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Lube Oil Reporting
It is important to change lube oils on our vessels regularly to keep engines and gears operating at their prime. The oils should be changed according to the following schedules:
- Main Engines: Oil change every 500 hours. During the first year of the engines this should be done every 250 hours.
- Generators: Oil change every month; regardless of hours run.
- Gears: Gear oil should be changed every 1200 hours.
The Maintenance Department tracks all changes and additions of oil for the purpose of early detection of malfunctions. Thus it is very important that you log all additions and changes of oil.
There is a section on your daily vessel log to input this information.
The number of gallons added to each port and starboard engine must be entered in the appropriate box. The number of gallons added along with the engine hours from the daily engine room inspection will be reported monthly to the maintenance department.
Above is the report that the maintenance department views. |
Hitting 3,000!
The numbers grow!
Just under two weeks ago, we hit 3,000 CBT courses completed by our crews.
That 3,000 number does not include the day to day hands on training that is underway each day on board. That number does not include the Friday Question training completed by our crews. That number does not include the outsourced training.
If we add all those numbers in, the overall total is very large.
Great job by all crew members....keep up the good work!
Our 3,000th CBT course was completed by Kyle Ewing, while taking the Driving Safety course. Kyle is assigned as tankerman aboard the M/V BALTIMORE.
Kyle recieves a $150 gift card from WalMart. Congratulations!
Third Quarter Courses were put on line JULY 1st.
Here is what is offered:
A fifth course, " Vapor Recovery Operations" will be added in about two weeks.
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Insurance Benefits News!
Smith Administrators has been acquired by Meritain Health.
When you call, you will hear them answer "Smith Administrators, a Meritain Health Company" or "Meritain Health". Your insurance benefits are still the same.
The information on your insurance card including their contact phone numbers and claim address has not changed.
 When you call, continue to give the customer service representative your group number ( Group# 7172) and your Employee ID number from your insurance card - and they will be able to locate you in the system. Smith/Meritain Customer Service: (800) 867-2582 or (817) 335-2582 |
USCG License - Certificate Suitable for Framing
Coming Soon..... The Coast Guard is finalizing development of a Merchant Mariner Certificate, suitable for framing, which will soon be available for mariners who hold or have held a valid Merchant Mariner Credential to download from a Coast Guard web site, print and proudly display.
Many have asked for a paper license in addition to the MMC that is now received. This certificate is for display only. It will not replace your MMC booklet which is your actual license. We will keep you up to date as details arrive. MMC certificate for framing. | |
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Tidal Datum
Tides, the vertical rise and fall of water, are generated by the Moon and the Sun. The gravitational pull of these bodies pull the water in their direction. The Moon is the main tide-generating body. The Sun has 46% less influence compared to the Moon because it is so far away from Earth. There are several different classifications of tides based on where the Moon, Sun, and earth align (neap, spring, etc).
Tidal datums are a given average tide level from which heights of tides and overheard clearances are determined. Sounding datums are those that are used on charts. The charted depths should be low enough that the lowest waters do not fall far below the charted depth. Several different calculations are used to get the charted depths. The following are common calculations used to obtain charted depths (these calculations are typically made using a 19 year period):
- Mean low water (MLW) is the average height of all low waters at a given place. Half of all low waters fall above, half below.
- Mean low water springs (MLWS) is the average level of the low waters that occur at spring tides.
- Mean lower low water (MLLW) is the average height of the lower low waters
Tide predictions, found online or in tide publications, are based upon the charted depths.
The following are questions concerning tides found on USCG Navigation General Test:
How many high waters usually occur each day on the East Coast of the United States?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
The height of tide is the _________________.
A. difference between the depth of the water and the area's tidal datum
B. depth of water at a specific time due to tidal effect
C. difference between the depth of the water and the high water tidal level
D. difference between the depth of the water at high tide and the depth of the water at low tide
Your vessel goes around in soft mud. You would have the best change of refloating it on the next tide if it grounded at _______________.
A. low water neap
B. low water spring
C. high water neap
D. high water spring
Mean low water is the average height of ________________.
A. the surface of the sea
B. high waters and low waters
C. all low waters
D. the lower of the two daily low tides
The difference between the heights of low and high tide is the __________.
A. Period
B. Distance
C. Depth
D. Range
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Online Training Questions
Our Engine Room Series started July 9th and includes four topics. The first series makes a " tour of the engine room" and discusses how to make a proper " round"  .
Here are answers to the questions that were presented.
How did your crew do?
Engine Room Series
Set Number 1
"Engine Room Tour" To view this question set again, go to Question 1.....A main engine cooling water temperature of 230 degrees would be considered very high...TRUE/FALSE Answer....TRUE
Question 2....Before starting an engine room round....
Answer.... the Wheelhouse should be notified.
Question 3....A proper gear box oil pressure should be about
Answer....250 psi.
Question 4..... When preparing to check the oil on the main engine and after coordinating with the Wheelhouse, the main engine is stopped....TRUE/FALSE
Answer.... TRUE
Question 5....When checking oil on the reduction gears, the......
Answer.... the main engine must be running and the gear disengaged.
Question 6....The air compressors should be.
Answer....blown down each watch.
Question 7....The hydraulic tank on the steering gear has
Answer.... a sight glass(es) to check oil level.
Question 8....The frequency meter on the generator should read 72 Hz....TRUE/FALSE
Answer....FALSE
Thanks for the good work! |
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Stern Shots
Capt Arthur Willey and crew took delivery of the newest Higman boat, the M/V ARANSAS PASS from Hope Shipyard. Presently outfitting in Orange, TX, she will begin service later this week. |
M/V ARANSAS PASS ready for service. | |
| Nautical Trivia
DUKW - "Duck Boats"
There was much in the news last week about the amphibious boat that capsized after a collision with a tug/barge on the Delaware River. Thirty seven people were tossed overboard at the time of the collision and two young Hungarians passengers were killed.
The amphibious boat involved in the incident was a "Duck Boat". Popular for tourist sightseeing, these boats travel from land directly to the water. There are many of these "Duck Boat" operations across the world that cater to tourist business.
What is a "Duck Boat" and where did they originate?
The DUKW (popularly pronounced " duck") is a six-wheel-drive  amphibious truck that was designed by General Motors Corporation during World War II for transporting goods and troops over land and water and for use approaching and crossing beaches in amphibious attacks.
The DUKW weighed 6.5 tons empty and operated at 50 miles per hour on road and 5.5 knots on water. It was 31 feet long, 8 feet wide, 7 feet high with the folding-canvas top down. 21,137 were manufactured with the last one produced in 1945.
The DUKW was used in landings in the Mediterranean, Pacific, on the D-Day beaches of Normandy and many other WW II campaigns. Its principal use was to ferry supplies from ship to shore, but it was used for other tasks.
After World War II, reduced numbers of DUKW's were kept in service by the United States, Britain, France and Australia with many more stored pending disposal.
In 1948, the Coast Guard constructed  additional units. These had aluminum bodies and incorporated the experience learned from using the Army model. DUKW's were most useful in flood relief. However, the craft suffered from high maintenance casts, rapid deterioration due to salt water, and a lack of watertight subdivisions. All of the vehicles had been disposed of by 1970
Many DUKW's have survived and are still in use, as amphibious tour buses for tourist transport in harbor and river cities, including: Seattle; Philadelphia; Cincinnati; Pittsburgh; Chattanooga; Nashville; Boston; Branson, Missouri; Grapevine, Texas; Hot Springs, Arkansas; Saugatuck, Michigan; Ottawa, Canada; Washington, D.C.; Stone Mountain Park, Atlanta, Georgia, Portland, Maine and Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.
The first "duck tour" company was started in 1946 by Mel Flath in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He moved his tour to Wisconsin Dells shortly thereafter. His company has changed ownership since, but is still in operation under the name Original Wisconsin Ducks. His family continues to operate a duck company called the Dells Army Ducks in the Wisconsin Dells area.
Dell's Army Ducks. | |
Dates to Remember
2010 Advanced Wheelhouse Management (Simulator)
Third Session JUL 26 - JUL 28
Fourth Session OCT 4 - OCT 6
Fifth Session NOV 29 - DEC 1
To schedule a Simulator session, please email Kelly or call at 281-864-6011. Answers to this weeks NAV GEN... B, A, B, C, D
CBT Certificates earned by Higman employees from JAN 1, 2010 to date........3360!
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Input from our crews is the most important and valuable information we receive in the office each day. River conditions, dock information, safety concerns; it all adds up to make our operation safe, efficient and greatly productive.
Several days ago we received a very well thought out discussion by Captain Greg Christmas on the precautions and preparations needed for going upriver on the Atchafalaya. Greg took the time to produce a document that started a round of discussions here in the office and helped management understand the specifics of the voyage in a better light. From it, the Safety Department and Port Captains can go out to our crews with complete and accurate first hand information.....Thanks, Greg
How can you do your part to keep information flowing?
- No idea is too small. All members of the crew have something to offer. A new deckhand may see a way to do task that had never been thought of by the rest of us.
- Experience is Golden. Pass on that experience to rest of the fleet. What is better to make your legacy.
- Use the communications tools at hand. Nothing beats an email to get the message across. You send an email to your Port Captain concerning a safety hazard, and it can be sent to the rest of the fleet before you finish that next cup of coffee.
- Encourage participation. Remind each other they they have good ideas.
Ideas, concerns; do not keep them to yourself.
I look forward to seeing them!
Have a great and very safe week!
Sincerely,
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GORDIE KEENAN
KELLY CLEAVER
HIGMAN MARINE SERVICES, Inc. | |
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