Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Welcome Wednesday!

As the world of shipping gears up for Posidonia don't forget about the thousands of seafarers enrolling in Amver and sailing the world's oceans. We are looking forward to catching up with many of you in Athens and hope you'll continue to support global search and rescue. Help us welcome the latest participants.

  • DALIAN NO 2 C3900-1
  • NAVIGATOR ATLAS
  • THALASSA AVRA
  • ATLANTIC BULKER
  • PRT FUTURE
  • BANDAI V
  • GOLAR CRYSTAL
  • SILVER GINNY
  • ZOBRAS
  • HOS CAPTAIN
  • ARGENT EYEBRIGHT
Photo credit: Fotolia

Thursday, May 22, 2014

National Maritime Day 2014

Today we celebrate National Maritime Day in the United States. It's a day to recognize the effort and dedication of US Merchant Mariners. Many US ships participate in the Amver program and we will recognize them at a ceremony tonight. Here is the text of a Presidential Proclamation recognizing National Maritime Day.




NATIONAL MARITIME DAY, 2014
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
America's open seas have long been a source of prosperity and strength, and since before our Nation's founding, the men and women of the United States Merchant Marine have defended them. From securing Atlantic routes during the naval battles of the Revolutionary War to supplying our Armed Forces around the world in the 21st century and delivering American goods to overseas markets in times of peace, they have always played a vital role in our Nation's success. During National Maritime Day, we celebrate this proud history and salute the mariners who have safeguarded our way of life.
Today's Merchant Marine upholds its generations-long role as our "fourth arm of defense." Yet they also go beyond this mission, transporting food where there is hunger and carrying much-needed supplies to those in distress. Thanks to our dedicated mariners, people around the world continue to see the American flag as a symbol of hope.
To create middle-class jobs and maintain our leading position in an ever-changing world, we must provide new marketplaces for our businesses to compete. As we expand commerce, we do so with confidence that the United States Merchant Marine will keep our supply lines secure. Because just as America's workers and innovators can rise to any challenge, our mariners have demonstrated time and again that they can meet any test. Today, let us reaffirm our support for their essential mission.
The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933, has designated May 22 of each year as "National Maritime Day," and has authorized and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation calling for its appropriate observance.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 22, 2014, as National Maritime Day. I call upon the people of the United States to mark this observance and to display the flag of the United States at their homes and in their communities. I also request that all ships sailing under the American flag dress ship on that day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.
BARACK OBAMA 

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Welcome Wednesday!

We're proud that an additional 20 vessels have enrolled in Amver this week. The crews of these vessels put themselves in harms way to ensure no call for help goes unanswered at sea. Is your vessel enrolled? There's no cost, reports are straightforward and the benefits are rewarding. You might save a life. Help us welcome the latest members.

  • OSHIMA MARU
  • PATARA
  • GOLDEN RUBY
  • INTERLINK VERITY
  • NANTUCKET
  • T SYMPHONY
  • COAL PEARL
  • XING YANG 7
  • OCEAN JOY
  • SIEM SPEARFISH
  • STI METRAUX
  • GLOBAL VEGA
  • PRAVIT TIDE
  • INDEPENDENCE
  • JIANGMEN NANYANG 134
  • NSU OBELISK
  • PACIFIC AVENGER
  • CAPT. FRANK MOODY
  • CARL SCHULTE
  • AFRICAN DOVE
Photo credit: Fotolia

Monday, May 19, 2014

COSCO Amver ship rescues injured sailor near Puerto Rico

The Amver participating COSCO bulk carrier Shan Hai rescued an injured sailor 283 miles north east of Fajardo, Puerto Rico on Thursday, May 8, 2014.

Rescue authorities in San Juan received a call from the Coast Guard District Seven command center reporting a vessel was requesting an immediate medical evacuation of a crew member suffering from injuries related to a fall down a hatch.

Rescue personnel in San Juan queried the Amver system and diverted the People's Republic of China flagged ship which was only 72 miles from the distress position. The captain of the 623-foot ship immediately agreed to divert and assist.

The Amver ship was able to safely transfer the patient from the 43-foot sailboat and diverted towards a rendezvous position to meet a U.S. Coast Guard rescue helicopter. The helicopter, from Air Station Elizabeth City, met the Shan Hai, hoisted the survivor and transferred him to medical personnel at Isla Grand airport, Puerto Rico.

The Shan Hai, managed by COSCO Bulk Carrier Company, enrolled in Amver on October 29, 1998.

Photo credit: marinetraffic.com

Friday, May 16, 2014

Amver cruise ship rescues 39 migrants

The Amver participating cruise ship Carnival Dream rescued 39 Cuban migrants in a nighttime rescue on Thursday, May 8, 2014 39 miles south of Little Cayman Island.

Passengers captured video of 35 male and five female migrants waving their hands and blowing whistles to get the attention of the cruise ship crew. You can hear the survivors yelling "Cubano" and flashing a light to the passengers on the Carnival Dream.

The crew of the Panamanian flagged Carnival Dream embarked the migrants, checked them for injuries and provided food. The  cruise ship was able to rendezvous with the a U.S. Coast Guard cutter to transfer the migrants.



Can't see the video? Click here.

The Carnival Dream enrolled in the Amver system on June 27, 2010 and has earned four Amver participation awards.

Photo credit: marinetraffic.com
Video credit: Dustin Burke via YouTube

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Welcome Wednesday!

Let's take a moment and welcome the latest ships enrolled in the Amver system. Why do they join? Perhaps the crew learned about Amver in a maritime academy. Maybe they simply want to ensure they will be rescued if an emergency develops at sea. Maybe they rescued someone in the past. Regardless of the reason, we're glad you made the decision to ensure no call for help goes unanswered.

  • VEGA LIBRA
  • CRANE OCEANO
  • SCOTAIN SEA
  • LUKIANOS
  • PACIFIC TENACITY
  • DIMI
  • LA DONNA I
  • STAR LYSEFJORD
  • HARMONIOUS
  • HOS BLACK FOOT
  • HOEGH JACKSONVILLE
  • ORATORIO
  • NAVIOS MERCURY
  • BULK ATACAMA
  • JULIA OLDENDORFF
  • JIM DAVIS
  • APL SENTOSA
  • KAYA MANX
Photo credit: Fotolia

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Welcome Wednesday!

Who joined Amver this week? Take a look at the 16 new ships enrolling in our global search and rescue network. These seafarers, and their companies, have made the extra commitment to safety at sea. Will you join them? In the meantime, help us welcome the latest members.

  • LEDA MAERSK
  • CAPE ENDEAVOUR
  • CELEBES CLOVER
  • BA HE CHUAN
  • NOBLE SAM CROFT
  • SILVER ESTHER
  • MIKA MANX
  • MOL QUINTET
  • TIMBALIER ISLAND
  • ALMA
  • GO PEGASUS
  • MORNING POST
  • DINA ALLIANCE
  • MSC AMALFI
  • LEVERKUSEN EXPRESS
  • CRANE OCEANO
Photo credit: Fotolia

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Amver bulk carrier rescues 20 near South Africa

The Amver participant Navios Northern Star recently notified the Amver center they had rescued 20 fishermen off the coast of South Africa after their fishing vessel began taking on water and sank on Saturday, April 26, 2014.

Captain Klunnikov Andrey reportedly received a distress alert from the fishing vessel Starfish that it was flooding and the crew was abandoning ship. The Maltese flagged bulker was only 20 miles from the sinking fishing vessel and immediately diverted to assist.

The captain of the 738 foot ship notified rescue authorities in South Africa, raised the rescue alarm, mustered a rescue team and prepared a first aid team. 

Two hours after receiving the initial distress, the Navios Northern Star was on scene and throwing rescue lines to the fishing vessel's survival raft. Twenty minutes later all the fishermen were safely aboard the Amver ship. Captain Klunnikov reported all the survivors were accounted for and uninjured. 

The Navios Northern Star sailed to Port Elizabeth to disembark the survivors. The Navios Northern Star, managed by Kleimar NV of Antwerp, Belgium, enrolled in Amver on August 5, 2005.

Photo credit: marinetraffic.com