Migration to Hydration

Why does our body need water?

Water makes up about 60% of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. It is used to carry nutrients to and flush toxins out of your organs.

How much water should we drink?

Our body looses water through breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. We have to replace this water to keep our bodies healthy. But how much water should we drink?

Captain Darren Istre re-hydrates after an insane workout.

There are many factors that go into determining how much water we need. Such as weight, activity, and climate. A general rule of thumb for a healthy adult in a temperate climate is 2 liters or the 8 x 8 rule (8, 8 oz glasses of water).

But those of us living and working on the Gulf Coast are not in a temperate climate. It is HOT and HUMID. When you are in these temperatures you may need to consume more than 2 liters or 8 glasses of water to keep properly hydrated.

An easy "check" to see if you are properly hydrated is your urine. A normal adult output about 1.5 liters or more of colorless to slightly yellow tinted urine a day.

Signs of dehydration

When you body doesn't get enough water it starts to become dehydrated. Mild dehydration can cause:

• Dry stick mouth
• Sleepiness or tiredness
• Thirst
• Decreased urine output
• Dry skin
• Headache
• Constipation
• Dizziness or lightheadedness

Signs of severe dehydration can cause:

• Muscle cramps
• Nausea and vomiting
• Lack of sweating
• Little or no urine (any urine that is produced will be amber colored)
• Shriveled or dry skin that lacks elasticity (pinch test-skin should bounce back)
• Low blood pressure
• Rapid heartbeat or palpitations (feeling that the heart is jumping or pounding)
• Rapid breathing
• Fever

Dehydration can lead to serious problems if it is not treated like heat injury, swelling of the brain, seizures, low blood volume, kidney failure, and even coma or death.

How to treat dehydration?

Dehydration is not to be taken lightly. If you think your or one of your crew members are dehydrated it needs to be treated promptly.

Mild to moderate dehydration can be reversed by:

• Fluid replenishment should be done by small sips of water or clear electrolyte drinks.
• If in the sun, move to a cooler dry location (reduce perspiration)
• If slightly fevered, take an ibuprofen or acetaminophen

Severe dehydration should be treated by a medical professional. Emergency services should be given if a person has confusion, fainting, fever over 103. 

Proper Hydration

Water! Water is best for your body though you may drink Electrolyte drinks (Gatorade or Pedialyte) for hydration. Drinks that contain a lot of sugar or caffeine can actually dehydrate your body. Your body uses more of its water content to process these than what is contained in the drink.

Fun with Meters and Switches

Things to know when you check your generator's electrical end!

The first thing most tankermen see they go to the lower engine room is the generator panel.  On this panel is a series of monitoring meters, indicator lights and selector switches.  What is the purpose of this equipment and why do we have it?

Before we start discussing the functions of the monitoring equipment, let's look at some electrical generator basics.

On our boats, electricity is generated by converting mechanical energy from a diesel engine into electrical energy in the generator section.  A diesel coupled to a generator is normally referred to a "genset"

Power generation is based on the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction.  As the generator's shaft rotates, an attached magnetic field or "pole" (north and south), passes inside a series of wire coils built into the stationary (stator) section of the generator.  This creates a voltage through induction. Our generator shafts have two sets of north and south magnetic poles.

In the case of a Higman boat, a "three phase" voltage is induced into the wires.  That voltage is then delivered to the inside of the operating panel for distribution as 208 volts of alternating current or "AC".

Let's look at the meters and selector switches on your panel to see why they are important and what you should be looking for.

Hertz Meter

In the middle of the panel you will find the "hertz" meter.  A hertz, abbreviated as Hz, is the equivalent to a cycle per second (cps) and is directly proportional to the rotational speed of the generator's diesel engine. This is also referred to as the frequency of the generated electricity.

Since our generator engines are designed to run at 1800 revolutions per minute (rpm), we can convert this to cycles per second, or hertz:

1800 rpm divided by 60 seconds in a minute equals 30 cycles per second or hertz.

            1800   = 30

              60      

Because there are two sets of magnetic poles on the generator rotor, we then can multiply the 30 hertz by 2 and get 60 hertz.

The rated hertz is 60Hz or 1800 rpm.  A range of 60Hz to 62Hz is about right.  Having the frequency a bit on the high side, keeps the generator speed from dipping down too much when a large load such as a motor kicks in.

If your hertz meter show "63 Hz", then your generator's  diesel speed is 1890 rpm; that is 63/2=31.5, then 31.5x 60 = 1890 rpm.  In this case the diesel's governor may be set a bit high.

If your hertz meter shows "57 Hz", then your generator's diesel speed is 1710 rpm; that is 57/2= 28.5, then 28.5 x 60 = 1710 rpm.  In this case, the rpm's are at least 80 rpms slow. 

Check with the Repairs Department if your genset's governor needs to be set higher or lower.

Volt Meter

With the way our generators are wired for three phase power, the volt meter should always read about 208 volts.  Underneath the volt meter, you will see a selector switch.  The Voltmeter Selector Switch is connected to the Voltmeter.  It measures the voltages between different phases with a single voltmeter.  Since our voltage is "three phase", there are three separate coils in the stator producing voltage.

In the 1-2 position the voltmeter will display the phase voltage between coil 1 and coil 2. In the 2-3 position the voltmeter will display the phase voltage between coil 2 and coil 3. In the 3-1 position the voltmeter will display the phase voltage between coil 3 and coil 1.  Why is this important?

Since the coils produce inducted voltage independently, it is important to know that each is operating properly.  If a defect was to develop in a coil, the voltage would be different or zero between phases.  An experienced electrician than can isolate the problem.

Your job is to observe that all the voltages are close to the same between each phase.

Ammeter

The Ammeter measures the flow of electrical current from the generator.  This meter will show different readings depending on the present load on the generator.

The Ammeter Selector Switch - as the name suggests - is connected to an Ammeter, monitoring current in each phase using only one ammeter. It is the same idea as the voltmeter; you should observe that the current flow or amps, is nearly the same for each phase. 

Ground Amperes

The Ground Ammeter shows current that may be leaking from the circuit.  Push the "test" button to see if there is current leakage from the circuit.  Normally this should show "zero".

In the end, your job is to look for changes if the readings you see on these meters.  Beyond that, professional help from an electrician will be needed. 

With any electrical equipment, safety is your number one concern. Observe and report any problems.  Do not attempt to repair.

There may be setup differences in the meters and selector switches throughout our fleet, but the concepts are the same.

CBT 3rd Quarter

The CBT courses for 3rd Quarter are available! This quarter's courses are:

• Back Safety
• Marine Sanitation Device
• Higman Personal Protective Equipment

Please remind your crew members to log out when they are finished using the CBT website.

Thank you to all of our CBT users for your patience working through the issues we were experiencing during 2nd quarter.  If you have any more issues please contact Kelly.

Nav Zone: Where are your barges?

Stern Shots 

Tankerman Jesse Fleeman working on dinner on the M/V JESSE B GUNSTREAM.

Tilapia ready for the oven on the M/V JESSE B GUNSTREAM.

John Exparza working hard on the M/V KARL G. ANDREN

Jamey Bourgeois washes the M/V GROSBEC

Nautical Trivia  

A "Notice to Mariners" from the days of the Republic of Texas.

During the early days of the Republic of Texas, the Texas Navy played a large role in the fight for independence from Mexico. 

In 1836, when Texas proclaimed its' Independence from Mexico, the small nation was immediately faced with invasion on land and sea by overwhelming Mexican forces.  A first Texas Navy was raised, consisting of four hastily purchased and minimally equipped small sailing vessels. 

Shortly after Mexico's defeat at the battle of San Jacinto, the first Texas Navy was disbanded.

In 1838, when Mexico again began aggressions against the Republic of Texas, a second Navy was organized with six hurriedly purchased vessels.

One of those vessels was the SAN ANTONIO. 

The SAN ANTONIO sent this "Notice of Mariners" about Matagorda Bay for publication in the Colorado Gazette in 1841:

NOTICES TO MARINERS.

Texan schr of war SAN ANTONIA, Matagorda Bay,

Oct. 4, 1841.

Editor of the Colorado Gazette,

Dear Sir, - I have completed the survey of Pass Cabello, and have placed a buoy moored with chain on the extreme point of the shoal. Vessels crossing the bar should pass to the westward of the buoy, and within from fifteen to eighty yards in which channel there is large 11 feet, at ordinary high water. The bay is by far the best bay in Texas, there being ample room for one thousand vessels to lay at their moorings, and not one of them be in less than four fathoms water.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. W. Moore,

Commanding Texas Navy.

Lat. of the Bar, 28. 19.15. N., Ion. 96. 22. 20. West.