Trust

The foundation of Amver is trust. Commercial shipping companies trust we won't compromise their vessel movements, rescue authorities trust we will share accurate information with them, and mariners trust we will save them when they are in distress.

There is an interesting new book, authored by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith, called Trust Agents. The book focuses on marketing and relationship building. Want to learn more? Check out their Trust Agents fan page. What does that have to do with Amver? Amver is in the business of relationship building. We trust you will enroll your ships, you trust us with your vessel information.

At Amver we work hard to use the internet to expand our network, increase participation, and share valuable search and rescue data. We have this incredible product, the Amver surface picture, that we want international search and rescue authorities to request.

Do you trust us?

Photo credit: uploaded to Flickr by yewenyi

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• Trust Agents - A Real Life Case Study (cc-chapman.com)

A Satisfied Customer

Amver received this email from the survivor of a recent case off Bermuda. It's humbling to read this story and we thought we would share it with you. From Mr. Dave Hall:

From: Dave Hall
Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 3:47 PM
To: Amver
Subject: Maelstrom

Hi,
I was the skipper/owner of Maelstrom a British built Camper and Nicholson 33.
On 20th June 09 we were dismasted at position 40deg05'N 54deg18'W. The incident was caused by the catastrophic failure of a 15mm thick stainless steel rod that connected the Starboard chain plate to the cap shroud through deck fitting. This pulled away leaving a hole in the deck and the mast sheared away at deck level. It crashed into the Port side of the hull. I have attached pictures and a copy of the log.
We set of the "SPOT" at approximately 1330 and were plucked from our waterlogged sailboat at 2330 by the Astro-Saturn. The captain of the tanker informed us that he had been contacted by the coastguard in Norfolk using Amver and being relatively close by, had steamed to our position. Maelstrom was taking on water at a substantial rate because of damage to her deck and hull and it was doubtful if she could have remained a hazard to navigation for long after we abandoned her.
I'll never be able to thank you and your staff sufficiently for coordinating our successful rescue. The next time I am in Little Creek I would cherish the opportunity to thank you all personally.
Thank goodness for AMVER. Dave Hall

From the logbook:

DISMASTED

THE SOLID STAINLESS STEEL BAR THAT JOINED THE STBD SHROUD AND LOWER TO THE FRAME OF HER HULL HAD PULLED APART AT THE LOWER THREAD ADJUSTER. THIS BAR IS 5/8’’ 16mm THICK YET IT HAD SNAPPED A CLEAN BREAK NOT A FAILURE THROUGH CORROSION.

AS THE MAST WENT OVER TO PORT IT SHEARED OFF AT DECK LEVEL AND SMASHED DOWN ON THE PORT RAIL. THE RAIL JOIN SUFFERED THE FULL IMPACT WITH CRACKS IN THE HULL EXTENDING WELL BELLOW THE WATER LINE.

OVER 1100 MILES OUT IN MID ATLANTIC, NO MAST –HOLED TAKING ON WATER. WHAT TO DO?

MAELSTROM PROBABLY SANK AS SHE WAS TAKING ON WATER AS FAST AS WE COULD PUMP OUT. I DIDN’T SEE HER GO DOWN BUT A FULL STORM HIT THAT NIGHT SO WITH HER SO LOW IN THE WATER AND HAVING TWO GAPING HOSES IN HER DECK? WHO KNOWS.

AFTER LUNCH WE SET OFF THE SPOT, THE POSITION TRACKER BY HITTING THE’’911’’ BUTTON.

BY LEAVING IT RUNNING ALL AFTERNOON IT SENT OUT OUR POSITION CONTINUOUSLY VIA SATELLITE TO SPOT HQ WHO IN TURN INFORMED THE US COAST GUARD WAY BACK 1108 MILES IN NORFOLK VIRGINIA. THEY’D CONTACTED ALL THE NEARBY SHIPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ATLANTIC THAT A POSSIBLE SITUATION HAD ARISEN.

AS THE SPOT SENT OUT CONTINUOUS POSITION REPORTS AROUND 9PM VHF TRAFFIC WAS HEARD. I'D HIT THE DISTRESS BUTTON AND THEN ISSUED A MAYDAY ON CHANNEL 16 WHICH WAS ANSWERED IMMEDIATELY BY THE ASTRO SATURN .A 250 METRE OIL TANKER ON ROUTE TO THE BAHAMAS FROM TALLIN ESTONIA. ONCE WE SAW THEIR LIGHTS WE SET OFF FLARES TO GUIDE THEM TO OUR POSITION.

THEY HAD BEEN 80 MILES PAST GOING SOUTH WHEN THEY WERE INSTRUCTED TO COME TOWARDS OUR LATEST SPOT POSITION AND REPORT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE AREA IF ANYTHING.

AT 11:30 PM WE CLIMBED UP THE LADDER ONTO THE DECK AND WERE GIVEN CABINS IN THE OFFICERS QUARTERS.

THE ONLY TIME I GOT WET THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE INCIDENT WAS WHEN I STEPPED INTO THE SHOWER AND WASHED OFF TWO WEEKS WORTH OF SWEAT AND SALT SPRAY BEFORE SETTLING DOWN IN A COMFORTABLE BED.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO EXPRESS ADEQUATELY THE FEELING OF RELIEF ONCE VHF CONTACT HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED WITH THE ASTRO SATURN.

UNTIL VHF CONTACT WE WERE ALONE HELPLESS AT THE MERCY OF THE ELEMENTS IN WILDERNESS OF AN OCEAN. WE DIDN’T KNOW IF OUR DISTRESS SIGNAL HAD BEEN RECEIVED OR HAD BEEN ACTED UPON.

THE ASTRO SATURN UNDOUBTEDLY SAVED US FROM AN UNTHINKABLE END. MAELSTROM WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED ANOTHER DAY AND PROBABLY SUNK DURING THE NIGHT. THE MIDDLE OF ATLANTIC DURING A FORCE 10 GALE IS NOT THE PLACE TO BE IN A SINKING SAIL BOAT.

WE WILL ALWAYS REMAIN ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO THE CAPTAIN AND THE DEDICATED CREW OF THE ASTRO SATURN FOR SAVING US.

WITHOUT A MAST WE GAVE NO RADAR ECHO AND ONLY BY THEIR DILIGENCE AND EXPERT SEAMANSHIP WERE WE FOUND.

THE RESCUE WAS CARRIED OUT IN TOTAL SAFETY BY A TEAM OF DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO TOOK TOTAL COMMAND OF A MOST DIFFICULT SITUATION AND PLUCKED MYSELF AND CREW FROM OUR FLOUNDERING SAILBOAT AND BROUGHT US SAFELY ABOARD DURING TOTALLY DARKNESS FROM WINDSWEPT SEA.

DURING OUR STAY ABOARD AS GUESTS OF THE CAPTAIN AND CREW ON THEIR ONWARD PASSAGE TO THE BAHAMAS. WE HAVE SCRUTINIZED EVERY ASPECT OF OUR JOURNEY FROM NORFOLK VIRGINIA AND THERE IS NOTHING WITH HINDSIGHT WE WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY. OUR PASSAGE LOG GIVES NO INDICATION OF THE CATASTROPHIC EQUIPMENT FAILURE THAT WAS TO COME.

THE INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE ASTRO SATURN INSPIRED US WITH CONFIDENCE, WE KNEW THAT ONCE UPON THE SCENE WE WOULD BE SAFE. THEIR APPROACH OUT OF TOTAL DARKNESS WAS DONE WITH ABSOLUTE PERFECTION .

THE CAPTAIN STOOD OFF AND ASSESSED THE SITUATION. THEN SLOWLY MANOEUVERED HIS MASSIVE SHIP WITH PERFECT PRECISION. AS WE WERE BEING THROWN ABOUT VIOLENTLY, BEAM ON IN A BREAKING SEA. THE CAPTAIN APPROACHED US FROM ASTERN, ON OUR WINDWARD SIDE. PLACING THE GIGANTIC BULK OF HIS SHIP BETWEEN US AND THE BREAKING WATERS. ONCE IN THE LEE OF HIS SHIP WE WERE IN RELATIVELY CALM WATERS. FURTHER TURNING TO LEEWARD BROUGHT US SAFELY ALONG SIDE AND HE LITERALLY CRADLED US WITH HIS GIGANTIC SHIP PROTECTING US FROM BOTH THE WIND AND ANGRY SEA.

HIS SKILL AND SEAMANSHIP SAVED THE LIVES OF TWO SAILBOATERS.

HE WILL ALWAYS BE A HERO IN OUR EYES AND HAS EARNED THE GRATITUDE OF OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR ALL TIME.

D.E HALL

Let Amver Serve You

Many people know Amver as the voluntary international search and rescue program. Our customers include shipping companies, search and rescue authorities, and survivors. Another customer we have, and one often forgotten by the shipping community, is the media.

We are excited to tell your stories of daring rescues. Photos, video, rescue summaries all help us share the good news about shipping. Many other websites use our information to continue telling the Amver (and your) story.

In The Shadows

For some reason the shipping community likes stay out of the limelight. We will be the first to agree that getting "good news" shipping stories in the media is challenging. That challenge, however, should be embraced rather than ignored. When a ship is in the news it doesn't always have to be about a grounding, sinking, or violation. Over 60 Amver participating vessels have diverted this year to answer a call for help. Over 190 lives have been saved. We need to work together to share these stories.

5 Steps You Can Take To Help

How can you help us share the good news?

1. If possible, take photos and video of rescue operations
   
2. Email any rescue photos/video you take to Benjamin Strong, Director of Amver Maritime Relations
3. Send a photo of your ship to Benjamin Strong, Director of Amver Maritime Relations
4. Provide a brief summary of the rescue
5. Feel free to use Amver press releases in your own marketing and public relations efforts
   

Why should you send them to us? Because you will see them here on the Amver blog. You will also see your story on our other sites such as Youtube and Flickr as well. News sites, such as Tradewinds, Lloyd's List, and Safety at Sea International often print Amver stories.

Will you help us share your story?

Photo credit: uploaded to Flickr by JerrySilfwer

Welcome Wednesday!

So far this year 711 vessels have enrolled in the Amver system. The 23 ships below bring the number to 734. That's an additional 734 vessels available to rescue people in distress. Whether it be a airline crash in the ocean, a sailboat in distress in the Atlantic, migrants adrift or a fishing vessel sinking in the Pacific these ships stand ready to help another person or vessel in distress.

Who are these crews and ships? Let's welcome them:

• SEAMUSIC
• CMA CGM AQUILA
• CS OLIVE
• RIVERSIDE
• SAPPHIRE EXPRESS
• ANTARES I
• MARAN PYTHIA
• STAR KIRKENES
• ZIM LUANDA
• GYPSUM INTEGRITY
• NYK REMUS
• JENNY N
• POSITIVE PASSION
• FOWAIRET
• NORTHERN HIGHWAY
• KM IMABARI
• LNG JUPITER
• BALTIC GALAXY
• SAMISTAL DUE
• MAETIGA
• CMA CGM MUSCA
• GLORIOSA I
• MG SHIPPING

Even though Amver doesn't make it in the news all the time there are over 3,600 ships available every day to divert. Amver encourages all ships to enroll. Safety at sea doesn't discriminate by nationality, flag, or crew make up. Enroll your vessels today.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Independence Day

Independence Day. Each Fourth of July Americans around the world celebrate their independence. What does that have to do with Amver? Let's take a closer look.

The Amver system relies on the voluntary spirit of the commercial shipping sector to save lives at sea. It is this sector that gives the world it's independence. Shipping provides-

• Commerce
• Employment
• Recreation
• Relief
• Education

While World Maritime Day is a day to recognize mariners lets remember the contribution to independence these men and women give us today. Do you know a mariner? How about thanking them.

Photo credit: uploaded to Flickr by snowrideguy

Greek Amver Tanker Rescues 2 Near Bermuda

An Amver participating Greek tanker was diverted as part of an international search and rescue effort for two sailors reportedly in distress over 600 miles northeast of Bermuda June 21, 2009

The sailors, one American and one Briton, were on a voyage to the Azores when they encountered trouble and activated a SPOT hand-held emergency communications device. SPOT personnel notified United States Coast Guard rescue authorities who immediately checked the Amver system for available ships.

Race To Assist

The Astro Saturn, a Greek flagged tanker, was diverted to rescue the two sailors on the 33 foot sailboat, Maelstrom. Coast Guard rescue personnel also turned to international rescue authorities to help located the sailing duo.

Captain Michail Eleftheriadis turned his fully loaded tanker, operated by Maran Tanker Management of Athens, Greece, towards the distress location. Captain Eleftheriadis reported the weather conditions were severe with winds blowing in excess of 20 knots and seas at Force 5.


The M/T Astro Saturn providing a lee for the disabled S/V Maelstrom.

Rescue

The Astro Saturn made radio contact with the Maelstrom and began planning the rescue. Captain Eleftheriadis maneuvered the Aframax tanker alongside the sailboat and his crew began rescue operations by lowering a pilot ladder to the survivors. "Once we had the two sailors safely aboard the tanker we left the sailboat adrift," stated Captain Eleftheriadis.


Survivors from the S/V Maelstrom are escorted aboard the M/T Astro Saturn after a rescue over 600 miles northeast of Bermuda.

The Astro Saturn reported the survivors were in good health and spirits. They were transported to Freeport, Bahamas and disembarked.

How would you survive a rescue at sea? You can learn more here. Learn what Mario Vittone has to say about emergency beacons here.

Have you been rescued? Share your story with us.

Photo credit: crew of the M/T Astro Saturn

Welcome Wednesday!

25 vessels joined the Amver ranks this past week. What's the value of that? Considering the recent cases (here and here) where Amver ships have made the difference between life and death the value becomes glaringly evident. While Amver remains voluntary, participation should be considered by every shipping company that wishes to promote their dedication to safety.

Here are our newest ships:

• GULOYA
• CLIPPER TITAN
• PELICAN STATE
• BLUE HERON
• VICTORIA SCAN
• CORAL DIAMOND
• HYUNDAI SINGAPORE
• ARDEA
• KINAROS
• ANKARA BRIDGE
• CLIPPER MIKI
• SUMMIT AUSTRALIA
• SALTINA
• ABADI
• PLUTO LEADER
• KING WHEAT
• SUNSHINE ACE
• CLIPPER MAKISHIO
• UBC MARIEL
• ORAWA
• CONTI BENGUELA
• AMBER BALTIC
• TH SOUND
• AMAZON GLADIATOR
• SPOT

Congratulations new Amver members. You have joined a unique and elite group of ships. You may be called upon to assist another mariner in distress. You are now part of a global effort to make sure no call for help goes unanswered.
Photo credit: Fotolia