Spotlight on Fueling 

When fueling your boat, go by the plan. 

Benjamin Franklin once said, "A little neglect may breed great mischief."  As you all know, when fueling a boat or a barge, a small mistake or a lapse in attention can quickly develop into a big problem.

Tankerman Lorenzo McKnight preparing to hook up the hose.

How have we done in the past?

First off, let's begin by looking at our recent fueling history.  During the past two years there have been two fueling incidences: 

• The most recent occurred six months ago.  It involved a Higman tankerman who overfilled a barge fuel tank.  One half gallon spilled on deck; nothing in the water but a spill none the less. Causes....inattention, watch change, neglect of duty.
• The other spill happened during a fueling operation on one of our charter boats.  In this case the tankerman was depending on a tank sight glass in the engine room that gave a false reading.  Diesel was spilled into the containment area and ultimately into the water.  Causes....unreliable equipment, loading too fast, no one on deck monitoring the connection.

We participate in thousands of fueling operations per year.  Yes, our record is good, but obviously not perfect.  

A look at the fuel transfer.

A successful fuel transfer begins with a well thought out plan that covers all aspects of the operation.  Let's go over the highlights of our fuel Transfer Procedure found in the P&P Manual as a refresher. 

Check your gauge sticks!

• Sec 3.b.....Company Personnel involved in the transfer must conduct a "pre-evolution conference".  The term "pre-evolution" denotes a  pre-programmed task, as in a military maneuver.  Here all personnel involved including the Wheelmen on Watch, discuss every aspects of the transfer.  Being well informed of what is about to take place is a first step to success.
• Request sounding of supply tanks and verify absence of water through water cutting from the Supplier.  Sound all receiving tanks on our boat or barges.  This protects all involved in the transfer by having good baseline data.
• Check your stick gauges.  Do they work properly.
• Complete the DOI.
• Make sure the Captain and/or Relief Captain are notified before starting.
• Make sure you understand the capacities of your tanks. At what level do you cut off fueling to stay below 90% capacity.  Check your sounding tables if not well understood.
• When complete, verify fuel receipt by sounding tanks.  Sign off on fuel ticket if within +/- 5%.  If there is a discrepancy, note it on the receipt.  Call office if additional help in needed.
• Log your fuel receipt.

Other considerations for a safe fuel/lube transfer:

• Use two tankermen or tankermen/wheelman when ever possible when fueling the boat.  Company policy requires two tankermen when transfering boat to barge.
• Do not multi-task.  The job you are doing is too critical to be distracted by another task.
• Have spill pads, drip buckets ready if needed to clean up small drips.
• Any tools needed for the transfer should be out and ready.  Having to look for a tool during the transfer is a distraction.
• Make sure communication lines are open and clear with the fuel supplier.  Are you both on the same channel?  You may laugh, but it has happened.
• Make sure you understand any boat specific requirements and procedures.

There is little room for error in fueling a boat since tanks are relatively small.  Errors are easily magnified when the margins are so small.  Follow the procedures , keep alert and your fueling should go smooth.

In the traditional maritime world, if you heard the phrase "One Hand" you came running because it was a fellow mariner calling for assistance.

"One Hand" is often needed when traversing the Galveston Causeway Bridge, or when docking/undocking in Texas City. How many other places are there where Higman boats traverse, that assistance may be needed?

With the size of the Higman Team, that assistance should not be far away.  Have you responded to the call for "One Hand"?  Or did you find an excuse to say your boat was not available?

401k Enrollment/Changes

If you would like to enroll or change your 401k now is the time. January 1st and July 1st are open enrollment deadlines. Open enrollment is the only to sign up or change your 401k percentage.

2012 Wheelman Seminar Signup

I Got Mine!

Flu shot reminder....

In the last Training Newsletter, I challenged all of you to get a Flu shot.

I got mine; it did not hurt and for me, there were no side effects!  It took no more than ten minutes from walking into Walgreens to walking out. The cost was $30.00.

If you had one last year, it may not protect you for the flu strains that develop this year.  They must be repeated every year to be effective.

It is not too late for you to get one!  

Nav Zone 

Stern Shots

Captain Shawn West takes command of the M/V ALLIANCE

Tankerman Jose Alvarez loads supplies on the M/V ALLIANCE

That looks like an LSU flag on the MMI 608.  Do we have any ALABAMA flags in the fleet?

Ben Gunstream shows off the M/V SAN BERNARD to industry inspectors and Coast Guard visitors.

Caney Creek had a role in the Civil War

USS OCTORANA patroled the Western Gulf of Mexico beginning in Oct 1863.

During the Civil War (1861-65), Union forces tried several times to seize Texas ports. Galveston was taken on October 5, 1862, but recaptured by a Confederate army on January 1, 1863.  Lt. Dick Dowling's troops stopped a Federal invasion at Sabine Pass on Sept. 8, 1863.
 

Maj. Gen. John B. Magruder, Confederate commander of Texas, ordered fortification of the mouth of Caney Creek in an attempt to halt the invasion.  Completed in the begining of January 1864, an earthen fortress, rifle pits, trench works, and four redoubts were completed near this site.  Defended by 4000-6000 Confederates, the area was bombarded begining January 8, 1864 by Union gunboats.  The seige lasted for 2 months.

No ground combat occurred at Caney Creek, but the preparations deterred a further Federal advance.  In March 1864, Gen. Banks moved most of his troops to Louisiana and launched an unsuccessful invasion along Texas' eastern border.  Removal of Union forces from key Texas ports allowed blockade runners to continue transporting needed materials to Civil War Texas.

From December 1863 to March 1864 there was nearly constant movement of troops so the list is incomplete but at least the following Confederate units were present: