Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) specializes in supporting and assisting victims at sea. Click this article to find more information about this organization!
Annually, there are a multitude of refugees and migrants traveling by sea, which is not a new phenomenon. As you may know, sea traveling is always dangerous as a lot of people are easily drowned. That is when the worldwide search-and-rescue services appear to aid people in distress at sea.
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The Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) offers assistance and support to maritime rescue services over the world. This association primarily raises money for worldwide volunteers in marine search and rescue organizations to save refugees and others. It also recognizes many extraordinary maritime rescues.
Read our latest guide about AFRAS History.
Table of Contents
Search And Rescue Services (SAR)
To get rid of the miserable countries where they live, desperate migrants and refugees around the world readily risk their lives. They can go abroad with unseaworthy craft and ships.
Several want to have better working, living conditions, and educational opportunities. In comparison, others seek protection from international organizations against conflict, security, liberty, threats, and persecution to their life. These days, the SAR services have to depend on international shipping to help these people.
More specifically, the terrestrial communication and satellite techniques will transmit the distress signals to both nearby ships and SAR authorities ashore. Thus, the process of rescuing will be coordinated and swift.
However, the rescue and disembarkation operation is complex as it gets involved in international maritime law, refugee, and human rights law as well. Understanding this problem, the International Maritime Organization’s member States adopted some changes.
From that point, Masters can render assistance while the complementary obligation of member States is to cooperate and coordinate. This action is to ensure that the persons rescued can be disembarked in a safe place quickly.
Essential Guidance on Rescue Procedures
What Can The Master Do?
When receiving the request to assist, the ship’s Master should:
Identify life-saving appliances and equipment which are useful for the rescue process
Implement procedures and plans to guarantee the security and Safety of both the crew and the ship
Determine if there are special arrangements or additional assistance and equipment
Inform the agent, shipowner at the next port
Additionally, the Master also has to provide some specific information to the Rescue Coordination Centre, which is in charge of the SAR region.
a. Assisting ship’s details
- name, the port of registry, flag
- the agent’s and ship owner’s name and address
- the vessel’s position and maximum speed
- position of the next port of call
- the current status of security and Safety
- the endurance with extra persons on board
b. Rescued persons’ details
- total number
- name, age, gender
- health and medical condition
c. Any needed help from the assisting ship (workforce, supplies, limitations, etc.)
d. Any particular factors (time-sensitive cargo, weather conditions, etc.)
e. The Master’s preference of location and arrangement to transfer or disembark the rescued persons.
The only duty of Masters is to embark persons and treat them within the ships’ capabilities. They are not responsible for hearing, considering, or determining the asylum request from refugees or asylum-seekers.
What Do The Governments And The Rescue Coordination Centres (RCC) Do?
The RCC responsible for the SAR region has to prepare for the coordination of the rescue when being contacted. Before that, the Master might contact the first and nearby RCC, which is in charge of coordinating the case. After the first informs the responsible RCC, it will no longer have responsibility.
The rescue operations will terminate at a place of Safety in which the rescued persons are safe from any threats. Their basic human needs will be satisfied, and they will also make some arrangements for the final destination.
RCCs have a duty of maintaining effective plans for coordinating and operating arrangements. They have to be willing to respond to any search-and-rescue situations such as recovery operations or arrangements with other entities.
Also, they have to be concerned about the circumstances, status, nationalities of the rescued persons. They will host these people temporarily while waiting for the resolution of such issues. RCCs will measure financial burden, difficulties to relieve the ship, and avoid undue delay in the ship’s terms.
Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS)
Origins
Throwback to 1976, the US Embassy held a reception in London for the US Coast Guard’s Commandant. The gathering was addressed by Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Compston. On behalf of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI), Nicholas Ludington also turned up.
The plan for a complementary organization in the USA was kindled from that time. Then, the RNLI’s captain also engaged and suggested setting up the America-based charity to support the RNLI. The members of RNLI did hard work with the American executives to establish this organization.
In June 1976, the RNLI proposed to set up the American/ British Lifeboat Appeal committee. Many gatherings and meetings took place to jump to a conclusion. This conclusion said that the appeal raises most of the funds from bank accounts in the USA.
To qualify for the USA tax exemption, a trustee should be established in the USA. The trustee included a president and a treasurer or secretary. After that, the AFRAS was born as a nonprofit. At first, the organization was named the American Friends of the RNL before changing into Association for Rescue at Sea.
The AFRAS was registered as a charity in New York and applied to the IRS to do tax-exempt status. On 10th November 1976, the New York Secretary of State filed the Certificate of Incorporation for AFRAS. The initial meeting of AFRAS was held on 22nd November 1976 at the British-American Chamber of Commerce.
Mission
Joseph Frohnhoefer III – CEO of Sea Tow has been appointed to The Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS). Sea Tow Services International proudly announced it. Since 1976, The Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) has always done well with its mission to provide instant assistance to volunteer marine rescue individuals and organizations around the world.
Also, AFRAS has awards that honor extraordinary marine salvages each year. Thanks to The Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS), volunteer organizations and individuals will be motivated to continue their rescue.
The Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) has a massive mission of providing support and resources to volunteer marine rescue services around the world. Besides, AFRAS also awards prestigious awards to recognize and honor individuals performing extraordinary marine rescue missions.
When rescuing at sea, sailors often face unpredictable dangers. Therefore, to strengthen the protections offered to sailors, the Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) will provide cash and in-kind contributions to voluntary maritime rescue organizations worldwide.
More often than not, one will become more familiar with government organizations that carry out rescue operations at sea. But besides that, around the world, there are many other non-governmental organizations whose members are volunteers. They will help and rescue those in distress at sea. They are heroes worthy of recognition and recognition.
Traditionally, the Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) will hold the Capitol Hill Gold Medal Award Ceremony for people actively engaged in rescue operations. Moments of History & Heritage is a program that reflects volunteer social organizations around the world. Most rescuers today work for these organizations.
Also, AFRAS always seeks support for marine rescue from donors. The US Coast Guard member honoring ceremony will be open to individuals who have made many contributions to the organization.
Supporters will be part of an association for the rescue of officers and directors at sea, meeting maritime industry leaders and Congress hosts Sean Patrick Maloney and Bob Gibbs or senior leadership of the US Coast Guard.
Furthermore, if you join this reception, you will have the opportunity to interact with merchants and captains of cruise ships and crews from all over the world. They are sympathetic people carrying out dangerous and dramatic sea rescue.
Sponsored Awards
The Association For Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) Amver Award
In 1996, nonprofit charities established The Association For Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) Amver Award, dedicated to supporting services related to support and relief of people at sea. Besides, this award provides a boost to the importance of Safety for other aviation and maritime organizations.
The Association For Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) Amver Award includes four criteria to choose from for the award: level of effort to participate in the rescue, sewing relationship, shipbuilding, and the initiative of the ship (s) in response.
AFRAS will hold this award ceremony every September. This elegant award plaque will be given to worthy individuals or organizations at the Coast Guard Awards Ceremony at the US Parliament House in Washington, DC.
New York Council, Navy League of The US, Amver Award Medal was established by the Council of New York, United States Naval Federation in 1997. This award honors remarkable rescue for a US commercial ship. The US Marine Police Rescue Coordination Center coordinated directly with the country’s shipping crews.
The New York Council, Navy League of The US, and Amver Award Medal will be held only and given to organizations or individuals participating in particularly significant sea rescue.
This award will be judged on the New York Council Executive Committee’s assessment of who came up with good ideas for the rescue, the number of people saved, the degree of danger, and the award’s difficulty. Rescue and ingenuity help the rescue operation.
New York Council award winners, Navy League of The US, Amver Award Medal will receive a unique Ship Icon with the Naval Federation and AMVER emblem on the stripe. The traditional Orange Coast Guard emblem a Gold Medal.
Plus, these great performers will get the chance to meet the President of the Council at the annual black-tie Anniversary Dinner. This commemorative party was held at a large hotel in New York with hundreds in attendance.
The Safety at Sea International Amver Award
The publisher of the magazine “Safety at sea” – Lloyds Register-Fairplay Ltd., (UK) has established and sponsored The Safety at Sea International Amver Award. Each year, at the Safety at Sea and Marine Equipment (SASMEX) Conference and Exhibition in Brighton, UK, they will award this award.
The Safety will recognize the most excellent and safest crew members involved in the relief of those in distress at the Sea International Amver Award.
Also, the Global Maritime Safety and Incident System (GMDSS) search and rescue response coordination and alert response support noted remarkable value. The Safety at Sea International Amver Award also contributes to highlighting these various ingredients and exceptional discounts.
They will review and evaluate the Amver ships by DSC, Inmarsat, and EPIRBS to select a suitable candidate for the award. The Safety at Sea International Amver Award will include a signature green Amver brand and an exclusive glass trophy.
The Amver Assisted Rescue at Sea Award
The Amver Assisted Rescue at Sea Award has been an award sponsored by the LLOYDS LIST Newspaper since 1999. For marine rescues, this award has quickly become one of the most prestigious international logos. Vessels participating in AMVER will have the opportunity to be honored “rescue of the year” through the sponsor.
The Amver Assisted Rescue at Sea Award is reviewed based on several criteria: the total number of people rescued; the full value of assets that are still protected; difficulties in the rescue; the amount of time it takes to complete search and rescue operations; coordination and control at the scene of the incident.
Organizations or individuals that receive The Amver Assisted Rescue at Sea Award will be awarded a prominent red Amver flag and a plaque at a major maritime event in London.
Logo
Conclusion
Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) is a newborn association that was formed by Americans. It serves as a nonprofit organization and operates to rescue lives at sea. Therefore, AFRAS gains much reputation, and it is rewarded for all the actions.
To be rewarded the AFRAS Gold Medal, the nominee will be judged by many factors. Apart from conducting a heroic action, the nominee also guarantees the authenticity of the action. If you want to know more about this association or register as a member, you can visit their official website.