Today over fifteen hundred vessels are contributing position reports to the Amver search and rescue plot via the Pole Star automatic Amver link.
In close collaboration with Amver, Pole Star developed the automatic link in 2008, allowing ship owners and operators to automatically send position reports directly to Amver, relieving the master of manually submitting position, deviation and final arrival reports.
Initially available to Fleet Management customers, Pole Star extended the Amver link to their SSAS Alert Advanced customers in March of this year. Since that time, the number of vessels using the feature has almost doubled, growing at a rate of four vessels per day and reaching a new high of 1500 vessels in November.
“Pole Star is committed to promoting safety of life at sea which includes helping to reduce the bureaucratic burden on the master and ships’ officers, “ commented Paul Morter, Director of Sales (Commercial Marine) at Pole Star. “Automated reporting to Amver is one way of supporting these goals.”
“Pole Star’s commitment to safety at sea is evident in their partnership with Amver, ” said Benjamin Strong, Director of Amver Maritime Relations. “The number of Pole Star customers electing to participate in Amver helps ensure no call for help goes unanswered. It’s a demonstration of the sorts of achievements that can be accomplished when government and the private sector work together.”
About Pole Star
The Pole Star Group is the world’s leading provider of location-based fleet management, security and telematics services to the commercial marine sector and government administrations. More than 1, 250 clients and some 40 flags and maritime administrations utilise its systems and services which provide support for operational and regulatory responsibility to more than 30, 000 commercially trading ships worldwide. The Company also provides Fisheries Vessel Monitoring Solutions to fisheries authorities in over 20 countries, including location monitoring of over 6, 000 commercial fishing vessels operating under 35 flags, catch reporting solutions for an additional 2, 000 vessels and the calculation of fishing activity and quota data to support environmental programs for the sustainable harvesting of fish stocks.
Working closely with its extensive client base and global partner network, the Pole Star Group companies have developed innovative and reliable solutions that enable its users to manage their assets worldwide. These services provide clients with the information they need to maximise operational performance and to safeguard their assets and crews.
About Amver
Amver, sponsored by the United States Coast Guard, is a unique, computer-based, and voluntary global ship reporting system used worldwide by search and rescue authorities to arrange for assistance to persons in distress at sea. With Amver, rescue coordinators can identify participating ships in the area of distress and divert the best-suited ship or ships to respond. Vessels send periodic position reports to the Amver center 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 center can request this data to determine the relative position of Amver ships near the distress location. On any day there are over 5, 000 ships available to carry out search and rescue services. Visit http://www.amver.com to learn more about this unique worldwide search and rescue system.
