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The U.S. Embassy in Nicosia and the Cyprus Shipping Chamber (CSC), in cooperation also with the Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association (CYMEPA) and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), co-organized a ceremony in Limassol on November 30 to recognize shipping companies participating in the U.S. Coast Guard's AMVER program. The Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue program helps guide merchant shipping vessels to assist vessels in distress on the high seas.
AMVER 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 those rescued.
When specialized rescue operations provided by governments or official organizations are overburdened or are too far away from the point of need, AMVER locates and informs the nearest available vessel that can provide assistance. AMVER’s success in protecting lives and property at sea is due to international cooperation between ships, companies, communication service providers, governments, and, of course, search-and-rescue authorities.
Since its inception in 1958, AMVER has provided search and rescue services around the world. In 2022, there were 212 AMVER activations of AMVER searches and rescues, resulting in the participation of hundreds of ships, and 376 lives saved. The AMVER system saw the number of ships available for search and rescue exceed 6,700 each day.
U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus Julie Fisher presented the awards on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard, recognizing participating mariners and their companies. Ambassador Fisher hailed AMVER as an excellent example of mutual assistance and partnership.
In all, the following 24 Cyprus-based companies were recognized (in alphabetical order) for enrolling their ships in the AMVER program in 2022 – a total of 241 awards for as many ships:
1. Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (Cyprus) Ltd.;
2. Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd.;
3. CSM Energy Ltd.;
4. Donnelly Tanker Management Ltd.;
5. Enesel Ltd.;
6. FML Ship Management;
7. Goldenport Marine (Cyprus) Ltd.;
8. Interorient Marine Services;
9. Intership Navigation Co. Ltd.;
10. Lazien Services Ltd.;
11. Lemissoler Shipmanagement Ltd.;
12. Maestro Ship Management Ltd.;
13. Marlow Navigation Co. Ltd.;
14. Mastermind Shipmanagement Ltd.;
15. Matrix Ship Management Ltd.;
16. MSC Shipmanagement Ltd.;
17. MTS Amethyst Shipping Ltd.;
18. Multi Maritime S.A.;
19. Netostar Ltd.;
20. Ranalaca Ltd.;
21. Safe Bulkers Management Ltd.;
22. Samos Steamship (Cyprus) Ltd.;
23. Star Bulk Shipmanagement Co. (Cyprus) Ltd.; and
24. Transmed Shipping Co. Ltd.
For more information on this unique worldwide search and rescue system, please visit www.AMVER.com.
