past week. We're thankful for their dedication to maritime safety and encourage you to take a few moments and do the same. It's easy to enroll today! Now, help us welcome the latest ships!

• AENEAS
• ANDES
• ANKE
• AQUA VISION
• ARCTIC DUCHESS
• BUDDY
• C. S. STAR
• CAPE JACARANDA
• CATHARINA BULKER
• CATTLEYA ACE
• CLAN VIII
• CMB KRISTINE
• DESERT CONDOR
• DOMINA
• DRAKES MOON
• GAS HAGI
• IRIS ACE
• KAPTAN ARIF BAYRAKTAR
• KING HAROLD
• MAGNATE
• MARE PICENUM
• MERCURY ACE
• NAVIGATOR LEO
• NCC DANAH
• NIKI C
• PACORA
• PERUVIAN EXPRESS
• PETROZAVODSK
• PHOENIX BEACON
• PILAR
• POS TANSANIT
• SEABULK NEBRASKA
• SEAMERIDIAN
• SHANTI
• SKANDI SINGAPORE
• TAURUS
• TENO
• TRANS PACIFIC 5
• TUBUL
• UNISON
• UNISON EVER
• UNIVERSAL PIONEER
• VALE RIO DE JANEIRO

Photo credit: Fotolia