The Atlantic Merchant Vessel Eeport System (AMVER), admin- 

 istered by the Coast Guard, is a voluntary merchant vessel position 

 report system using movement reports from vessels of all nationalities 

 plying the Atlantic Maritime Region. This system is used to provide 

 the Rescue Coordination Center with positions of merchant vessels 

 near a vessel in need of assistance. 



As of January 1, 1962, 6,400 vessels, representing 56 flags, partici- 

 pated in the AMVER program. This represents approximately 65 

 percent of foreign flag and 90 percent of American flag merchant ships 

 plying international waters of the Atlantic. 



Coast Guard maintains 9 air stations, 14 air detachments, 107 opera- 

 tional aircraft of varying types, and 1 aircraft repair supply base. 

 Nine of the 14 detachments have been activated since 1946, and plans 

 call for 15 more by fiscal 1967. 



Coast Guard has 147 surface vessels of all types, exclusive of special 

 purpose vessels such as bouy tenders, and needs a total of 162, including 

 2 more large high-endurance ships and 27 more large patrol craft. 

 Lifeboat Stations total 140. The program for the next 3 years is 

 aimed at broadening and modernizing their operations. 



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