The ceremony, held in Limassol on November 7, took place in cooperation with the Cyprus Shipping Chamber (CSC) and the Cyprus Union of Shipowners (CUS), under the auspices of the Shipping Deputy Ministry and the US Embassy in Nicosia.

Marlow’s Joint Managing Director, Andreas Neophytou accepted the award on behalf of the company. “We are proud to be part of the AMVER search and rescue programme, dedicated to collaboration and mutual support in maritime safety and rescue at sea. As part of the global shipping community, it is our duty to show solidarity and responsibility at sea,” he said.

AMVER, sponsored by the US Coast Guard, is a voluntary global ship reporting system used worldwide by search and rescue authorities to arrange for assistance to ships and persons in distress at sea. Prior to sailing, participating ships submit a sail plan, indicating their port of departure, port of destination, course, and speed to the AMVER computer centre. In an emergency, AMVER receives notification of a vessel, mariner, or aircraft in distress, and locates and diverts the best-suited participating merchant vessels to respond. On any day, there are thousands of ships available to carry out search and rescue operations.

US Ambassador to Cyprus, Julie Davis Fisher presented the awards on behalf of the US Coast Guard. Fisher hailed AMVER as an excellent example of mutual assistance and partnership. “Cyprus continues to make vital contributions to the AMVER programme, and that growing support deserves special recognition,” she stated during the evening.

Overall, Cyprus holds a crucial position in maritime safety, and in 2023, twenty Cyprus-based companies, including Marlow were recognised for enrolling their ships in the AMVER programme, collectively receiving a total of 310 awards. This participation positions Cyprus with the fifth-highest AMVER award count globally.

“We know that the vibrant Cypriot shipping sector makes a difference in supporting this life-saving programme and delivers valuable contributions to the Cypriot economy. Tonight, we celebrate these collaborative efforts for safety and stability and for providing urgent assistance to vessels in distress at sea,” she added.

AMVER has been providing search and rescue services around the world since its inception in 1958. Notably, in 2023, the US Coast Guard activated the AMVER system for 170 cases, ultimately saving 771 lives and assisting an additional 240 people at sea. On any given day, the AMVER system had more than 6,345 ships available for search and rescue around the world.

For more information on the US Coast Guard’s unique worldwide search and rescue system, visit https://www.amver.com