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It Takes More Than Just a Phone Call
A voice mail does not end the responsibility.
 It's late on a weekend night, and your tow makes a brief encounter with the Galveston Causeway Bridge. No damage can be found in the initial investigation and it is now time to call the Dispatcher on call and make an incident report. The phone rings a few times and a familiar voice answers on voice mail instructing you to leave a message after the tone. You relay the details of the incident and then end your recording.
Is your job done?
Section 3 of the Policy and Procedure Manual has the answer to that. Part A, "Response Procedures" talks about the Wheelman's Responsibility.
"All accidents, no matter how insignificant, shall be reported to the Dispatcher (or Duty Person on Call) as soon as operations permit. Dispatcher will be responsible for notifying Port Captain and Safety Department.
"If an accident causes damage to a vessel(s) which pose a significant threat of an oil spill, the Wheelman on Watch shall notify the Company's Dispatcher and Qualified Individual. The procedure in the Tank Vessel Response plan shall be followed."
Leaving a message on voice mail does not relive the Wheelman of his notification responsibility. The Wheelman has the responsibility to continue trying until someone in management is notified. In these days when everyone has a cell phone, it is possible always to find an alternate person to notify.
Don't leave the responsibility of the incident solely on your shoulders. Make sure your notification goes through so you can get the help you need. |
Resources Available at Principal
For those of us that are enrolled in the Higman 401k, the Principal Financial Group offers  useful online information to help you prepare for the future
Link to the Principal Retirement Newsletter for more information:
Depending on your age, family situation and assets, creating a personal trust as part of your estate plan may offer advantages.
Thinking about early retirement? Here are some of the factors to consider before making a decision.
The rules and regulations for retirement savings are constantly changing. Here's what they mean to you in 2010.
Each year you get a little closer to retirement. And the closer you get, the more decisions there are to make. Here are some checkpoints to keep top-of-mind.
If you've worked for more than one employer over the course of your career you may be juggling multiple retirement accounts. Here's a way to help simplify your finances.
If you have not set up a Principal User name and Login to check the status of your 401k account, go to " Login to access to Personal Accounts". Your plan account number can be found on the upper right side of your retirement plan statement that comes from Principal(shown as Contract Number). |
1000th CBT Certificate in 2010
 Congratulations to Gary Smith, Tankerman on the M/V Captain Jack Higman, for completing Hazwoper Introduction. This was the 1000th CBT certificate issued this year. We are getting very close to having first quarter completed.
Keep up the hard work! |
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Inland
Rule 35 - Sound and Light Signals
Sound Signals in Restricted Visibility
 In or near an area of restricted visibility (day or night) the sound signals below should be sounded at intervals of not more than 2 minutes:
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Power driven vessel making way = one prolonged blast
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Power driven vessel underway but stopped = two prolonged (2 seconds apart)
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A vessel not under command/ a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver/ a sailing vessel/ vessel engaged in fishing/ a vessel engaged in towing or pushing = one prolonged, two short blasts
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A manned tow = one prolonged, three short
The questions below are related RULE 35 - Sounds and Light Signals
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND....You are in charge of a power-driven vessel making way in dense fog. You observe what appears to be another vessel on radar half a mile distant on your port bow and closing. You must __________.
a. sound the danger signal
b. exchange passing signals
c. sound one prolonged blast
d. sound one short, one prolonged, and one short blast
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND....If your vessel is underway in fog and you hear one prolonged and three short blasts, this is a __________.
a. vessel not under command
b. sailing vessel
c. vessel being towed (manned)
d. vessel being towed (unmanned)
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND....A power-driven vessel underway in fog making NO way must sound what signal?
a. One long blast
b. Two prolonged blasts
c. One prolonged blast
d. One prolonged and two short blasts
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND....A sailing vessel with the wind abaft the beam is navigating in fog. She should sound __________.
a. three short blasts
b. one prolonged blast
c. one prolonged and two short blasts
d. two prolonged blasts
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND....When underway in restricted visibility, you might hear, at intervals of two minutes, any of the following fog signals EXCEPT __________. a. one prolonged blast
b. two prolonged blasts
c. one prolonged and two short blasts
d. ringing of a bell for five seconds
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND...You are underway, in fog, when you hear a whistle signal of one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts. This signal could indicate a vessel __________.
a. not under command
b. being towed
c. aground
d. All of the above
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Online Training Questions
Our discussion in the last "Friday Questions" continued with our Towing Gear Series. The subject of this week was the NABRICO 40 Ton Manual Winch.
We take for granted the work horses of the barge industry. Though we work with them every day, the details of these winches are worth looking at.
How did your crew do?
 Towing Gear Series
Set Number 2
NABRICO 40 Ton Manual Winch
To view this question set again, go to NABRICO 40 Ton Manual Winch. Fleet average on this question set was 97%....Not much to complain about there!
Question 1..... The Nabrico DF-156 Manual Winch as installed on Higman Barges has a HOLDING capacity of
Answer.... 40 tons
Question 2.... Before using the a manual winch it is important to
Answer....do a visual inspection of the unit to make sure it is ready to operate. Question 3..... The hand pull capacity of a Nabrico 40 ton winch is 14,000 lbs. This is the
Answer.... rated weight that can be pulled
during hand operations.
Question 4....By adding an extension bar, the hand capacity can be increased to 17,800 lbs....TRUE/FALSE
Question 5......For every turn of the winch wheel, the cable will travel
Answer....4 inches
Question 6.... .To tighten the manual winch after doing a visual inspection and engaging the brake,
Answer....engage the locking dog in the
locking gear using the locking dog assembly
handle.
Question 7....After final tightening of the winch, you should fully engage the Hand Disc Brake.....TRUE/FALSE
Answer....TRUE
Question 8....During releasing the winch, if the locking dog cannot be released, you must have at least three people to follow the proper steps.
Thanks for the good work! |
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Stern Shots
1st Wheelman's Seminar for 2010.......
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Nautical Trivia
How fast would this guy been going?
Below are pictures of the floating load hose on the FPSO Girassol in Angola , Africa that was pierced by a blue marlin. Load operations were shut down for a few days while they replaced the hose. For reference, this terminal produces about 250k barrels of oil a day and this loading hose is approx 24in in diameter.
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Dates to Remember
2010 Wheelman Seminars
First Session In progress
Second Session MAR 25 - MAR 26
Third Session APR 6 - APR 7
2010 Advanced Wheelhouse Management (simulator)
Second Session MAY 24 - MAY 26
Third Session JUL 26 - JUL 28
Fourth Session OCT 4 - OCT 6
Fifth Session NOV 29 - DEC 1
To schedule Wheelman Seminar or Simulator please call Kelly 281-864-6011 or register online at HigmanBoats.com
Answers to this weeks RULES OF ROAD...C,C,B,C,D,A
CBT Certificates earned by Higman employees from JAN 1, 2010 to date........1080
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I am writing this from our first Wheelmen's Seminar for 2010. A large group of Captains, Relief Captains and Pilots are seriously engaged in discussions and presentations.
Here are some of my observations so far:
Capts. Mike Maneely, Mike Serette and Arthur Willey are housed at the condos down the street because Cypress Bend ran out of rooms. Tough life they have; the giant Jacuzzi, large living room and cable TV are all included.
Capt. Greg Christmas, Capt. Jerry Casagrand and myself all brought guitars and look forward to some serious playing after dinner.
Capt. David Carriere's picture showed up on the screen a few times. I think it was taken about 15 years ago. Surprisingly, he still looks the same.
Capt. Pete got a great applause from all when his 46 years service was announced!
During the Team Building Exercise, the group in the next room complained about all the noise we were making during the activities. We did not care!
Capt. Iry Duplantis won the "ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS" competition.
Have a great and safe week!
Sincerely,
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GORDIE KEENAN
KELLY CLEAVER
HIGMAN MARINE SERVICES, Inc. | |
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