Bermuda Firms Recognised By U.S. Consulate
On August 29, the U.S. Consulate recognized seven shipping companies registered in Bermuda for participating in the United States Coast Guard’s voluntary search and rescue network, AMVER [Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue].
Search and rescue authorities around the world use the voluntary ship reporting system to assist ships and aircraft in distress at sea.
The companies awarded included AET Inc. Ltd. for the Eagle Augusta, Bermuda Institute for Ocean Sciences for the Atlantic Explorer, Bernhard Schulte Ship Management Ltd. for the Bahama Spirit, Golden Ocean Group Ltd. for the Channel Alliance, Golden Eminence, Golden Empress, Golden Endeavor, Golden Shui, Golden Zhejiang, Golden Zhoushan, SFL Sara, and SFL Yukon, Neptune Group for the Oleander, Petredec Ltd. for the Mill Reef, and Teekay Shipping Ltd. for the Koa Spirit, Sea Bay, and Sea Hope.
After presenting letters of appreciation to representatives of the local participating companies and certificates of merit and pennants for their ships, U.S. Consul General Bob Settje said, “AMVER is humanitarian cooperation at its best. I think it is important to recognize AMVER participants for their commitment to honoring maritime traditions whereby mariners assist those in distress at sea regardless of nationality or status.
“So thank you to these companies, their ships, and their crews for participating in the AMVER program during 2013 and continuing this practice in the future, possibly saving lives.”
In the AMVER system, participating ships send a sail plan to the AMVER computer center, indicating their ports of departure and arrival, course and speed. Vessels then report every 48 hours until arriving at their port of call. Thus AMVER is able to project the position of each ship at any point during its voyage in relation to a mariner, vessel, or aircraft in distress.
AMVER rescue coordinators can then divert the best-suited ship or ships to respond.
AMVER improves the chances for aid in an emergency and can reduce the time lost for vessels responding to calls for assistance by coordinating a rescue response, utilizing ships in the best position or with the best capability, thus eliminating unnecessary diversions by other vessels.
By regular reporting, someone knows where a ship is at all times on its voyage in the event of an emergency. Regular AMVER reports compress the area of a search if a ship is unreported or overdue, because AMVER position reports verify that a ship arrived at a certain point on its voyage at a particular date and time.
Participation in AMVER is voluntary, free of cost, and open to all ships of all flags. AMVER information is protected as “commercial proprietary” information and is released only to recognized national search and rescue authorities, and only in an emergency.
I recognise dat guy!….dat’s de US consulate guy…U recognise him too?