The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) is pleased to announce its role as the host of the United States Coast Guard’s 2025 AMVER Awards Ceremony. This year’s celebration of maritime commitment and safety will follow NAMEPA’s annual Safety at Sea Seminar and will be held on May 22, 2025, at the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Offices, located at 80 M Street SE in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with National Maritime Week.
Each year, AMVER honors the courage, vigilance, and dedication of merchant vessels and their crews with awards that reflect milestones in the program. These distinctions are represented by distinctive pennants proudly displayed aboard vessels and in company headquarters across the globe. A blue pennant marks a vessel’s first year of participation, gold honors five consecutive years, and purple celebrates a decade of unwavering service. At this year’s event, AMVER will recognize 544 American vessels earning awards for their efforts in 2024.
The AMVER system, originally known as the Atlantic Merchant Vessel Emergency Reporting System, was introduced in 1958 as an innovative initiative aimed at the North Atlantic. Under the vision of then-Commandant Vice Admiral Alfred C. Richmond, it sought voluntary participation from commercial vessels over 1,000 gross tons and traveling on voyages lasting more than 24 hours. By 1971, the program had gone global, evolving into the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System (AMVER) with enhanced technological capabilities housed within the U.S. Department of Transportation’s System Center.
Rooted in the maritime tragedy of the Titanic, AMVER was born out of a clear need for enhanced communication and coordination at sea. Today, it stands as a global beacon of solidarity and lifesaving commitment in the maritime industry. Participating ships report their positions regularly, enabling real-time coordination for search and rescue missions around the world.
The 2025 AMVER Awards will be presented by senior Coast Guard leadership on May 22nd during the official ceremony.
This event is not only a tribute to past and present efforts but also a reaffirmation of the maritime industry’s collective commitment to saving lives at sea.
About NAMEPA
The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) was officially launched in 2007. NAMEPA is a maritime industry-led organization of environmental stewards preserving the marine environment by promoting sustainable marine industry best practices and educating seafarers, students, and the public about the need and strategies for protecting global ocean, lake, and river resources. For more information, visit www.namepa.net.