Thursday, August 26, 2010

U.S. Diplomatic Mission to New Zealand holds Amver awards ceremony

U.S. Consul General Randy Berry (L) and Chief Exec of NIWA John Morgan  
Originally posted on the United States Diplomatic Mission website.


Four New Zealand ships were chosen for 2009 Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (Amver) awards for active participation:  the Kakariki, the Tore the Forum Samoa II, the Tangaroa.  The awards program recognizes those vessels, which regularly participate in the Amver system.   Amver is an international program, operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, to assist the safety of vessels on the high seas. 

Merchant vessels of all nations are encouraged to send their sail plans, including departure message, periodic position reports, and arrival message, to the Coast Guard's Amver Center.  The information is processed in a computer database that maintains a plot of the positions of these ships throughout their voyages.  Rescue authorities around the world can then obtain, through U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centers, a list of participating ships in the vicinity of an emergency so that assistance can be sought from vessels nearby.  For 52 years, Amver  has been effective in arranging emergency assistance to those who need it on the high seas.  

See more photos of the Amver awards ceremony in New Zealand here.

Have you enrolled your vessels yet? Only vessels enrolled and participating in the Amver system can earn awards.

 Photo credit: U.S. Mission to New Zealand
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