Amver

[MiskinDriver]

Anyone know anything helpful about Amver? It appears to be a US based ship tracking system, but requires registration and be aimed firmly at the larger end of the market. The website is not exactly helpful. Is it based on AIS technology? or something completely different.... and is it used much away from the USA? How about in the Caribbean?

Asking cos I'm trying to decide whether it will be of value for SAR purposes in the region. So all comments useful and will have an effect.

Thanks

 

[tugboat]

Can only contribute from rather vague memories from the 70s. Seem to recall AMVER meant 'Atlantic Merchant Vessel Reporting' or somesuch. When I was on tankers in those days, if crossing the Atlantic we were encouraged to participate. I think the Sparks used to send a noon position to the Amver headquarters each day, the idea being that a plot was kept of participating vessels so that if someone was in trouble there was a fast way of knowing who was nearest so they could be contacted and asked to help. No computers or satellites in those days. As I type I'm wondering if maybe a vessel missed making a routine report it would instigate search procedures. Sorry to not be more helpful. I'm now a Sagalout, donchaknow! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[philip_stevens]

Automated Mutual-assistance VEssel Rescue system (AMVER).


NOAA/AMVER

 

[tugboat]

Oooerr,missus, that's me told then! Acksherly, in my own defence, I initially thought 'Automated' (it just came to mind that way) but then thought "Can't be automated, cos buggerall was automated in those days"! As it was used crossing the Atlantic......... Nurse! Where's my Horlicks?

 

[Dyflin]

I knew it rang a bell.

AMVER messages are sent off once a day in a standard format by ships to the USCG by telex (possibly email now) giving details of position, speed, course and eta. It's like a traffic report but is done electronically.

No use what so ever to from an AIS point of view.

AUSREP and SAFREP are two other variants.

 

[philip_stevens]

[ QUOTE ]
Oooerr,missus, that's me told then!

[/ QUOTE ]

Not at all. Took me ages googling/searching to find what the abbreviation meant, as I wasn't sure what they stood for - even after 25 years at sea.

 

[MiskinDriver]

Actually, I think you're both right. It started as Atlantic Merchant Vessel Reporting System, but may well have now changed into something much more up to date.

Thanks for the comments, I think we will go with AIS, with the availability of live AIS on the web, at relatively little cost, and with 50000 vessels now using the system, this has got to be the way forward. All it'll take is to get the international rules for SAR changed! Ah well, that's what they pay me for....