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Taking on Fuel
Take control of Fuel coming aboard
Fueling the boat is an activity that is fundamental as it gets in this business. A rash of fuel problems during the last few weeks from several boats leads us to an opportunity to  review Fueling Procedures.
Common fueling problems that occur in our fleet are water in the fuel, dirty fuel and discrepancies in the amount taken.
Sec 1, Part A "Vessel Operations" in the Policy and Procedure Manual documents Fuel Transfer Procedures and should be reviewed on a regular basis. Highlights of this section are discussed below along with additional points:
- Each vessel has a specific Oil Transfer Procedure Manual that must be reviewed. The PIC should be familiar with Oil Spill Mitigation Procedures found in the Sec III of the Tank Vessel Response manual.
- A DOI must be filled out
- PIC must ensure that all vendor supply tanks are sounded and water cut. This means witnessing results with Supplier at his source by going from tank to tank prior to loading fuel. Do not depend on word only from the supplier.
- Require the vendor to give you a retain sample. Visually check the retain sample for obvious water and dirt. The retain sample should be kept for at least 48 hours to allow any entrained water to settle out. If satisfied with the sample after 48 hours, it can be dumped in the fuel tank.
- The PIC must sound/color cut and record results of vessel fuel tanks before starting to take on fuel.
- Ensure vessel tank stick gauges are operational.
- Notify CAPT/Relief CAPT when fueling begins.
- After fueling, verify receipt by sounding/color cutting vessel fuel tanks. If a discrepancy is discovered, note on fuel receipt before signing. Notify office of discrepancy.
- Log fueling results.
A change in the Onboard Maintenance Manual moves Weekly Inspection of the vessel fuel tanks to Daily Inspection. The new Daily Procedure reads:
- Drain water from the fuel tank into the bilge. Boats equipped with Racor Filters, check bowl for presence of water. If water is present, drain from bowl and fuel tank.
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LED Navigation Lights
The only portable navigation lights aboard our vessels that are  tested to USCG standard, UL 1104-Sec. 4-33 are the:
- EMPCO 200MB -LED
- Steady Red
- Steady Green
- Flashing Amber
 These battery powered lights are approved for uses as the navigation side lights and for the amber bow light on our barges. A 1 amp (ATO 1) fuse is accessible inside the battery case and is changeable by opening the battery case. Note that on the green and red models there is a clear arrow indicating the forward direction when being placed in the barge side light holders. Each battery case hold 4 - 6 volt batteries that are easily changed when needed.
Also onboard for use on moored barges and during  barge transfers are the: These lights must have a clear decal on them that states "Light is for Loading & Unloading use only....Do not use for Navigational Purposes". Power is provided by 2-6 volt batteries.
Any other barge portable lighting not meeting these descriptions should be turned into the office.
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| Final Simulator Class SEP 24 to SEP 26
Last chance for time behind the sticks during regular classes at the Seamen's Church Institute in 2008. Advanced Pilot House Management will be offered one more time this year. The class will start at noon on September 24 and complete in the afternoon of the 26th.
The Pilot to Relief CAPT Preparation Course will have it's first run starting on OCT 29, 2008. Captains...if you have not already done so, please nominate your Pilot for this course by emailing Diana
Changes at SCI.... Captain Stephen Polk, Instructor and  Assistant Director at SCI since 2007, has assumed the position of Director at SCI's Center for Maritime Education Gulf Region, following the retirement of Captain William Douglas from the position at the end of July. We look forward to working with CAPT Steve and all the other folks at SCI.
Good luck to CAPT Bill Douglas on his retirement. He will be missed all of us here at MMI. Many valuable lessons were learned by our wheelmen through Bill's great teaching skills. |
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RULES of the Road
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A light signal of three flashes  means __________. a. "I am in doubt as to your actions"
b. "My engines are full speed astern"
c. "I desire to overtake you"
d. "I am operating astern propulsion"
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A sailing vessel underway may exhibit __________.
a. a red light over a green light at the masthead
b. a green light over a red light at the masthead
c. two white lights in a vertical line at the stern
d. an all-round white light at the bow
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The word "vessel", in the Rules, includes __________.
a. sailing ships
b. nondisplacement craft
c. seaplanes
d. All of the above
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which is a distress signal?
a. Firing of green star shells
b. Sounding 5 short blasts on the whistle
c. Answering a one blast whistle signal with two blasts
d. A flaming barrel of oil on deck
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| Maryland Marine Vessel Names
M/V SANDY POINT named for historical Maryland Lighthouse
Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse is located about one and one-half miles north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and about 1000 yards off the shore from Sandy Point State Park. It is the second lighthouse to have been built in the area. 
The first lighthouse was built on land at Sandy Point. It was commissioned in 1858 and a fog bell was added in 1863. Unfortunately, within a short period of time the shoal extended into the bay and the lighthouses became inadequate fo signal the dangers of the shoal. A new lighthouse was needed.
After repeated recommendations the Lighthouse Board finally received an appropriation of $25,000 in 1874. This however was not sufficient for the proposed lighthouse design and more money was requested. When the additional funding was turned down the Lighthouse Board went ahead with an alternate design - a caisson type lighthouse.
The caisson base was 35 feet in diameter and 32 feet, six inches tall. Work began in August of 1883. The caisson base was built, positioned, and sunk into the sandy bottom. On top of the caisson base was constructed a three story brick lighthouse. The house was 24 feet square with truncated corners giving it an octagonal shape. The first and second levels were living quarters and the third level was a watch area. Below the living quarters, within the caisson itself, was an area used for storage of coal, oil, water, etc. Work was completed and the light commissioned on October 30, 1883.
The lighthouse was fitted with a fourth-order Fresnel lens. The original characteristic was a flashing white light at six-second intervals. This was changed in 1890 to a fixed white light. The light is positioned 51 feet above mean high water.
The light was electrified in 1929 and fully automated in 1963. As was the case with many unmanned lighthouses it quickly fell pry to vandals. An inspection by the Coast Guard in 1979 found the lighthouse greatly damaged, including the Fresnel lens. Apparently, someone had smashed it with a baseball bat and it was beyond repair. The lens was replaced with an acrylic lens.
During the 1980s and 1990s major repairs have been made to the lighthouse structure by the Coast Guard. Although more work needs to be done, it looks today very much like it did in the late 1880s.
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| Stern Shots
Crew of the M/V POTOMAC planning their next move......Tkmn Travis Ashley, Tkmn Marco Rosato and Relief Capt Darren Istre
Wes White claims he is in "Time Out" in the Channelview Office.
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| Nautical Trivia
SKIPJACK
A centerboard, V-bottomed sailing boat common on the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Coast of the United States.  The hull is built of hard pine with a clipper stem fitted with billet, headsails and trail boards, and a broad transom stern with outboard rudder. The bottom is planked crosswise. The deck runs from stem to stern. The rig consists of one mast with a pronounced rake aft, on which are set a leg-of-mutton mainsail and a stay foresail or jib.
It is used for oyster dredging and as a market boat. The largest boats used in the oyster trade have the following average dimensions: Length 42 ft, beam 14 ft, depth 3' 9", draft 3'.
From the "International Marine Dictionary" by D. Van Nostrand...copyright 1948 |
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Dates to Remember SEP/OCT 2008
Tankerman School - Two Rivers SEP 15 - SEP 20
Last Simulator Class for 08 SEP 24 - SEP 26
Tankerman School - Two Rivers OCT 13 - OCT 18
(note: last Tankerman class for 2008)
Pilot to Relief CAPT Prep OCT 29 - OCT 31 Candidates for Simulator training for SEP session, please call or email Diana. This is the last session for 2008.
answers to this weeks RULES OF ROAD....D, A, D, A |
A great thanks needs to go to the Wheelman that have undertaken the responsibility of training our Steersman. To date in 2008, 15 Steersman have been promoted to the position of Pilot after completing training.
This would not have been possible without the direction and guidance of our 42 Designated Examiners. Their efforts go a long way in making our industry strong and ready for the future.
If you get a chance, be sure to thank these guys!
Sincerely, | |
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GORDIE KEENAN
HIGMAN MARINE SERVICES, Inc. |
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