Monday, July 30, 2012

How to: how to request an Amver Surface Picture

We thought we would demonstrate how easy it is to request an Amver Surface Picture. We described it in the past, but here's a screen cast on how to request Amver SURPIC information.



Can't see the video? Click here.

Transcription of the video:

Hi, it's Ben Strong from Amver.com, and I'd like to share with you today how to request an Amver surface picture. Remember, requesting an Amver surface picture can only be done by rescue coordination centers, but should you be managing a search and rescue case in your region, you can quickly and easily request this information from the US Coast Guard to get a list and a picture of commercial ships that are around that particular distress location. So to request the Amver surface picture, go to www.amver.com, the Amver homepage. There are several options. You can click the red button, "Request a SURPIC," or "SURPIC Request" on the left. We'll use the "Request a SURPIC" radio button on the right, the big red button. Name of Point of Contact--put in the name of the particular search and rescue official who happens to be working there. I'll put my name in. Your e-mail--this is critical, because the information is sent via e-mail unless you specify otherwise. Your organization--this is USCG. You may put your particular rescue coordination center, RCC New York, for example. A phone number, in case our US Coast Guard rescue personnel need to contact you by phone to answer any particular questions. Should you require the infomation by fax, you can enter a fax number as well. We ask a couple of questions, such as the nature of the distress. Maybe it's a fire, flood, capsize. Often it's a 406 EPIRB. You can simply enter 406 EPIRB. The date of the distress is automatically filled with the date that you're making the request. If it's a particular vessel you can put in the name, the vessel call sign, number of persons on board, the type of ship--row row, bulker, cruise ship--gross length and tonnage if known, IMO number, which is helpful to the search and rescue controllers, and an MMSI number should you know that. If there's a particular INMARSAT or other number available for the vessel, you can enter that under the Communications fields. What's critcal is the location of the distress. So we'd like to know the latitude and longitude in Heading North and East. Most Amver surface pictures are given in radius type. There are several products available in the Amver surface picture. The most common, the most frequently requested, is the radius surface picture. So you can put 300 nautical miles, 500 nautical miles, 100 nautical miles. Then, any special instructions. "Vessel master reports that crew has abandoned ship," anything that you think will help the rescue authorities, you can put in the Special Instructions box. The last piece of information that we need is similar to a CAPTCHA code. This just helps us ensure that we're not receiving a request from a robot or a spammer. You'll have to complete this mathematical equation, which of course will be different for every request. Seven plus seven is fourteen. Then, "Request the Amver Surface Picture" is the button that you will push. I just need to make sure that our rescue authorities know that this is a test. We've completed the CAPTCHA question. "Request Amver Surface Picture." Should you make a mistake, the request will recycle back so that you can enter any information that you may have failed to put in the request. In this case, I failed to put in a location and a radius. That's the key to requesting an Amver surface picture. Generally within a few minutes you will receive an e-mail from the US Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command Center with a list and a picture of vessels that are nearest the distress location in your area. I'm Ben Strong from Amver.com. That's how to request an Amver surface picture.
 

Friday, July 27, 2012

Please take our survey

We are asking our Amver readers to take a short poll on smartphone use. The poll is directly to the right of this post------------->     over there.

This will help us better serve you in the future.

Thanks for taking a moment to answer the question.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Welcome Wednesday!

Accidents like the fire aboard the MSC Flaminia remind us that going to sea can be dangerous business. Thankfully ships like those listed below have made a commitment to safety at sea and enrolled in the Amver system. Won't you join them?
  • ALPHA VISION
  • ANTWERPIA
  • CMB MEDOC
  • COMMON FAITH
  • GLORIOUS SAIKI
  • HAVILA JUPITER
  • HEBEI TRIUMPH
  • HHL LAGOS
  • INASE
  • KRASLAVA
  • KUWANA
  • MAERSK LA PAZ
  • MAIZURU
  • BENTEN
  • RED ROOSTER III
  • REMBRANDT VAN RIJN
  • SEA SPRING
  • TIRUA
  • VAL DALIAN
  • VAL MINAS GERAIS
Thank you for enrolling and ensuring that no call for help shall go unanswered.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

The History of Navigation, and Infographic

We found this interesting infographic about the history of navigation and thought our Amver audience would like it. Don't forget to enroll in the Amver system if you haven't done so already.



Graphic courtesy of infographic board

Monday, July 23, 2012

Ice island the bigger than Mahnattan on the move off Greenland

According to a report from Science Daily, an ice island twice the size of Manhattan has broken off the Petermann Glacier in Greenland. While it poses to direct threat to Amver ships in the area, it demonstrates the need for keen watch standing and programs such as Amver and the International Ice Patrol.

The report stated the last time such a large piece of ice broke free was in 2010, and before that in 1967.

Learn more about the ice conditions on the Icy Seas blog.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Friday, July 20, 2012

National Maritime Center advises some expired documents still ok


The National Maritime Center recently issued an update which is applicable to many Amver participants.

The table below lists a number of forms associated with the mariner credentialing program that have reached their “expiration” date. These forms are still valid and being accepted by the Coast Guard.

The expiration date is there to remind the Coast Guard to review and affirm, with the office of management and budget (OMB), that the forms are still necessary and supported by regulation or code. This process has long been underway and continues and the NMC will provide notice via the website and list server when update forms will be available. 

Otherwise, mariners and other providers should continue to use these forms. 

Form Number
Title
Last Revised
Expiration Date
CG-719K
Merchant Mariner Credential Medical Evaluation Report
Rev. (01-09)
30-Jun-12
CG-719K/E
Merchant Mariner Evaluation of Fitness for Entry Level Ratings
Rev. (01-09)
30-Jun-12
CG-719P
DOT/USCG Periodic Drug Testing Form
Rev. (03-04)
30-Jun-12
CG-719S
Small Vessel Sea Service Form
Rev. (03-04)
30-Jun-12

Mariners and other providers should contact our Customer Service Center at IASKNMC@uscg.mil or 888-IASKNMC (888-427-5662) with any questions regarding forms. Mariners may reference this bulletin when working with third party providers, such as medical doctors, to ensure those providers of the validity of the forms. 

Photo credit: Fotolia

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Amver participating container ship rescues TransPac race sailor

U.S. Coast Guard rescue personnel in Hawaii received a 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon alert for the Canadian sailing vessel Bela Bartok on July 15, 2012 and immediately diverted an Amver ship to assist.

The sailboat was participating in a trans-Pacific solo sailboat race from San Francisco, California to Honolulu, Hawaii when the lone yachtsman activated the beacon complaining of a medical emergency.

Rescue authorities, using the Amver system, quickly located the M/V Mokihana and requested the vessel divert to assist the ill sailor. The crew of the Mokihana, managed by Matson Navigation,  was able to embark the ill sailor but left the 31 foot Vindo 40 adrift and marked as a hazard to navigation.

The survivor is receiving medical attention as the Mokihana sails to Oakland.

The M/V Mokihana is one of the Amver systems longest participating vessels. The Mokihana enrolled in Amver on January 1, 1967 and has earned over 27 awards for participation.

Photo credit: marinetraffic.com

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Happy Birthday Amver

Today Amver celebrates its 54th birthday! Thank you for helping us save a life every 33 hours. Without the support and participation of the seafaring community we would not be able to ensure that all calls for help are answered.

Enjoy some of these historic photos of the Amver team at work through the years.




Welcome Wednesday!

It's that time of the week again. Time to recognize the latest members enrolled in the world's voluntary search and rescue system- Amver. This is also the week we celebrate the birth of Amver in 1958 right here in New York City. We love celebrating, but we'd rather celebrate what you, the seafarers, do to ensure no call for help goes unanswered. So, help us welcome the latest members of the Amver safety network.

  • AL-KAT
  • ATLANTIC RAVEN
  • BERGE ACONCAGUA
  • BULK HONDURAS
  • CIELO DI VAIANO
  • CORAL OPAL
  • EAGLE PARANA
  • EFESSOS WAVE
  • EQUINOX DREAM
  • EQUINOX STAR
  • FERDINAND R. HASSLER
  • HARVEY CHAMPION
  • HYUNDAI AMBITION
  • HYUNDAI SPEED
  • JIU FENG LING
  • LIBERTY
  • MAERSK INGRID
  • MAINE DREAM
  • MILLENNIUM DAWN
  • NORDIC RIVER
  • PAC SCHAULA
  • PELICAN OF LONDON
  • PURPLE GEM
  • RACHEL
  • STENA SUPREME
  • SUPERIOR
  • YANGTZE RAINBOW
Don't forget to check out the Amver podcast, The Quarterdeck.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Amver ships race to save crew of MSC Flaminia

Amver ships race to save crew of the MSC Flaminia.

On Saturday July 14, 2012 the M/V MSC Flaminia sent a digital selective calling (DSC) alert indicating the ship was on fire and the crew was abandoning into life rafts setting into motion an incredible search and rescue effort involving a flotilla of Amver ships and multiple rescue coordination centers.

The U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area rescue coordination center received the call and immediately forwarded the details to rescue officials in Falmouth, UK. The Amver participating vessels MSC Stella, DS Crown, and Stolt Creativity also agreed to divert and assist the crew of the Flaminia, who were in life rafts approximately 900 miles west-south-west of Falmouth, UK.

After arriving on the scene the Bahamian flagged tanker DS Crown assumed Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator and began taking survivors aboard. The DS Crown eventually embarked 21 survivors and is bringing them to Falmouth. The MSC Stella rescued the three most seriously injured crewmen and is taking them to the Azores. Rescue coordination center Delgada is making arrangements for a helicopter to rendezvous with the MSC Stella to evacuate the injured survivors. One crewman remains missing.

The MSC Flaminia was left adrift and salvage operations are underway.

The DS Crown, managed by Frontline Management AS, enrolled in the Amver system on May 11, 2000 and has earned 8 Amver participation awards. The MSC Stella, managed by MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA, enrolled on October 20, 2009.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Friday, July 13, 2012

NYK Line Amver ship saves 4 fishermen

The Amver participating ship Linden Pride rescued four Chinese fishermen after their fishing vessel sank in the South China Sea July 10, 2012. According to a report from Tradewinds, the NYK-owned LPG carrier was sailing from Japan to Qatar when they were notified by rescue authorities in Singapore.

The Panamanian flagged ship had the four fishermen safely on board within two-and-a-half hours after being alerted of the distress.

The Linden Pride enrolled in Amver on January 31, 2001 and has earned 12 awards for participation.

Photo credit: marinetraffic.com

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Russian Amver ship rescues eight

According to a report by the Maritime Bulletin the Amver participating freighter Vasiliy Golovnin rescued 8 seafarers from the Russian general cargo vessel Star which reported taking on water in the Japan Sea near Vladivostok July 7, 2012.

The Russian flagged Vasiliy Golovin, managed by Far-Eastern Shipping Company, enrolled in the Amver system on March 5, 2002 and has earned 3 participation awards.

The Star was safely towed by a salvage tug and repairs are underway.

Photo credit: marinetraffic.com

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Welcome Wednesday!

Is your vessel enrolled in Amver? If not, why not? The benefits to participation include close coordination during maritime emergencies. This coordination can save your ship valuable time and may help avoid unnecessary and searching. In the meantime help us welcome the latest members of the Amver safety network.
  • ALTAI
  • ARIANE MAKARA
  • ASTERION
  • BULK COSTA RICA
  • CANARY K
  • CEPHEUS
  • CEPHEUS
  • DAISY K
  • E-SHIP 1
  • FORTE
  • FREJA HAFNIA
  • GENERAL EVANGELISTA
  • GISBORNE
  • HANJIN ISABEL
  • IKAN SEMBAK
  • INTREPID SEAHAWK
  • IVS IBIS
  • JS LOIRE
  • KAZUSA
  • LEADING BRAVERY
  • MIIKE
  • NCC REEM
  • NISSOS PAROS
  • OCEAN GIANT
  • PENSILVANIA
  • PETALIDI
  • PRATIBHA INDRAYANI
  • PROTECTOR
  • RAMFORM EXPLORER
  • REL DARSHAN
  • RELSAGAR
  • RICH DUCHESS II
  • ROBERT ADAMS
  • RTM COOK
  • SAAM ANAHUAC
  • SALOME
  • SMERALDA
  • STOLT MEGAMI
  • THORCO SERENITY
  • TIMARU
  • WARRIOR
  • YASA FALCON
Don't forget to check out the Amver podcast, The Quarterdeck.

Photo credit: Fotolia

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

From the Amver Archives- Amver awards program to begin

This comes to you from the Amver Bulletin 11/12-70 and announces the new Amver wwards program.

As earlier announced, AMVER will begin an awards program at the beginning of 1971 to honor our outstanding participants.

Consisting of a red pennant to be awarded to each vessel, together with certificates of accomplishment, these awards will be presented  to each vessel whose participation in AMVER has been most notable during the year 1970.

Those responsible aboard many vessels have long recognized that by being "on plot," they are making a measurable contribution to their own safety as well as to the safety of those who might need their assistance in an emergency. Through accounts in the AMVER Bulletin it as been possible to recognize those vessels who, participating in AMVER, have been able to receive or render aid in a rescue incident. At the same time there are hundreds of other vessels whose frequent participation in AMVER represents a fine contribution through the safety potential they add to the system.

These vessels have, so to speak, proceeded on their ways unnoticed and unremarked.

It will be a pleasure to honor those vessels whose masters' foresight has kept them regularly on plot. Already hundreds of vessels have qualified. Vessels to be recognizeed will be contacted via their owners and/or agents regarding further details. Will you be one of the distinguished group?

The Amver awards program has grown up. Today blue pennants are given to ships for their participation and other opportunities are available for vessels that perform rescues.


Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Welcome Wednesday!

Happy Independence Day! Today is the Fourth of July, the day we celebrate the founding of the United States of America. Today we can also celebrate 38 more ships enrolled in the Amver system.
  • ANAGEL VIRTUE
  • AP SLANO
  • ATLANTIC EAGLE
  • BESIKTAS
  • BRAGE R
  • CHINA TRIUMPH
  • CLIPPER NEW YORK
  • CLIPPER NEW HAVEN
  • CORAL QUEEN
  • COSTA FASCINOSA
  • CRIMSON PRINCESS
  • CSAV PIRQUE
  • DIAMOND JUBILEE
  • EIT PALOMA
  • FEDERAL SATSUKI
  • GAS ESCO
  • HANJIN CHONGQING
  • INNOVATION
  • JAGUAR MAX
  • LIBERTY DREAM
  • MAERSK CAIRO
  • MAERSK LAGUNA
  • MAERSK LEBU
  • MAERSK RAS LAFFAN
  • MAPLE AMETHYST
  • MELINA
  • MENTOR
  • MOL GRATITUDE
  • MOL MOTIVATOR
  • MSC BENEDETTA
  • OCEAN EMERALD
  • PECOS PETERS
  • PRIME DAISY
  • SANGEET
  • SIVA CORAL
  • STX CHAMPION
  • WADI TIBA
  • WESTGATE
Have a safe and enjoyable holiday!

Photo credit: Fotolia