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P R 231524Z MAY 08
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TO MARITIME SECURITY COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
INFO RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL//SCCG// 0294
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ5-E//
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RHMFISS/COMCOGARD MIO EUROPE ROTTERDAM NL
RHMFIUU/COMPACAREA COGARD ALAMEDA CA
RHMFISS/COMLANTAREA COGARD PORTSMOUTH VA
RHMFISS/COGARD AMR NEW YORK NY
RHMFISS/COMCOGARD FEACT YOKOTA AB JA
RHMFISS/COGARD MSO DET SN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 055508 
 
SIPDIS, PLEASE PASS TO DHS OR COAST GUARD LIASON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EWWT ECON ETRD ELTN ATRN PREL
SUBJECT: 2008 AUTOMATED MUTUAL-ASSISTANCE VESSEL RESCUE (AMVER) AWARDS 
 
REF: STATE 50488 
 
¶1. This is an action request.  Please see paragraphs 2 and 10. 
 
¶2. Posts in or responsible for the following countries/entities are 
requested to assist in the annual presentation of awards to owners of 
vessels participating in the U.S. Coast Guard's Automated Mutual 
Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) ship safety and rescue program: 
 
Australia;  Austria;  Bahamas;  Belgium;  Brazil;  Canada;  Chile; 
China, People's Republic of;  Croatia;  Cyprus;  Denmark;  Ecuador; 
Egypt;  France;  Germany;  Great Britain (United Kingdom);  Greece; 
Hong Kong;  Iceland;  India;  Isle of Man;  Israel; Italy;  Japan; 
Korea, Republic of;  Kuwait; Malaysia;  Monaco;  Malta;  Myanmar; 
Norway;  Netherlands;  New Zealand;  Panama;  Philippines;  Poland; 
Portugal;  Qatar;  Russia;  Saudi Arabia;  Slovenia;  Singapore; 
Spain;  Sweden; Switzerland;  Taiwan;  Thailand;  Turkey; United Arab 
Emirates. 
 
NB: For all other posts, this is an information only cable. 
 
¶3. The AMVER Awards Program recognizes those vessels which regularly 
participate in the AMVER system.  Information on the AMVER program, 
including country award statistics, is available on the internet at 
http://www.amver.com/. 
 
¶4. In connection with the Coast Guard's promotion of the AMVER 
system, the Department requests that addressee posts fully exploit 
the diplomatic potential of presentation of AMVER awards for 2007 
participation.  AMVER is an international program, operated by the 
U.S. Coast Guard, to assist the safety of vessels on the high seas. 
Merchant vessels of all nations are encouraged to send their sail 
plans, including departure message, periodic position reports, and 
arrival message, to the Coast Guard's AMVER Center.  The information 
is processed in a computer database that maintains a plot of the 
positions of these ships throughout their voyages.  Rescue 
authorities around the world can then obtain, through U.S. Coast 
Guard Rescue Coordination Centers, a list of participating ships in 
the vicinity of an emergency so that assistance can be sought from 
vessels nearby.  For 50 years, AMVER has been effective in arranging 
emergency assistance to those who need it on the high seas.   Vessel 
positions are disclosed only for reasons related to search and 
rescue.  The AMVER communications network takes full advantage of 
user friendly, low cost email and internet technology with compressed 
message, AMVER/Weather reports, sent from ships via satellite at 
little or no cost. 
 
¶5. In 2007, AMVER merchant ship responses resulted in 450 lives saved 
and 65 lives assisted (for medical attention, evacuation, 
communications, food/fuel/supplies, etc).  AMVER ships conducted 154 
searches at sea to verify electronic distress alerts, thus preserving 
limited rescue assets for genuine emergencies. 
 
¶6. The Coast Guard would appreciate your assistance presenting or 
distributing the AMVER awards.  The awards are integral to AMVER ship 
recruitment and retention efforts.  AMVER award ceremonies can 
provide a platform to promote American trade interests and good will 
abroad.  Safer oceans contribute to more efficient commerce. 
 
¶7. In past years, many posts have arranged a small ceremony or 
reception for award winners, company representatives and public or 
private individuals who may be in a position to assist the AMVER 
program.  Inclusion of ranking host government officials or local 
celebrities in award ceremonies ensures maximum positive publicity 
for U.S. sponsorship of this humanitarian program.  Major ceremonies 
have been held in conjunction with Propeller Club dinners, shipping 
conferences and exhibitions and other maritime venues.  Local SDOs 
and Combatant Commands should take advantage of opportune U.S. Coast 
Guard Flag/SES visits, Coast Guard cutter deployments, search and 
rescue exercises and AMVER awards to highlight U.S. humanitarian and 
maritime safety assistance. 
 
¶8. It is usually advantageous to present the awards at a location 
closest to the headquarters of the ship owners.  Thus a consulate in 
 
STATE 00055508  002 OF 002 
 
 
a port city might be a better location than an inland embassy.  We 
recognize that posts in countries with only one or two award winners 
may not wish to hold a presentation ceremony.  In such cases, it 
might be appropriate to invite winners to call on a ranking 
Embassy/Consulate official to receive the award, perhaps with a 
photographer present. 
 
¶9.  The Department understands budget restrictions and AMVER award 
ceremonies need not be elaborate affairs.  Regrettably, the U. S. 
Coast Guard lacks the fiscal authority to spend funding in support of 
these ceremonies.  Local ship owner associations, Propeller Clubs, or 
maritime organizations might offer to sponsor such ceremonies.  The 
Coast Guard will make every effort to provide a representative at 
opportune major award events.  U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, U.S. 
Coast Guard Activities Europe, and Far East Section are not funded 
for travel to AMVER award ceremonies but may be able to attend some 
local events.  Regional U.S. Coast Guard International Ship and Port 
Facility Security Liaison Officers (ISPSLOs) may be invited to 
attend. 
 
¶10. To determine which awards should be mailed to posts for 
distribution, as well as those to be mailed directly to recipients by 
the Coast Guard, the Department requests that posts advise Coast 
Guard by June 30, 2008, whether or not they are willing to assist. 
Please ensure reply either by cable to COGARD AMR NEW YORK NY, INFO 
COMDT COGARD WASH DC//CG-534// or email to beverly.a.howard@uscg.mil. 
 Email is the preferred method.  Detailed lists of award winning 
companies and ships can be provided by email attachment for review to 
determine presentation potential.  In prior years there were 
occasions when awards were distributed to companies prior to 
responses from posts.  Cables/emails from posts wishing to assist 
should include the name and position of the person at the post to 
whom award materials should be addressed (Point of Contact), specific 
mailing (APO/FPO or street) address details, and a proposed 
presentation date.  The AMVER packages containing awards, information 
for post personnel, suggested presentation remarks, press release and 
other related materials will be forwarded by mail or courier to the 
POC.  Please advise by cable or email if you prefer that awards by 
mailed directly to recipient companies.  The awards given to these 
vessels are in recognition of their dedicated commitment to maritime 
safety. 
 
¶11. AMVER acknowledges some discrepancies between award data provided 
early in the year and revised data with the award package.  This is 
due to ships identified in the processing as having changed name, 
flag, company or verified shipyard periods to maintain award 
eligibility.  Address data is based on the latest available Lloyd's 
Register of Shipping Information. 
 
¶12. As a result of ongoing international discussions and proposals 
concerning maritime domain awareness, port security and tracking of 
merchant ships at sea, AMVER's visibility as a successful safety 
model has risen significantly.  AMVER continues to research 
technological advances to make the program even more cost efficient 
and effective.  AMVER officials are working with industry, 
governments, other ship reporting operators, and the International 
Maritime Organization to maintain the integrity of ship reporting for 
search and rescue purposes and to ensure ship position information 
retains its priority availability for purposes of safety of life at 
sea.  The Coast Guard sincerely appreciates worldwide diplomatic 
support to highlight the role played by AMVER ships in preventing 
loss of life and property. 
 
¶13.  The Department is supporting the international roll-out of the 
Global Maritime Partnership (GMP) initiative (reftel).  GMP is a new 
approach to building cooperative relationships among maritime 
nations, all of which benefit from and share a stake in international 
commerce, safety, security, and freedom of the seas.  GMP unites 
mariners, port operators, commercial shippers, multilateral and 
non-governmental organizations, interagency, and international 
entities in a quest to build a network of partners with a global 
consensus on policy principles.  AMVER captures the exact qualities 
that GMP hopes to achieve. 
 
¶14. POC for information on AMVER awards is Ms. Beverly Howard, AMVER 
Maritime Relations, 1 South Street New York, NY 10004 USA, phone 
(212) 668-7764, fax (212) 668-7684 or email: 
beverly.a.howard@uscg.mil. 
RICE