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Trouble Shooting your Modem
Over half of the Higman fleet have received their training computers and new modems. The Ericsson W25 Data/Voice modem serves as your link to the Internet and as an Internet splitter. It takes in the wireless AT&T connection and distributes it to the wheelhouse and training computer. The Wheelhouse computer is hard wired into the modem and the training computer is wirelessly connected.
An electrical surge from your generator  can sometimes cause the modem to lock up and loose signal. This has been mainly remedied by adding a UPC power supply to the circuit. If you do not have a UPC in the modem power circuit, please notify Channelview. If you are still having problems connecting to the Internet, try resetting the modem before calling IT for additional help. To reset the modem:
- Unplug the power supply located on the bottom of the modem.
- After 10 seconds plug in the power cord.
- The modem will take a couple of minutes to reset. You will know when it is reset when the POWER, MOBILE NETWORK, INTERNET, and WIRELESS LAN lights reappear. You must have all four lights to properly connect.
- Once the modem is reset test the connection by opening Higman boats or Skymira.
- If you are still experiencing trouble, please contact Patrick in the Houston office
Connection Issues
You may also have problems obtaining a connection depending on your location. Check the type of connection by looking at the front of the modem before calling IT. If the WIRELESS LAN light is:
- Blinking: then you are out of the AT&T range
- Red: You are on the old system (slower connection)
- Green: 3G connection...Good to go!
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Ready for Flu Season
Annual flu season starts each fall and runs through early spring. Here are some quick facts we can all use.
- Routine vaccine is 90% effective in preventing flu
- Vaccine for the common flu is in good supply and available in many places.
- Vaccine for H1N1 should be available in the next few weeks.
This year a new strain is making gains. The H1N1, formally called the Swine Flu is now identified nation wide.
- Also a type A flu like the common flu.
- Easily treated.
- Because it is a new virus, most people will not have immunity to it, and illness may be more widespread and severe.
Flu spreads by:
- Person to person when infected people sneeze or cough.
- Touching something covered with the virus and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
- You can infect others
- 1 day before your own symptoms appear.
- 7 days after getting sick.
How do you know you have the flu; H1N1 and the common flu?
- Symptoms
- Sudden onset
- Fever over 100.4 degrees
- Cough
- Plus one or more of the following:
- Sore throat
- Aching joints
- Muscle weakness/aches
- Vomiting/Diarrhea
Detecting the common cold - Symptoms:
- Watery eyes
- Runny nose
- Seldom causes
- Fever
- Headache
- Aches and pains
Safeguard yourself and your crewmembers:
- Wash hands frequently. Carry hand sanitizer if soap and water not available.
- Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.
- Keep common areas clean...use bleach solution to sanitize surfaces.
- Notify the office through your Captain, if you exhibit flu symptoms.
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| Vessel General Permit Online
October 23, 2009
In the September 23, 2009 issue of the Higman Barge Lines Training E Newsletter, we discussed the upcoming Vessel General Permit. As you know, the permit is a new Federal requirement that mandates additional inspections and daily log entries for our barges. To review details of the VGP, go to...... Vessel General Permit article. Starting on Friday, October 23, 2009, an electronic form on the Higman Intranet will be available. Click on the VGP icon(shown below) on higmanboats.com to start the permit.
It must be filled out each week or each voyage (which ever is shorter) as follows:
- The date and time of inspection.
- Personnel conducting the inspection.
- Location of any visual sampling and observations.
- Any potential problems and sources of contamination found.
- The signature of the master or the person conducting the inspection.
Detailed instructions will be available when the form is released at the end of the week. If you require additional information, please contact John Costello.
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New Hotel!
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
 We are now using the Fairfield Inn for Channelview hotel stays. They are located next door to McDonald's on Sheldon Rd and I-10. This is a non-smoking facility, so if you would like a smoking room, please let us know ahead of time so that we can make other arrangements.
They have complimentary breakfast and a snack bar. All rooms have free wi-fi Internet access! This is a secure facility with with interior halls and after hour key access. This is a nice, brand new facility. I hope you all enjoy our new accommodations. We would appreciate feedback on your opinions of this facility. Contact Kayla with comments. |
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Hope Boat Top Off Placards
All Higman - Hope Shipyard built towboats are now fitted or will shortly be given Fueling Station Topping Off Placards.  These placards are positioned to remind the boat's fueling PIC of the policy to load no more than 90% capacity. Boats built at Kody Shipyard and other inland Shipyards in our fleet will receive their placards before November 30, 2009. If you have any questions on this policy please contact your Port Captain: |
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Part D - Sound and Light Signals
Rule 37....Distress Signals.
(a) When a vessel is in distress and requires assistance she shall use or exhibit the signals described in Annex IV to these rules.
Annex IV describes the characteristics the signals that when used together or separately, indicate distress and the need of assistance.
The Inland rules match the International rules except for the following addition:
A high intensity light flashing at regular intervals from 50 to 70 times per minute.
Here are some practice questions using Rule 37. These seem easy, so I added a few more than usual:
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND ....Which signal is recognized as a distress signal?
a. Directing the beam of a searchlight at another vessel
b. A smoke signal giving off orange colored smoke
c. A whistle signal of one prolonged and three short blasts
d. International Code Signal "PAN" spoken over the radiotelephone
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND....Which is a distress signal?
a. A triangular flag above or below a ball
b. The International Code Signal of distress indicated by "JV"
c. A green smoke signal
d. Flames on the vessel as from a burning tar barrel
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
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND....You see a vessel displaying the code flag "LIMA" below which is a red ball. The vessel is __________.
a. trolling
b. getting ready to receive aircraft
c. aground
d. in distress
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND....You are underway and hear a vessel continuously sounding her fog whistle. This indicates the other vessel __________.
a. desires to communicate by radio
b. desires a pilot
c. is in distress
d. is aground
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND....All of the following are distress signals EXCEPT __________.
a. the continuous sounding of any fog signal apparatus
b. giving five or more short and rapid blasts of the whistle
c. firing a gun at intervals of about a minute
d. a barrel with burning oil in it, on deck
 Inland Addition...A high intensity white light flashing at regular intervals from 50 to 70 times per minute.
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Online Training Questions
The Friday Question Sets during the last two weeks completed the Barge Loading Series and started a new series called Operational Subjects. During the next few weeks we will work on a variety of items, getting ready to close out the year.
Most boats did a good job with these last sets. How did your crew do?
Barge Loading
Set Number 3
Initial and Finish barge Loading
To view this question set again, go to Initial and Final Loading
Question 1....How long are you required to keep the DOI?Answer....30 days
Question 2...._________ _________ in general are accumulators of static electricity. Answer.... CLEAN CARGOS
Question 3...Barges with cambered tank tops are to be topped off no higher than __ at the stick gauge level. Answer....12"  Question 4....What does the draft read?
Answer....6'3"
Question 5....What is the max initial transfer rate if you are loading barge with six inch pipe diameters and 4 drops?
Answer....1652 BBLs per hour
Operational Subjects
Set Number 1
Marine Sanitation Device
Question 1....Humans wastes can be hazardous to the marine environment....TRUE/FALSE
Answer....TRUE
Question 2.... Marine Sanitation device uses _______to break down human wastes.
Answer.... Biological reaction
Question 3....What provides assistance to the bacterial break down of wastes in the aeration chamber?
Answer....Forced air
Question 4....The settling chamber allows _____________to reenter the aeration chamber. Answer....Solids Question 5....Click on the chlorinator  Answer....most had this right
Question 6....What stage is chlorine added to the system to kill the bacteria?
Answer....Final stage
Question 7....Formula 101 should be added to the toilet once a month.....TRUE/FALSE
Answer....FALSE....Formula 101 should be added every 2 weeks
Question 8.... The fluffer valve should be opened for ___ once a month to prevent odors from backing up into the house.
Answer....5 minutes
Question 9....The inlet filter on the blower should be replaced every...
Answer....6 months
Question 10....What should be added to the Chlorinator every 2 weeks to kill the bacteria?
Answer....Hypo Chlorate Tablets
Thanks for the good work! |
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M/V LAVACA BAY Blessing
The M/V LAVACA BAY was blessed into the Higman Fleet on October 14, 2009. The vessel was built by Hope Shipyard, hull number 169.
If you pass her going down the canal, make sure to congratulate the crew; Captain Grayson Skaggs, Relief Captain Kenneth Glaze, Pilot Mark Henry, Steersman Albert Shelton, Tankerman Ben Carpenter, Tankerman Gerry McCain and Tankerman Corey Smart. |
| Stern Shots
From the M/V LAVACA BAY Blessing
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Nautical Trivia
The Endurance
Last we left off the Endurance and its crew were completely surrounded by ice on January 18, 1915....  On October 27, 1915 the ice begins to turn and crush the hull of the Endurance. The crew is forced to abandon ship on to the ice pack. They turn the life boats upside down and use them as shelters. They are forced to live on ice fishing and seal hunting. The amazing ship lasted until November 21, 1915 before she sank to the depths of the Weddell Sea. After another 4 ½ months of living in lifeboat shelters, Shackleton and his crew face another dilemma. The ice pack is starting to break up! On April 9, 1916 the crew must turn the lifeboats over and get in. On April 14, 1916 the two lifeboats land at Elephant Island. The first time the crew has been on solid land for 497 days! After 10 days on Elephant Island Shackleton and five others set out on a mission to find help. They launched the 22.5 foot life boat, the James Caird, to make the 800 mile journey back to South Georgia Island. This was a non motorized, open life boat. They had to use oars and make-shift sails to make the journey. On May 10, 1916 the six men landed on South Georgia Island after only 16 days to travel 800 miles. Their journey from South Georgia back to South Georgia was 2 ½ years without a single loss of life! |
Dates to Remember OCT/NOV 2009
Higman Pilot to RC OCT 28 -OCT 29
Leadership Class
Higman Calendar Contest Through NOV 10
Tankerman School DEC 7 - DEC 12
Answers to this weeks RULES OF ROAD... B, D, D, D, C, B
CBT Certificates earned by Higman employees since FEB 1, 2009 to date..............2540!!! |
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We all get older, but some seem to get better with age and just keep on pushing. That seems to apply to the M/V MARRERO.
In early August, the M/V MARRERO was sent to the shipyard for scheduled periodic repairs. Now 2 ½ months later, she is ready to return to service as our spare boat.
For 35 years, this vessel has worked the inland waterways and has earned a reputation as a boat that could handle any tow given her.
Built by Orange Shipbuilding in 1974, she started out as the M/V TEXACO MARRERO. In 1991, still owned by Texaco, she became the M/V STAR MARRERO.
The M/V STAR MARRERO became as we know it today, the M/V MARRERO in 1995 when she became part of the Higman fleet.
It's hard to believe we have had her for 14 years, all off that time working hard. To the M/V MARRERO, we say "Welcome Back!"
Have a great and safe week!
Sincerely |
GORDIE KEENAN
KELLY CLEVER
HIGMAN MARINE SERVICES, Inc. | |
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