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Murphy's Law and Routine Inspections
Checklists are serious business
A Tankerman prepares to complete the DOI before starting a transfer at a dock. He has done it a hundred times before.  With little thought, he initials each box, signs the bottom and goes on the next task before starting the transfer. But is the tankerman fully aware of what he just signed? Near the bottom of the DOI form is a statement acknowledged by his signature, "I do certify that I have personally inspected this facility or vessel with reference to the requirements set forth in section 35.35-30 and that opposite each of them I have indicated that the regulations have been complied with". There are 22 items that the tankerman has "personally inspected" prior to signing this document. Murphy's Law says that "Anything that can go wrong probably will". A recent spill on one of our tows is a perfect example of what happens when the inspection is not taken seriously and the DOI is " Pencil Whipped". Let's look at the details. Prior to going to the dock, the tow was at a stripping facility. That should be Red Flag #1.
Let's look at some of the DOI boxes the Tankerman checked off as being "inspected"......
NO. 4 - Transfer System Alignment....Tankerman did not completely check line-up. Though this is always important, it is especially critical when coming from a shipyard or cleaning plant. A valve that is normally shut was left open, allowing product to back up into the stripping system. NO. 5 - Transfer System, unused components...a stripping system blank flange had only 3 bolts in place including one not properly tightened. The loose blank flange allowed the backed up product to flow from the loose blank flange to the deck. No. 12 - Scuppers of Drains...scupper plugs were in place, but not tightened. Product from the leaking flange found the hand tight scupper plug and escaped the tank top containment. The tankerman by signing the DOI certified that all the above areas were checked. Obviously they were not. Pencil whipping resulted in the fulfillment of Murphy's Law and we had a spill on our hands. Let's reinforce with all crewmembers the importance of using checklists completely and most importantly, truthfully. This goes for all checklists that we use, such as Quarterly Crew Vessel Inspections, Change of Watch Checklist, Engine Room Gauge Readings just to name a few. When you sign or initial any form, you are certifying that all check-off requirements are complete and truthfull. |
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Lost or Stolen TWIC
What's next if your TWIC is lost?
If your TWIC card is lost, stolen or damaged while on board, notify your Captain immediately. The Captain must then notify the Channelview office. You must then call the TWIC Help Desk, within 24 hours to report the missing card at 1-866-DHS-TWIC (1-866-347-8942).
TSA has added the capability to process lost/stolen or damaged cards with a VisaŽ or Master CardŽ credit card over the phone when you call the TWIC Help Desk. Lost/stolen/damaged replacement cards are $60.00.
If you report your card lost/stolen or damaged to the Help Desk, they will initiate the replacement and email you a payment receipt with the payment confirmation number immediately upon confirmation. If you do not have access to email, it is recommended that you still go to your nearest Enrollment Center to report your card lost/stolen and purchase your replacement card in order to secure your receipt
Once you have reported your card lost or stolen, you may remain onboard for 7 days.
USCG Policy Advisory Council (PAC) 03-09 guidance allows an additional 30 days of unescorted access if your replacement TWIC is not received within 7 days. This authority remains in effect until July 15, 2009. To qualify for this option, you must provide the Channelview Office with a reciept from the purchase of your replacement card. We then must match that to a list available to the company security officer.
In preparation of the April 15, 2009 TWIC Implementation, Higman Marine is requiring all employees to present their TWIC card at crew change. From now on your TWIC card will have to be shown to gain access to a company vessel. | |
Appointments Now Available at REC Offices
March 3rd started appointment capability.
If you have renewed a licensce or MMD lately, you know the frustration of waiting at local USCG Regional Exam Center to  turn in your application and to be fingerprinted.
Started on March 3rd, 2009, all RECs now are set up for on-line appointments. Mariners desiring an appointment at an REC may do so by first going to the below listed link, then clicking on the state where the REC of your choice happens to be located.
Now that all RECs have much smaller staffs, mariners who walk in without an appointment will be served on a "Space Available Basis" only. In other words, those who took the time to make an appointment will take priority over walk-ins.
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RULES of the Road
INLAND ONLY.... You are aboard the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation. You sound a one blast whistle signal. The  give-way vessel answers with a two blast whistle signal. You should sound the danger signal and __________.
a. maintain course and speed as you are the stand-on vessel
b. come around sharply to port
c. take precautionary action until a safe passing agreement is made
d. maneuver around the stern of the other vessel
INLAND ONLY....A power-driven vessel when pushing ahead or towing alongside on the Western Rivers (above the Huey P. Long Bridge on the Mississippi River) shall exhibit __________.
a. two masthead lights, sidelights, and stern light
b. two masthead lights, sidelights, and two towing lights
c. sidelights and two towing lights
d. one masthead light, sidelights, and stern light
INLAND ONLY....Only law enforcement vessels are permitted to show __________.
a. two red lights in a vertical line
b. a flashing yellow light
c. an alternately flashing red and yellow light
d. a flashing blue light
INLAND ONLY.... You are overtaking another power-driven vessel in a narrow channel. The other vessel will have to move to allow you to pass. You wish to overtake the other vessel on her starboard side. Your first whistle signal should be __________.
a. one short blast
b. two short blasts
c. two prolonged blasts followed by one short blast
d. two prolonged blasts followed by two short blasts
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Online Training Questions
POLICY AND PROCEDURE NO. 1
ON BOARD MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION PROGRAM
This is the first in the series on the Policy and Procedure Maunal and deals specifically Quarterly Inspections. These inspections  are detailed in the On Board Maintenance and Inspection Program Manual. With the end of the 1st quarter ending in March, this is a good time to review the Inspection procedure.
Question 1....According to the "On Board Maintenance Program Manual", sections 1.7 and 2.1, both Quarterly Vessel inspections and Quarterly Barge inspections should be sent in within __________________________________.
Answer....the last 15 days of the quarter
100% got this right
Question 2....On the Crew Quarterly Vessel Inspection, the Captain may designate "crew items" shown as a "C" in the "OK" column. Items designated in the Quarterly Inspection Report as "C" should be completed by the Crew within ___________ days.
Answer...30 82% got this question right. Question 3....The Vessel Captain will maintain the previous ______ Crew Quarterly Towboat Inspection Reports. Quarterly reports sent in by Skymira are always no file and easily retrived through the "VIEW FORMS" function on the wheelhouse computer. Answer....3...one years worth
91% got this question right.
Question 4....The Crew Quarterly Towboat Inspection Report checks for required Manuals, Guides and Documents. Many of our documents, forms are now available online through your vessel intranet connection. The Onboard Vessel Filing System, as checked off on the inspection sheet should include: Answer....All of the above..Garbage Disposal Records, Radar Manual, Certificate of Documentation, Slop Oil, Filter Disposal records. 100% got this question right.
Question 5....The Barge Operations Procedure (No. 2.1) requires the Captain to implement the Crew Quarterly Barge Inspection. The Tankerman is responsible for conducting the inspection....TRUE/FALSE
Answer....TRUE...one years worth
85% got this question right.
Question 6...Section D of the Crew Quarterly inspection report require that "All Blinds (pipeline, hose and vapor) have a bolt in every hole and are____________________"
Answer....tool tight
85% got this question right
Question 7....Machinery shall be properly protected with guards in order that the danger of accidents may be minimized. a. Check that they are secure and in good condition.
b. The remote manual shutdown for the cargo pump engine checked for freedom of movement and the ability to shut down the engine.
c. __________________________________________
d. Pump angle drive lube oil checked along with the pump seal.
e. Spark arrestor is secured to he engine, no cracks around the muffler.
Answer....The oil and antifreeze levels are checked in the engine.
77% got this question right
Please review with your crew. These were all from the Personal Safety Manual with little interpretation needed. |
| Stern Shots
A work in progress....M/V MISS CYNTHIA is in the process of getting new cabinet doors and drawers.
Captain Grayson Skaggs shows off his new cabinets on the M/V MISS CYNTHIA
Then new Emergency Generator is now installed at the Channelview office to ensure operations during power failures.
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Nautical Trivia
Have you ever seen "St. Elmo's Fire" atop a mast or structure on one off our vessels?. Let me know...
St. Elmo's Fire is a weather phenomenon involving a gap in electrical charge. It's like lightning, but not quite. And while it  has been mistaken for ball lightning, it's not that, either -- and it's definitely not fire.
Early observers of the phenomenon, mostly sailors on high seas during thunderstorms, seem to have understood they weren't looking at actual fire, because instead of abandoning ship, they took comfort in the sudden glow atop the masts. Such famous figures as Magellan, Caesar and Columbus experienced St. Elmo's Fire on their journeys. And Pliny the Elder, who seems to have documented absolutely every natural phenomenon back in the 1st century A.D., beat everyone else to the punch when he described blue flames appearing out of nowhere during thunderstorms.
Sailors tended to attribute the glow to "St. Elmo," a mispronunciation of St. Ermo or St. Erasmus, the patron saint of Mediterranean sailors. They believed the fire was a sign of salvation from the saint, since the phenomenon occurs most often toward the end of a storm. Benjamin Franklin and Charles Darwin viewed the weather event through a decidedly more scientific perspective. But regardless of interpretation, it's clear they were all observing the same phenomenon. And contrary to popular belief, St. Elmo's Fire doesn't only occur at sea
From the Discovery Channel "How Stuff Works" |
Dates to Remember MAR/APR 2009
SCI Simulator MAR 23 - MAR 25
Tankerman Class Two Rivers MAR 16 - MAR 21
Tankerman Class Two Rivers APR 13 - APR 18
2009 Wheelman Meetings at Cypress Bend Resort
MAR 10 - MAR 11
MAR 26 - MAR 27
APR 07 - APR 08
answers to this weeks RULES OF ROAD...C, C, D, A |
We discussed the importance of faithfully using checklists such as the DOI. It is human nature to sometimes take the easy road and assume our checks are complete without really making them. In the end that will bite us.
As a young 2nd engineer on an oil tanker, one of my responsibilities was to test the boiler water chemistry. This was undertaken on the 12 to 4 watch , usually between 0100 and 0200 each morning. The procedure required collecting boiler water samples from different points and running a series of tests to determine the chemical composition. Depending on the results, the boilers would be dosed with different chemicals to correct deficiencies. These boilers ran at 600 to 800 psi and superheat temperatures at 800 degrees, so accurate results and dosing were critical to prevent a catastrophic failure.
Many a night there was a great desire to cut corners on the testing, thinking it would be the same as the night before. One night the salinity was way out of whack which was eventually narrowed down to a leaking condenser tube. Repairs were made and the boiler was blown down to restore the correct balance.
After the repair, I thought about the potential lose of a multi-million dollar boiler if I had cheated on that testing. That would have been a career ending mistake.
All our checks are important.
Have a great and safe week.
Sincerely, | |
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GORDIE KEENAN
HIGMAN MARINE SERVICES, Inc. |
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