West Nile virus

Mosquito exposure is a fact of life in towboating. With mosquito bites comes the possibility of exposure to the West Nile virus (WNV). Texas has been the hotbed of WNV this year with more than 400 cases reported to date. Louisiana and Mississippi have had almost 60 cases each reported.

From the Center for Disease Control below is information on WNV:

West Nile virus is a potentially serious illness. Experts believe WNV is established as a seasonal epidemic in North America that flares up in the summer and continues into the fall.

Most often, WNV is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread WNV to humans and other animals when they bite.

When you are outdoors, use insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient. Follow the directions on the package.

Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Be sure to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants at these times or consider staying indoors during these hours.

Serious Symptoms in a Few People: About one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness. The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.

Milder Symptoms in Some People: Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected have symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have become sick for several weeks.

Looking Around.

Each new boat and each boat that goes into the shipyard will be outfitted with extra cameras onboard. These cameras are run to a DVR (just like your satellite TV) that records and outputs a signal to the wheelhouse computer.

So how do you look at and adjust the cameras?

A program will be added to your wheelhouse computer allowing you to access the cameras. You will click on the icon on your desktop. Double click on the icon to open the program. You will be prompted to log in (which will be given to you by the IT department when you receive the cameras).

Once logged in a screen will appear with your default camera shown. You can easily switch between cameras by clicking button with one screen on the bottom. If you want to select which camera you are looking at click on the arrow and the select it from the list. You also have the option to view up to 9 cameras at the same time.

The outside cameras have the ability to be rotated and zoomed using the joy stick. Select on the program which camera you want to adjust. Then on the joystick press "Cam ID" then the camera #, and "Enter". Now the joystick and the program have the same camera selected. Simply move the joystick left, right, up or down to move the camera. To zoom in twist the joystick clockwise, to zoom out twist counter-clockwise.

The cameras are recording. You can view any recording within the last 10 days by click on "Search" at the top of the screen. Select a start date and time and click on the play button. Your playback will be displayed. You can fast forward or rewind any playback using the buttons at the bottom .

Many of you do not have the cameras yet but you can reference this material at any time by accessing the Training Newsletter Archive. 

Stern Shots 

The M/V GUADALUPE crew is lined up for Christening day!

The M/V PORT MALLARD crew ready to work the crowd at the Christening!

Lydia Ann Lighthouse taken by Capt terry Busby from the M/V SABINE PASS

Sunrise Mobile Bay...by Capt Terry Busby

Nautical Trivia  

The S/V GEORGE W.. THOMAS.

You know about the present day "M/V GEORGE H. THOMAS" but do you know about the S/V GEORGE W. THOMAS?

This picture of the "S/V GEORGE W. THOMAS as taken in 1880 at the Galveston Wharf (stereograph photo).  The photo appears to be that of a coastal schooner that was common on the Gulf Coast.

S/V GEORGE W THOMAS at the Galveston Wharf, 1880.

Picture courtesy of Southern Methodist University, Central University Libraries, DeGolyer Library.

Odds and ends from: 

   

A Scarcity of Sailors.

"A News reporter on making inquiry at the shipping master's office yesterday, was informed that there was a great scarcity of seamen who were willing to 'make the " run across," i. e., the voyage from Galveston to Liverpool and other foreign ports, although the advance paid was $20 and wages were ruling at $20 per month. A few sailors are found who are willing to ship to go to ports in the northern portion of the United States."