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Navigational Safety Equipment
What is required by the USCG?
USCG rules are very clear in what Navigational Safety Equipment is required to be installed and operational on inland towing vessels. The required equipment, as listed in 33CFR 164.72, is:
- Marine Radar
- Searchlight - must illuminate at least twice the length of the tow
- VHF radios - one for channel 16, one for channel 13 (or other local operational channel)
- Magnetic Compass - swing-meter acceptable if only operating in Western Rivers.
- Depth sounder - Western Rivers only operation exempt.
But what are your responsibilities if one of these pieces of equipment become inoperative during a voyage?. 33CFR 164.82 is clear in the event this happens on route:
- Use due diligence to have the radar, searchlight, VHF radio, depth sounder or compass that becomes totally incapacitated, fixed or replaced at "earliest practical time"
- Failure must be recorded in the log book or other record carried on board.
- Capt. must consider factors such as weather, visibility, traffic and dictates of good seamanship in deciding if it is safe for the vessel to proceed.
- Failure of the equipment, in itself, does not constitite a violation of this rule; nor does it constitute unseaworthiness; nor does it obligate the Capt. to moor or tie up the vessel.
There are specific reporting requirements that must be adhered to if a total failure occurs.
- Failure of the equipment must be reported when transiting a VTS area.
- If a radar cannot be repaired or replaced in 4 days, the COTP must be notified and a written request for deviation from requirements must be submitted.
- When the vessel is equipped with two installed radars, failure of one radar, does not require reporting or an authorization.
How does this requirement fit with our Policy and Procedure Manual?.
- The Navigation Section of Part A of Vessel Operating Procedures details navigation responsibilities and discusses radar failure as per 33CFR 164.82
For more detailed information on the USCG requirements, go to 33CFR 164.72 and 33CFR 164.82 |
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Required Credentials
The new security laws have put an emphasis on the importance of ensuring that mariners have the required credentials onboard. This means, before you leave the house you need to check that you have all the required documents. When you get to the office you need to check again before going to the boat.
There have been several occasions where mariners have left some type of credential at home and are unable to get on the vessel. It can create quite a problem with crew change and reflects on your crew members. Below you will find a list of the documents required. To print this checklist click here.
Wheelman
o TWIC
o Wheelman's License/MMC
o MMD/MMC
o Radar Certificate
o FCC License
o Driver's License
o Employee ID
Tankerman
o TWIC
o MMD/MMC
o Driver's License
o Employee ID
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Grocery Loading Safely
While loading groceries, care needs to be taken to protect yourself and other crew members from injury. Choosing a good location to take on groceries is important. Choose a location where crew member can easily pass groceries over the bulwarks.
A muddy bank does not make a good location. If a good location can not be obtained from the vessel, use of the skiff may be necessary. Do not over load the skiff! The load limit can be found on a reflective sticker inside the skiff.
Remember the boxes of groceries can be heavy. It may take a couple of crew members to help unload. It's important to lift with your knees not your back. Never turn at the waist, use your feet to turn.
Loading groceries is a simple task. Lets avoid making something so simple into an injury.
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Christening of the M/V Miss Sarah & M/V Kyle A. Shaw
On August 19, 2009 the M/V Miss Sarah and the M/V Kyle A. Shaw were christened into the Higman Fleet. The M/V Miss Sarah is named in honor of Sarah Boucher, a scheduler/dispatcher in the Houston office. Over 10 years ago, Sarah came to the Higman Family from the retail industry. Sarah explained coming to the towboat industry as a "new world". She said the dynamics of the industry have kept it "interesting and exciting" for her. Sarah currently schedules and dispatches 17 towboats and 34 crude oil barges.
The M/V Kyle A. Shaw is named in honor of Kyle Shaw. Kyle's career in the barge industry began in 1986 after 26 years in the Coast guard. He joined a small barging company called Maryland Marine and two years later became President of the company. In 1997 Higman purchased Maryland Marine and Kyle became the Vice President of Health, Safety, Environmental and Afloat Personnel. Through his years at Higman, Kyle's strongest areas have been focused toward health and safety. In 2008 vetting was added to Kyle's expertise. He now holds the title of Vice President of Safety, Insurance & Vetting.
The M/V Kyle A. Shaw is crewed by Captain David Box, Relief Captain Bobby Smith, Pilot Bryan Williams, Steersman Michael Rack, Tankerman Miquel Allen, Thomas Bostwick and Aaron Allison.
The M/V Miss Sarah is crewed by Captain Robert Nealy, Relief Captain Alton Rivero, Pilot Jason McCranie, Steersman Kerry Miller, Tankerman Jonathan Flanigan, Elzie Ward and Shane Marks.
Congratulations to Sarah, Kyle and the crews! |
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Rule 34 ...."Maneuvering and Warning Signals". We take for granted every day the use of a radiotelephone to make arrangements for head-on, passing or crossing situation while underway. These verbal agreements are allowed by Rule 34 (paragraph h), to replace sound signals. If a verbal agreement is not reached though, a sound signal shall be used and will prevail.
Other sound signals are equally important and should always be used as per Rule 34 if not verbally communicated via VHF such as :
When involved in a USCG investigation or a litigation, the question about sound signals always comes up..."Did you sound the danger signal?", "Did you sound the going astern signal?", etc. Never forget to use your sound signals!
Here are this weeks questions, looking at Rule 34:
INLAND ONLY....You are overtaking a power-driven vessel in a narrow channel and wish to leave her on your starboard side. You may __________.
a. attempt to contact her on the radiotelephone to arrange for the passage
b. proceed to overtake her without sounding whistle signals
c. sound five short blasts
d. All of the above
INLAND ONLY....You have made your vessel up to a tow and are moving from a pier out into the main channel. Your engines are turning ahead. What whistle signal should you sound?
a. One prolonged and two short blasts
b. Three long blasts
c. One prolonged blast
d. Five or more short rapid blasts
INLAND ONLY....Your vessel is proceeding down a channel, and can safely navigate only within the channel. Another vessel is crossing your bow from port to starboard, and you are in doubt as to her intentions. Which statement is TRUE?
a. The sounding of the danger signal is optional.
b. The sounding of the danger signal is mandatory.
c. You should sound two short blasts.
d. You should sound one prolonged and two short blasts.
INTERNATIONAL ONLY....Which signal is sounded ONLY by a vessel in sight of another and NOT in or near an area of restricted visibility?
a. Four short blasts on the whistle
b. One prolonged blast on the whistle
c. One short blast on the whistle
d. One short, one prolonged, and one short blast on the whistle
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Online Training Questions
BASIC TANK BARGE SYSTEMS
Set Number 4
Tank Barge Heater Parts and Components.
We used a different process to produce last weeks Friday  Questions. The lesson and the questions were produced using the same software that builds the CBT courses. Though there is a learning curve for us in the office, this will be the method of the future. There will be some improvements starting next Friday:
- You will be able to print out the course and questions as some boats like to do.
- Crew names will be able to be entered to get immediate credit and documentation. This may take a few weeks to accomplish, so be patient.
- we are presently using crew lists to update training records until we get it straight.
I have had many comments and feedback on using the CBT software for the Friday Questions and I appreciate it all.
Your answers were right on with this question set!
Question 1....The heater barge heats the cargo by Answer....circulating a Thermal Fluid through a series of coils in the cargo tanks.
100% got this question right.
Question 2....The outlet of the thermal heater fuel pump goes to the
Answer....burner.
100% got this question right.
Question 3....The sight glass is located on the back side of the Heater and looks like this ... Click on the sight glass and push "Submit".
Answer....Most right on Target!
Question 4....Thermoil 55 is a synthetic
Answer....thermal heating oil used in cargo heating applications.
100% got this question right.
Question 5....The thermal fluid temperature is monitored and controlled by the "Partlow" controller. Click on the correct part of the picture and push "Submit".
Answer....Most right on Target!
Question 6....The air blower is located in the front of the thermal heater in the
Answer...burner assembly.
100% got this question right.
Question 7....At Higman, approximately 25% of our barges have Thermal Oil Heaters onboard
Answer....TRUE 100% got this question right.
Question 8... The expansion tank allows for expansion in the thermal fluid as it heats and allows
Answer....all of the above.
100% got this question right. |
| Stern Shots
Sarah Boucher outside the wheelhouse of the M/V Miss Sarah.
Kyle, his family and the crew of the M/V Kyle A Shaw.
 The crew of the M/V Miss Sarah.
Higman office personnel pose in front off the M/V Miss Sarah.
Gordie checks the square corners on the bunks in the M/V Miss Sarah. |
Nautical Trivia
Abraham Lincoln's Patent
On May 22, 1849, Abraham Lincoln received Patent No. 6469 for a device to lift  boats over shoals, an invention which was never manufactured. However, it did make him the only U.S. president to hold a patent.
Shown here is his scale model at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Lincoln learned river navigation early in life and took a flatboat down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers as a teenager. As he explained in his 1860 autobiography, "When he was nineteen, still residing in Indiana, he made his first trip upon a flatboat to New Orleans. He was a hired hand merely, and he and a son of the owner, without other assistance, made the trip."
A few years later, Lincoln moved to Illinois and made a second flatboat trip to New Orleans.
Lincoln's Patent Idea
Lincoln started work on his invention between sessions of Congress in 1848. On his way home to Illinois his boat became stranded on a sandbar. As William H. Herndon, his law partner told the story, "The captain ordered the hands to collect all the loose planks, empty barrels and boxes and force them under the sides of the boat. These empty casks were used to buoy it up. After forcing enough of them under the vessel she lifted gradually and at last swung clear of the opposing sand bar."
Herndon observed, "Lincoln had watched this operation very intently. It no doubt carried him back to the days of his navigation on the turbulent Sangamon, when he and John Hanks had rendered similar service at New Salem dam to their employer the volatile Offut. Continual thinking on the subject of lifting vessels over sand bars and other obstructions in the water suggested to him the idea of inventing an apparatus for this purpose."
Lincoln created a scale model of his invention with the help of Walter Davis, a Springfield mechanic, who provided tools and advice. Herndon recalled, "Occasionally he would bring the model in the office, and while whittling on it would descant on its merits and the revolution it was destined to work in steamboat navigation. Although I regarded the thing as impracticable I said nothing, probably out of respect for Lincoln's well-known reputation as a boatman."
Lincoln took the scale model with him to Washington and hired attorney Z. C. Robbins to apply for the patent. Part of his application read, "Be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, of Springfield, in the county of Sangamon, in the state of Illinois, have invented a new and improved manner of combining adjustable buoyant air chambers with a steam boat or other vessel for the purpose of enabling their draught of water to be readily lessened to enable them to pass over bars, or through shallow water, without discharging their cargoes..."
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Dates to Remember AUG/OCT 2009
Tankerman Class SEP 14 - SEP 17
Higman Pilot to RC OCT 13 - OCT 14
Leadership Class OCT 28 - OCT 29
answers to this weeks RULES OF ROAD...A, C, B, C
CBT Certificates earned by Higman employees since FEB 1, 2009 to date..............1880 |
The M/V KYLE A. SHAW and the M/V MISS SARAH were given official introductions last week at their christening at Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook, TX. The yacht club was a fitting location for such fine looking vessels!
Both crews did an outstanding job in getting these boats ready.
The M/V MISS SARAH crew, led by Capt. Robert Nealy, took a boat that was delivered just days earlier and turned it into a vessel ready for the challenges of full scale operations! The brass was shined and the corners on the bunks were squared! Many thanks go out to the crew:
Capt Robert Nealy Steersman Kerry Miller
Relief Capt. Alton Rivero Tankerman Elzie Ward
Mate Pilot Jason McCranie
I am sure Capt. Dave Box had to answer the question many times about when the M/V KYLE A. SHAW was delivered. Few could believe that she has been working for about 4 months before the Christening. There was hardly a scratch or blemish anywhere to be found, inside or out! Many thanks go out to the crew:
Capt. Dave Box Tankerman Aaron Allison
Relief Capt. Bobby Smith Tankerman Thomas Bostwick
Mate Pilot Bryan Williams Tankerman Miquel Allen
Both crews did a wonderful job during the "meet and greet". It was obvious that they were proud of these boats as they showed our guests around. I heard from several of the guests who were ready to sign on as crew after their tours.
In a time when many companies are pulling back, Higman is full speed ahead. Let's keep up the good work, mindful that your professionalism is key to our customer's satisfaction!
Have a great and safe week!
Sincerely, |
GORDIE KEENAN
KELLY CLEVER
HIGMAN MARINE SERVICES, Inc. | |
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