Amver Saves Another Sailor - and wants Megayachts

Amver flag SW

Ray Clamback © SW

Of course, for Australians, one of the most interesting things about Amver is the story of ferry pilot Ray Clamback, who has been rescued not once, but TWICE through the Amver system, in 1999 and then again in 2004. On each occasion he spent hours in the water before being rescued. For the full story on these curious events, click on this link

So what exactly is Amver?

It is a system of mariner helping mariner which has saved countless lives and property over the years. Participation is free of charge and open to all ships - and now yachts - of all flags.

The Amver system is simply a reporting system to assist already existing rescue systems. It is voluntary and worldwide.. Prior to sailing, participating vessels send a sail plan to the Amver computer centre. They then report every 48 hours until arriving at their port of call . This data is able to project the position of each ship at any point during its voyage. In an emergency, any rescue coordination centre can request this data to determine the relative position of Amver ships near the distress location. On any given day there are over 3000 ships available to carry our search and rescue services.

While new to yachting circles, Amver has been a mainstay of the merchant shipping community for almost 50 years. The program was begun in 1958 to protect shipping in the North Atlantic Ocean during heavy winter weather and ice flows. Originally known as the Atlantic Merchant Vessel Reporting system it was expanded worldwide in the 1970’s and was renamed the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue System, or just Amver.

Information in the system is protected and released only to recognized search and rescue agencies around the world in true emergencies. Reports can be forwarded by various methods including email. A participating yacht incurs no additional obligation to respond to a distress call than under international laws of the sea.

Amver compliments technology such as EPIRBs and the various communication modes made available by GMDSS and the Inmarsat systems.

Amver provides additional 'insurance' if an emergency arises. It also allows search and rescue controllers to 'orchestrate' a response by selectively identifying one or more vessels (by location, speed, type, crew type, medical equipment, etc) to respond, thus releasing other vessels to continue on their voyage.

Sailors of larger craft, or those on voyages of great length, are invited to participate in the Amver program themselves.

It is probably a compliment to the professionalism of the yachting community that the U.S. Coast Guard considers mega yachts vital search and rescue resources. Recognizing the highly skilled crews, excellent communications equipment and quality of medical supplies carried by these yachts on ocean crossings, the Coast Guard is confident these vessels can play an effective role in enhancing safety at sea.

In turn, the yachting community can enjoy the benefits of having thousands of Amver participating vessels available to come to their assistance in a distress. It is a win-win situation for all, at no cost. Amver looks forward to welcoming the yachting community’s VIPs, Very Important Participants.

And what about smaller yachts? Less than mega-yacht size? It seems that the entire system is a win win for these yachts, without any input.

The Maritime Relations officer for Amver, Benjamin Strong, says, 'The best advice I can give a sailor on any voyage regardless of length is to have a 406 MHz EPIRB and have it registered with either their domestic 406 registry or the international registry.  It also helps to make sure a sailor has some sort of sail plan filed with the emergency contact listed with their 406 registration.'

You can learn more or enroll your yacht at www.amver.com. For more information contact:

Benjamin Strong
Amver Maritime Relations
1 South Street
New York, NY 10004
(212) 668-7762
benjamin.m.strong@uscg.mil