The U.S. Embassy in Nicosia and the Cyprus Shipping Chamber (CSC) co-organized a ceremony in Limassol on Friday, to recognize shipping companies participating in the U.S. Coast Guard’s AMVER programme with 20 Cyprus based companies receiving awards.
AMVER, which stands for Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue, helps guide merchant shipping to assist vessels in distress on the high seas and is open to vessels of all flags and nations. Companies participating in this program voluntarily make their ships available as rescue assets in the event of an emergency. Prior to sailing, participating ships send a sail plan, indicating their port of departure, port of destination, course and speed to the AMVER computer center. In an emergency, AMVER is able to project the position of participating ships sailing in the vicinity of a mariner, vessel, or aircraft in distress. This service is provided at no cost to participants or to those rescued.
From its inception in 1958, AMVER has provided 64 years of search and rescue services around the world. In 2021, there were 200 instances in which AMVER was activated, resulting in 224 lives saved. Hundreds of ships contributed to saving lives and participating in searches for those in distress. The AMVER system saw the number of ships available for search and rescue exceed 6,700 each day.
U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus Judith Garber presented the awards on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard, recognizing participating mariners and their companies. In her remarks, Garber said that AMVER was an excellent example of mutual assistance and partnership. Instead of relying solely on specialized rescue operations provided by governments or official organizations, which can be overburdened or far away from the point of need, AMVER provides a way to draw upon help in the region when time is of the essence.
Twenty Cyprus-based companies received awards for their participation in AMVER in 2021, she said, many of them, for multiple ships under their management. These are Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (Cyprus) Ltd, Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd, CSM Energy Ltd, Enesel Ltd, FML Ship Management, Marine Services, Intership Navigation Co. Ltd, Lazien Services Ltd, Lemissoler Shipmanagement Ltd, Maestro Ship Management Ltd, Marlow Navigation Co. Ltd Mastermind Shipmanagement Ltd, Matrix Ship Management Ltd, MSC Shipmanagement Ltd, Olympia Ocean Carriers Ltd, Safe Bulkers Management Ltd, Samos Steamship Cyprus Ltd, Star Bulk Shipmanagement Co, Transmed Shipping Co. Ltd and Villar Shipmanagement Ltd.
Source: Cyprus News Agency