Friday, September 4, 2009

Recent Arctic Rescue Underscores Need For Amver

The United States Coast Guard 17th District reported yesterday that Coast Guard authorities coordinated the rescue of an ill passenger aboard the cruise ship Bremen in the Arctic Ocean on Thursday, September 3, 2009.
The Bremen, owned by Hapag Lloyd Cruise, has been an Amver participant since 1991.  The Bahamian flagged vessel often sails in the Arctic and Antarctica.  By making itself available to Amver it adds to the safety of vessels and crews transiting these austere areas.  Earlier this year we wrote five recommendations about how Amver could be used in the Arctic.  Hopefully this incident, and our recommendations, can serve as a reminder of the need for Amver vessels in the Polar regions.  
We strongly encourage ice class vessels enroll in the Amver system.  Companies such as Fednav have taken the lead and enrolled their entire fleet.  Do you have ice class vessels in your fleet?  Have you enrolled them in Amver?
Photo credit: Fotolia

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