AUTOMATED MUTUAL-ASSISTANCE VESSEL RESCUE SYSTEM (AMVER)

AMVER is now a global ship reporting system endorsed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in 1958. Since then it has grown, expanding to a world-wide coverage in1971.

At present, about 12.000 ships from 143 nations (40% of the world's merchant fleet) voluntarily participate in AMVER. On an average day, over 2.700 ships are on the AMVER "plot" that is maintained by the US Coast Guard. AMVER has established an impressive life-saving track record considering that more than 1.200 lives were saved just between 1993 and 1997. Today AMVER continues to produce lifesaving results on a daily basis

AMVER works in such way: the general criterion for participation is merchant vessel over 1.000 gross tons on a voyage of over 24 hours. The input side starts when a ship, company or shipping agent completes a questionnaire identifying the ship's communications capabilities, whether it has medical personnel aboard, and other characteristics. Before the ship gets underway it sends a sail plan, and then sends an updated position report every 48 hours or whenever it deviates from its planned voyage.

The AMVER computer at the Coast Guard's Operation System Centre then tracks the ships progress along with all others in the system. One of the key principles of the system is the confidentiality of the information. All AMVER information is very closely guarded because of its potential value to competitors in the shipping business, and is not releasable under any circumstances for any use other than bona fide Search and Rescue cases. The output side of the AMVER equation takes place when one of the authorised Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centres queries the system for vessels close to a position and obtains a "surface picture" in that area of the ocean.

Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centres regularly process requests for information throughout the world, as long as their purpose is to respond to a true maritime emergency. It is computer technology that allowed a ship reporting system to identify a vessel in distress in the event of a distress at sea.

II.NOTES:

voluntarily – добровольно

to identify – устанавливать, идентифицировать

confidentiality – секретность

under circumstances – при сложившихся обстоятельствах

to authorize – санкционировать

III. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. What does the abbreviation ANVER stand for?

2. What vessels participate in this system?

3. What other ship reporting system do you know?

4. What is the key principle of the system?

5. What does computer system give us?

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