What do the next six hours mean to you if you are a Tankerman? The next six hours could have you on a barge, loading a product you have handled a dozen times. It could though, be something totally different; maybe you are given a cargo you have only vaguely heard of.

In both cases you will need to be prepared before going on watch.

What do the next six hours mean to you as a Wheelman? Maybe you will be transiting the next thirty miles through a portion of waterway that is your normal route. Just maybe though, you are on the upper Mississippi, in an area vaguely remembered from your posting five years ago.

Here again, it makes sense to be prepared before going on watch.

Lord Baden Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts was famous for the motto "Be Prepared". In his thinking, "the meaning of the motto is that a scout must prepare himself by previous thinking out and practicing how to act on any accident or emergency so that he is never taken by surprise."

In the towboat world, our lives are compartmentalized into two functions; on-watch and off-watch.

The off-watch time is our own and we are free, to a limited extent, to rest, relax and catch up with the outside world. The on-watch time is business first.

The transition from off-watch to on-watch is where the work of being prepared must take place.

Start with the Higman Policy and Procedure Manual.

Section One, Part B of the manual, documents a change of watch procedure. This covers only the basics though and only an experienced, on-scene crew can really knows what to expect in the six hours ahead.

Set your watch change routine:

In setting your watch change routine, know how much time you personally need to get ready to go on duty. Does it take you extra time to wake up and be alert? Do you need time to eat? How much overlap time do you need to feel comfortable when relieving the watch?

Understand what is going on.

The world around you is important at this point.

While underway....

For the wheelman, look at the chart plotter and mentally map the next thirty miles or so to understand what will be up ahead during the next six hours. Pass that information onto the deck crew so they can anticipate, dock, locks and bridges.

Get weather, river level, current, tide etc. information so that you are not caught with drastic changes that may be ahead. Look again at your orders to be sure you know what information may need to be passed on during the watch.

For the deck watch, find out what is ahead. How cold is it on deck? Is there rain in the forecast? For the boats working the northern routes, could there be snow and ice in the next six hours? What PPE should be anticipated?

These plus many more questions, should be considered, researched and answered before relieving the off-going watch.

While at the dock or standing by....

Obviously the questions are going to be different before starting a watch when the boat is standing by or is engaged in cargo operation. There maintenance operations, delivery of stores and crew changes require some fore thought before taking over. You make up the list according to the upcoming operations anticipated.

Work the transition...

The overlap at the change of watch is the most important part of the day to pass information on to one another. "I got it", does not cut it. All relevant information must be passed watch to watch.

The more thought you put into being ready to take over the watch, the better you will "Be Prepared" for the next six hours.

The Flu

Influenza, commonly called The Flu, is a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system -- nose, throat and lungs. At first, you may think you have a common cold with runny nose, sneezing and sore throat. However, colds develop more slowly, while flu comes on suddenly with more severe symptoms. A typical case of the flu lasts one to three weeks; a cold only lasts 7-10 days.

Flu viruses mainly spread through talking, coughing and sneezing. The virus travels through the air in tiny droplets that are inhaled directly or picked up from objects such as a counter top, phone or keyboard. Most people can infect others from the first day they get the flu, and up to five days afterward. This can occur even before symptoms appear.

Your best defense is an annual vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a flu vaccine for everyone over 6 months of age. The vaccine is usually available as an injection or nasal spray.

Keep in mind a flu shot usually takes less than an hour to get and cost ranges from free to around $30. This is a small price to pay to protect yourself and those around you at home and work.

High-risk children and adults may develop complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus and ear infections. Pneumonia is the most common and most serious. For older adults and people with chronic illness, pneumonia can be fatal. Remember, the best protection is vaccination against both pneumonia and influenza.

Flu Signs and Symptoms:

Fever over 100 F
Aching muscles, especially back, arms and legs
Chills and sweats
Headache
Dry cough
Fatigue and weakness
Nasal congestion

People at Higher Risk of Complications:

Young children
Older adults, especially over 65
Close-quarters living conditions
Pregnant women
People with weak immune systems
People who have chronic illnesses (asthma, diabetes, heart problems, etc.

Getting Well

Usually, you need nothing more than bed rest and plenty of fluids. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication. If you do get the flu, these measures may help ease symptoms and control spread of infection:

Drink plenty of liquids - Water, juice and soups to prevent dehydration
Rest - Get more sleep to help your immune system fight infection.
Pain relievers - Use over-the-counter pain relievers for aches and pains.
Wash your hands - Thorough and frequent hand-washing is the best way to prevent common infections, or use hand sanitizers.
Contain coughs and sneezes - Cover mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. To avoid contaminating hands, cough or sneeze into a tissue or into the inner crook of your elbow.
Avoid crowds - Flu spreads easily where people gather - child care centers, schools, auditoriums, public transportation. By avoiding crowds when you can during peak flu season, you reduce chances of infection.

What Ugly Fish is This?!

The crew of the M/V Erik Salen caught this lovely specimen...but, what is it?!

Vessel crews

The first 5 from the Front Watch and the first 5 from the Back Watch to email the correct answer to Gordie will win a prize from our gift closet.

Non-vessel crew types (landlubbers)

The first non-crew folks to email the correct answer will also receive a prize from the Higman gift closet.

Don't forget your name, boat, watch, etc , in your email. Email only responses accepted.

Ready, Set, Go...!!!

New Training Center - Vessel Ops Meeting

Here's a glimpse of a meeting in progress lead by Port Captain David Devall at the new Training Center at the Peninsula office.

Crews of the M/V Snipe, Antietam, Guadalupe, Freeport and Orange discussed Winter Weather, Changing Weather Patterns, Cold Weather Gear, Tailgate Safety Meetings and more.

Welcome ~ Two New Mates!

Two new members of the Higman Family join the Houston Office

Donna Flores - Afloat Payroll

Donna Flores joins us to work in the Houston Office in Afloat Payroll. She has 20 years of payroll experience including both boat personnel and retail experience. Donna has a Business & Clerical degree. She, her husband and three children have lived in Houston for 28 years. Welcome, aboard, Donna!

Shawn Millay - Accounts Payable

Shawn Millay is another new crew member in the Houston Office. Shawn is working in Accounts Payable and has 13 years previous work experience in this field. She has lived in Houston 35 years and has a daughter attending The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Welcome, Shawn!

Opening for Leadership

First 2013 Leadership Session coming up in early October.

The Higman Leadership and Management Course is a 2-day interactive seminar that works through the challenges of vessel management and crew leadership. The course is designed to prepare our Wheelmen with the leadership and management skills needed to successfully manage Higman vessels.

We still have a few openings in the 2013 sessions:

October 3-4

October 15-16

Please call or email Janis to schedule a meeting.

Hold the Date

2014 Wheelmen's Seminar Dates

The dates for the 2014 Wheelmens Seminar have been set. When making plans for next spring please take into consideration these dates:

March 17-18

March 27-28

April 7-8

Wheelmens Seminar is required for all Pilots, Relief Captains and Captains. We apologize that these dates will not work perfectly with all vessel schedules. Please make plans with your crewmembers.

If you would like to plan early please email your dates to Janis.

Best Practices

Every boat has good ideas

Best Practices will be back in the next TNL. Please continue to share your Best Practices with the us by sending to Gordie.

Nav Zone

Vessels Not Under Command

A vessel not under command, per Rule 3, is defined as: a vessel which through some exceptional circumstance is unable to maneuver as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel. You may become a vessel not under command in the following circumstances:

A wheelman is incapacitated.
You lose power
You lose steerage

Typically you would think that a loss of steerage would be considered restricted in ability to maneuver. However to fall under restricted in ability to maneuver it has to be by the nature of your work, not exceptional circumstances.

Vessels not under command shall display:

Two all around red lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen (red over red the Captain is Dead)
Two balls or similar shapes in a vertical line where they can best be seen
When making way through the water, in addition to the above, sidelight and a stern light.

In restricted visibility a vessel not under command shall sound at intervals of not more than 2 minutes, three short blasts in succession, one prolonged followed by two short blasts.

Nav Questions

1. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND.......The NAVIGATION RULES define a "vessel not under command" as a vessel which __________.

a. from the nature of her work is unable to keep out of the way of another vessel
b. through some exceptional circumstance is unable to maneuver as required by the rules
c. by taking action contrary to the rules has created a special circumstance situation
d. is moored, aground or anchored in a fairway

2. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND....... Your vessel is NOT making way, but is not in any way disabled. Another vessel is approaching you on your starboard beam. Which statement is TRUE?

a. The other vessel must give way since your vessel is stopped.
b. Your vessel is the give-way vessel in a crossing situation.
c. You should be showing the lights or shapes for a vessel not under command.
d. You should be showing the lights or shapes for a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver.

3. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND.......A vessel will NOT show sidelights when __________.

a. underway but not making way
b. making way, not under command
c. not under command, not making way
d. trolling underway

4. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND.......Which vessel would have no white lights visible when meeting her head-on?

a. A vessel trawling
b. A vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver
c. A vessel mineclearing
d. A vessel not under command

5. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND.......A power-driven vessel underway shall keep out of the way of a __________.

a. vessel not under command
b. vessel engaged in fishing
c. sailing vessel
d. All of the above

6. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND.......A vessel not under command making way at night would show __________.

a. two all-round red lights in a vertical line
b. anchor lights and sidelights
c. two all-round white lights in a vertical line, sidelights and a stern light
d. two all-round red lights in a vertical line, sidelights, and a stern light

Nautical Trivia

The Great Storm of 1913

Past articles in the Higman Training Newsletter discussed large storms that have created havoc along the Gulf Coast. The Great Storm of 1900 took more than 6,000 lives on Galveston Island. In 2008, Hurricane Ike caused 195 deaths and 29 billion along the Texas and Louisiana coast. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was the costliest natural disaster in United States history.

The Henry B. Smith was lost with 25 seamen aboard.

A storm that is seldom remembered was the Great Storm of 1913, often called the ""Big Blow", the "Freshwater Fury", or the "White Hurricane".

On November 7, 1913, a huge storm with blizzard conditions and hurricane force winds devastated the Great Lakes basin in the Midwest and the Canadian province of Ontario. Wave heights of over 35 feet were recorded in the fresh water of the Great Lakes.

The storm originated as the convergence of two major storm fronts fueled by the relatively warm waters in the Lakes at that time of year. Sustained winds were recorded during the period of over 90 miles an hour producing whiteout snow squalls. The storm lasted for three days.

Ships that left port on November 7, 1913 had little warning of what was in store for the next few days. In all 19 ships were sunk with the lose of 258 seamen. Another 19 ships were driven ashore.

The Charles S. Price lost all 28 crewmembers onboard.

In the late afternoon of November 10, an unknown vessel was spotted floating upside-down in about 60 feet of water on the eastern coast of Michigan, within sight of Huronia Beach and the mouth of the St. Clair River. Determining the identity of this "mystery ship" became of regional interest, resulting in daily front-page newspaper articles. The ship eventually sank, and it was not until early Saturday morning, November 15, that it was finally identified as the Charles S. Price.

Stern Shots

Alfred Hernandez wears proper PPE to

shine deck plates on M/V Potomac

Thanks to hard effort by Derrick and Jerry the name plate on M/V Aberdeen gets a brand new look

New Deckhand Stephen Townsend gets practice in learning to make a Bumper

Dates to Remember

2013 Advanced Pilothouse Management at SCI

Completefor 2013. Watch for 2014 dates to be

published soon.

2013 Higman Leadership and Management Course

First Session Oct 3 - 4

Second Session Oct 15 - 16

2012/2013 Tankermen Seminars

Complete for 2012/2013. Will restart JAN 2014.

Watch for new dates.

2014 Wheelmen's Seminar

First Session	MAR 17-18
Second Session	MAR 27-28
Third Session	APR 7-8

To schedule training please email Kelly or Janis or call at 281-864-6011.

CBT Certificates earned by Higman employees during 2013...........2800

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!

Answers to this weeks Nav Problems: B,B,C,D,D,D

We talked about watch change procedures at the beginning of the newsletter. I thought I might tell you about a typical watch change during my years as an engineer aboard oil tankers.

The start of the watch change typically began 30 minutes before the top of the hour. In my last year's onboard, I normally stood the 4 to 8 watch. On a typical day, at 0330 I would start a top to bottom round of the engine room including any auxiliary equipment outside the ER. Every piece of equipment was looked at and inspected. Bearing were touched, looking for vibration and excessive heat. All engine roon tank levels were monitored. The bilges were thoroughly looked at; sometimes deck plates were lifted.

There was a ton of equipment to inspect; pumps, turbines and electrical motors, plus a giant maze of pipelines, valves and electrical wiring.

At typical ship of the size I worked on was four or five stories deep from the main deck plus a couple more stories rising toward the stack deck. That provided for a lot of stairs to be taken up or down.

In all it took about 20 minutes. If all was in order, you would I would relieve the 2nd engineer by 0400. That 30 minute overlap though was extremely important to gather all the information needed to run a proper watch for the next 4 hours. Being prepared definitely took some effort!

Have a great and safe week...gak

Sincerely, Gordie, Kelly and Janis

GORDIE KEENAN
KELLY CLEAVER

JANIS ANDERSON

� 2013 HIGMAN MARINE SERVICES, Inc.