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How did we do?
2012 was a good year at Higman!
Looking back at the past twelve months is a time honored tradition that normally happens between Christmas and New Years. Turn on a news program and you will no doubt see highlights of stories that were covered during the outgoing year.
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Higman boats lined up on December 21, 2012 at Channelview. |
We can start reviewing our overall picture by looking at our operational statistics. How did we do with previous years? Are we making gains in the areas of safety and operational efficiency? How does your crew stand up with the rest of the fleet?
This week is a good time for your crew to sit down and discuss the past year and build on you successes for next year.
Let's look at the 2012 numbers through November:
- VOYAGES PLANNED and COMPLETED....1,742
- WATERWAY MILES TRAVELED....625,348...that is enough to travel around the world at the equator 25.1 times!
- BARRELS TRANSFERRED....83,805,807...that is enough to fill 400,000 large tank trucks. Line the tractor and the trailer up(approximately 60') and they would stretch out 4,544 miles...quite a traffic jam.
- SAFE TRANSFERS COMPLETED....7463
- New Build Boats Delivered - M/V Belle Chasse, M/V Sandpiper, M/V Point Mallard, M/V Port Neches, M/V Guadalupe, M/V High Island, M/V San Marcos. Purchased Boat Outfitted - M/V Empire -Our growth continues at a manageable pace in response to the needs of our customers and replacement of older equipment.
- Safety Performance Metrics - The numbers continue to get better all due the dedicated work of our crews. Over the past few years, the rates in all incident categories, have been trending downwards. Looking at 2011 vs. 2012, the trend is very positive. The amount of overall incidents has dropped 32% during that past year from the previous.
- Training continues to shine....over 4697 CBT courses were completed so far this year. Add this to onboard training, Tankermen's Meetings, Wheelmen's Seminars, Seamen's Church Institute/San Jacinto College Maritime Center courses and it is a big number.
Let's push the limits in 2013 to even greater heights!
From the Management and Staff of Higman Marine, we wish you and your family a Happy New Year.....Cheers!
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Parking Lot Playbook
Tailgating with a purpose.
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Steersman Wesley Vineyard and Capt Roy Lunson at a Tailgate meeting with Andy. |
In the early morning while in the parking lot during your next crew change day, you may see some activity a bit different than expected. Tailgating? Maybe, but it is with a different purpose from what you would normally find at a traditional tailgate gathering.
Safety Supervisor Andy Worley and our Port Captains have begun "Tailgate Meetings" prior to Higman oncoming crews heading out on crew change morning.
A simple safety message and a quick discussion on keeping our operations running incident free is the action you will see while tailgating.
Hotdogs and hamburgers? No, but you will get to chew on information that can keep your crew stay on the right path toward a safe operation. |
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2013 Higman Calendars
The 2013 Higman Barge Lines Calendars have been printed. Each vessel and each crewmember will receive a calendar over the next couple of weeks.
There were a lot of great pictures to choose from this year.
Cover Kevin Napier, Relief Captain, M/V GUADALUPE
January Taylor Milam, Tankerman, M/V BAFFIN BAY
February Darren Istre, Captain, M/V ANTIETAM
March (left) Glenn Bumpas, Relief Captain, M/V SNIPE
March (right) Tina Conner, Spouse of JJ Conner, Captain,
M/V CUMBERLAND
April Michael Maneely, Captain, M/V BAFFIN BAY
May Kelly Cleaver, Training Coordinator, Channelview Off
June (left) Darren Istre, Captain, M/V ANTIETAM
June (right) James Bond, Relief Captain, M/V FREEPORT
July Billy Coates, Pilot, M/V SAINT CHARLES
August Cody Brown
September Terry Busby, Captain, M/V SABINE PASS
October Michael Maneely, Captain, M/V BAFFIN BAY
November (left) Cody Brown
November (right) Harley Smith, Relief Captain, M/V DECATUR
December (left) Albert Shelton, Pilot, M/V LAVACA BAY
December (right) Glenn Bumpas, Relief Captain, M/V SNIPE
If you would like to get your pictures in next years calendar please submit them to kaylam@higman.com |
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Nav Zone
Shallow Water Effects on Maneuvering
There are three conditions that can affect your vessel when operating in narrow channels, such as the ICW and low waters in the Mississippi. These are bank suction, bank cushion and squat. To understand these effect one must understand when water is displaced it must be filled by something; barge, boat, other water molecules, or other objects.
Bank suction is created by the wheels creating a void of water underneath the vessel. This void needs to be filled and so water is "sucked" into the area, which can pull the stern of the vessel toward the bank.
Bank cushion is created as the water is pushed around the bow of the barge. It builds up a "cushion" of water between the barge and another object, usually a bank.
Squat is also caused by the wheels created a void of water underneath the vessel. Rather than pulling the vessel to the side it can pull the boat into the void. This causes the stern to "squat" deeper into the water. This has been known to cause groundings in areas that the vessel should have enough water clearance.
All of these effects can be minimized by simply slowing down. The slower the vessel is moving the less water will be pushed around the bow and away from the wheels.
USCG Rules of the Road Questions
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND....You see a vessel's green sidelight bearing due east from you. The vessel might be heading __________.
a. east (090°)
b. northeast (045°)
c. northwest (315°)
d. southwest (225°)
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND....In which situation do you think a risk of collision exists?
a. A vessel is 22° on your port bow, range increasing, bearing changing slightly to the right.
b. A vessel is broad on your starboard beam, range decreasing, bearing changing rapidly to the right.
c. A vessel is 22° abaft your port beam, range increasing, bearing is constant.
d. A vessel is on your starboard quarter, range decreasing, bearing is constant.
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND....You are in restricted visibility and hear a fog signal forward of the beam. Nothing appears on your radar screen. You must __________.
a. stop your engines
b. sound two prolonged blasts of the whistle
c. sound the danger signal
d. slow to bare steerageway
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND....Your 15-meter tug is underway and crossing a deep and narrow channel. A large container vessel is off your port bow on a steady bearing. Which statement is TRUE concerning this situation?
a. You should maintain course and speed.
b. The container vessel is the stand-on as it is the larger vessel.
c. You are not to impede the safe passage of the container vessel in the channel.
d. None of the above
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND....When shall the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation take action to avoid the other vessel?
a. When a risk of collision exists
b. When action by the give-way vessel alone will not prevent a collision
c. When the bearing to give-way vessel becomes steady
d. When the vessels become less than 1/2 mile apart |
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Stern Shots
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Capt Will Elliott and Relief Capt Beau Wilson are not camera shy on PRESTON SHUFFORD |
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Tankerman Sidney Phifer and Steersman Deldrick Harrison
on the M/V ANNAPOLIS |
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Tankerman Cody Wallace, Deckhand Kelvin Wilson and
Tankerman Tony Rutland on the M/V BELLE CHASSE |
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Dates to Remember
2013 Advanced Pilothouse Management at SCI
First Session APR 29 - MAY 1
Second Session JUN 3 - JUN 5
Third Session JUL 8 - JUL 10
Fourth Session AUG 19 - AUG 21
Fifth Session SEP 23 - SEP 25
2012 Higman Leadership and Management Course
Complete for 2012
2012/2013 Tankermen Seminars
Sixth Session January 22, 2013
Seventh Session February 6, 2013
Eighth Session March 25, 2013
Ninth Session April 11, 2013
Tenth Session May 14, 2013
Eleventh Session June 5, 2013
2013 Wheelmen's Seminar
First Session FEB 20 - FEB 21
Second Session MAR 4 - MAR 5
Third Session MAR 13 - MAR 14
To schedule training please email Kelly or call at 281-864-6011.
CBT Certificates earned by Higman employees from JAN 17, 2012 to date............4697 DO ALL CREWMEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO THE HIGMAN TRAINING NEWSLETTER? - PLEASE MAKE SURE A HARD COPY IS PRINTED AND MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE CREW.
- Add your email address with the "Join our Mailing List" button (above, page 1, left side) to get your own copy!
Answer to this weeks Rules of the Road .....D,D,D,C,B |
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Yes, it is a short newsletter this week. For us, it was a tough week with all the holiday happenings that seem to take over our lives. You might fine a misspelled word or two and maybe a word or phase will be in the wrong place but bare with us.
It is Christmas night as I write and the temperature here in Houston has just dropped from 70 degrees down to 37 degrees in a matter of three hours. The water levels in Galveston Bay are dropping like a rock with the wind blowing from the Northwest at about 25mph.
Looks like we are in for a rough 24 hours. Be safe out there!
Have a great and very safe week!
Sincerely, Gordie |
GORDIE KEENAN
KELLY CLEAVER
© 2012 HIGMAN MARINE SERVICES, Inc. |
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