Worse yet, you can't catch a line to dock the barge and the wheelman is jumping up and down, yelling so loud that he doesn't even need the radio. Your heart is pounding, your blood pressure is rising, your muscles tighten, and you start to feel sick to your stomach.

What's wrong with you and the wheelman?

Both of you are experiencing "stress".

What is stress? It's a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened, uncomfortable, or upset your emotional balance in some way. The stress response is your body's way of protecting you. When working properly, it helps you stay focused, alert, and energetic. In certain emergency situations stress can save your life and others.

But, at a certain point, stress stops being helpful and starts causing major damage to your health, your mood, your productivity, your relationships, and your quality of life. Stress can be immediate or long term. The danger in long term stress is you become used to it and it becomes familiar to you, even normal.

Stress affects everyone differently:

Some people show an angry or agitated response. They are keyed up, heated, overly emotional, and unable to sit still.

Some people are withdrawn, or in a depressed stress response. They shut down, "space" out and show very little emotion or energy.

Some people have a tense or frozen stress response. They freeze under pressure and can't do anything.

The warning signs and symptoms of stress are:

Unable to concentrate
Constant worrying
Aches and pains
Nausea, dizziness
Irritability or short temper
Feeling overwhelmed
Eating more or less
Sleeping more or less

Common causes of stress are:

Major life changes (i.e. divorce, death of a family member, job loss)
Relationship difficulties
Issues at work
Financial problems
Children and family
Being too busy
Negative thoughts
Unrealistic expectations
Perfectionism
Negative self talk

Long term stress disrupts every system in your body. It can raise blood pressure, increase the risk of stroke or heart attack, cause obesity and speed up the aging process. Many people deal with stress by eating, drinking, or smoking too much. These are all dangerous and unhealthy options in coping with stress.

Dealing with stress and its symptoms:

Learn how to mange stress. Stress may feel like your life is out of control. Manage your stress by taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment and the way you deal with problems. Train yourself to look at situations in a calm, thoughtful manner.

Learn how to relax. Take time for yourself, read a book, exercise, do deep breathing exercises, and think good thoughts.

Get professional help if you need it. Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) toll free number is 1-800-523-5668.

High Blood Pressure (HBP):

Blood pressure measures the force against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood through the body. HBP causes the heart to work harder to pump blood. 1 in 3 adults have HBP.

Blood pressure readings are given as two numbers, for example, 120 over 80 (written as 120/80mmHg). Another name for HBP is hypertension.

The top number is called the systolic pressure. The bottom number is called diastolic blood pressure.

Normal blood pressure is when your blood pressure is usually 120/80 or lower most of the time.
HBP (hypertension) is when your blood pressure is 140/90 or above most of the time.
It your blood pressure numbers are 120/80 or higher, but below 140/90 it is called pre-hypertension.

Most of the time high blood pressure has no symptoms, and as time goes by you can develop heart disease and kidney problems. It can also cause loss of vision, heart attack or stroke. Some of the later symptoms of high blood pressure can be headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, and blood in the urine. Most of us find out about our high blood pressure only when we visit a doctor.

You are at a higher risk for high blood pressure if:

You are African - American.
You smoke.
You are obese.
You are always under excess stress.
You drink too much alcohol. More than 1 drink a day for women and more than two drinks a day for men.
You have too much salt (sodium) in your diet.
You regularly eat processed, canned, or fast foods.
You have a family history of high blood pressure.
You have diabetes.

What can you do reduce high blood pressure and its complications?

Have your blood pressure checked yearly.
Eat a heart healthy diet, including fruits, vegetables, and fiber.
Drink plenty of water.
Exercise regularly, at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
Limit your alcohol intake.
Limit your salt (sodium) intake to between 1500mg and 2000mg per day. That equals approximately 1 teaspoon.
Stop smoking. Find a program that will help you stop.
Reduce stress.
Stay at a healthy body weight. Find a weight loss program to help if you need it.

Close Quarters Manuevering - Sighting Distance

Sighting Distance is an important skill for Tankermen and Deckhands.

"Twenty feet below, ten feet wide; you are now five below, five feet wide."

Though it may seem simple, this is one of the toughest skills a tankerman or deckhand has to master. The Wheelman in the pilot house is depending on your accurate assessment of distance as he guides the tow into a lock or up to a dock. You are normally two football fields away from the controls in the wheelhouse; your description of the relative movement and distances are the only accurate indicators your Wheelman has.

Depth Perception

So how do we best judge distance? As humans, our eyes are placed in the front of our heads. That allows us to use information derived from the different projection of viewed objects onto each retina to judge depth. By using two images of the same scene obtained from slightly different angles, it is possible to triangulate the distance to an object with a high degree of accuracy. Our brain from experience does this naturally, but needs help and training in translating those distances into useful information.

So how do we do that?

Using familiar objects with known lengths can help you train your brain to describe distances.

Let's start with short distances. How long is a Ford F150 pickup (standard cab)? Looking up the specifications, this truck is about eighteen feet long. Ok, use a pickup in the parking lot for a guide. Look down the length and let your brain record this distance. Now look beyond the truck and imagine twice the length. Your mind is now projecting thirty six feet. A third projection gives you fifty four feet.

Divide this truck in half and now we have nine feet. Another half and you are looking at four and a half feet.

For longer distances, use your barges. Higman barges are either fifty four or fifty feet wide. Look from the port side to the starboard side. Again use your mind to visualize fifty feet. When you are breasted up, you can visualize one hundred feet.

For further distances, again use Higman barges that are approximately three hundred feet long.

It takes practice to get it right. At short distances, your accuracy can be within a half a foot. Keep trying until you get it right. Your Wheelman will thank you.

Final Call for 401K Enrollment in 2014

December 20 is the last day to have your completed enrollment form into the Houston Galleria office for the Jan. 1, 2014 enrollment period.

Remember, there is a new enrollment form! You can no longer find or use the enrollment form on Higmanboats.com or the Higman Intranet. To enroll, be sure to get a copy of the booklet providing historical performance information.

This booklet contains the enrollment form you must use now.

To get the booklet with the enrollment form, contact the office where you crew change.

It's Not Too Late to Get Your Flu Shot

It's not too late to get your flu shot since you can almost always receive benefit from getting vaccinated. To make it convenient, flu vaccines are offered in many locations, including doctor's offices, clinics, health departments and pharmacies.

While there are many different flu viruses, the annual flu vaccine is designed each year to protect against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness.

In addition, you can take everyday preventive steps like staying away from sick people and crowds as much as possible and washing your hands often to reduce the spread of germs. If you are sick with the flu, stay home from work or school to prevent spreading influenza to others.

Mail Requirements for Personal Packages

When you have a personal package mailed to you at work, be sure the company name, boat name, and your name are ALL included in the delivery address on the front of the package.

With more than 70 boats in our fleet, and multiple office locations, we need these details -- first of all, to be sure that your package gets delivered to Higman, and not to the wrong company down the street -- and to indicate what boat to send your package to on crew change day.

Here are two examples for wording that include all the necessary info:

Example: Example:

Higman Barge Lines Higman Barge Lines

To: John Jones To: John Jones / Pelican

M/V George H. Thomas Correct Street Address

Correct Street Address City, State, Zip Code

City, State, Zip Code

Thank you for your help in this matter.

Tankermen Seminar

Reminder:

We are still looking for tankermen to sign up for the seminar. Attending one of these seminars is mandatory. There will be various subjects covered which will be of interest and benefit to you. You will also be paid a day's pay for attending. We need all tankermen to select a date from the below schedule. Please email Janis or call 281-864-6010 to schedule the date you would like to attend.

2014 Tankermen Seminars

First Session	JAN 17
Second Session	FEB 20
Third Session	MAR 11
Fourth Session	APR 28
Fifth Session	MAY 21
Sixth Session	JUN 5
Seventh Session	JUL 29
Eighth Session	AUG 6
Ninth Session	SEP 23
Tenth Session	OCT 15
Eleventh Session	NOV 20

Thanks,

Dennis

Best Practices

Every boat has good ideas.

Good ideas need to be shared, refined and become "Best Practices". A "Best Practice" is defined as a method or technique which shows results superior to those achieved with other means, and that is used as a benchmark. In addition, a "Best Practice" can evolve to become better as improvements are discovered.

This column is dedicated to sharing the best practices developed while operating your tow. Each issue we will outline a "Best Practice" sent in by the fleet. Share your Best Practice by sending to Gordie

This week's "Best Practice" is sent by the crew of the M/V ARANSAS PASS:

This time of year ice can form on deck as the temperatures dip. Isolated puddles of water can quickly become patches of ice as the steel surface temperature goes below 32�F.

Tankermen should keep a zip lock bag of de-icer in the pocket of their life vest to treat small areas that have iced over on deck. A small handful spread out is all that is needed to treat a low area ice patch.

Time and effort is saved by not having to walk back to the boat to access the de-icer supply. A slipping hazard is minimized by melting the ice.

Submitted by Capt. Arthur Willey

Nav Zone

Hand Eye Communications

When only one individual is performing a task that requires hand eye coordination, the communication is done within their mind.

But what happens when it's the hands of the Wheelman and the eyes of the deck crew? When a vessel is in a close quarter situations the Wheelman relies on the Tankerman's eyes on deck.

The communication between the Wheelman's operating skills and the Tankerman's vision are vital when you are only a few feet away from a dock. It is important that the Tankerman understands what information the Wheelman needs.

The communication should be an ongoing process during your voyage. When the voyage starts, all crew members should be involved in the voyage plan. Crew members should know the hazards that may arise during the trip. Updates in the voyage plan can help crew members with their daily plans. Crew members know when a lock is coming and can ensure they are well rested when you need to men on deck.

An on-board task briefing (prior to locks, docks, bridges, building tow, etc) helps all crew members understand what should happen and what to do if something doesn't go as planned. Crew members should understand the hazards of the task they are about to take on and the steps to prevent an injury.

A radio check is a must! Check that your chosen channel is free of radio traffic. Another radio check should be done on deck to ensure that the communication is maintained. If there is too much wind or other interference a corrective plan can be implemented before the situation becomes critical. Always be concise and clear when talking on the radio.

When giving distances sometimes it can help to say "Fifteen, one, five" to prevent fifteen sounding like fifty. If there is an interruption in communication then you need to stop what you are doing and regroup.

he Wheelman needs to understand the information being given. There is a big difference between fifteen vs. fifty feet. So how do you make these communications effective?

Rules of the Road Questions

BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND ....There are two classes of vessels which, to the extent necessary to carry out their work, do not have to comply with the rule regarding traffic separation schemes. One of these is a vessel __________.

a. engaged in fishing in a traffic lane
b. servicing a submarine cable
c. towing another
d. engaged on pilotage duty

BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND....A light signal consisting of three flashes means __________.

a. "I am in doubt as to your actions"
b. "My engines are full speed astern"
c. "I desire to overtake you"
d. "I am operating astern propulsion"

BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND....Fog bell signals for vessels at anchor or aground shall be sounded at intervals of not more than __________.

a. 15 minutes
b. 5 minutes
c. 2 minutes
d. 1 minutes

INLAND ONLY ....Two vessels are meeting on a clear day and will pass less than half a mile apart. In this situation whistle signals __________.

a. must be exchanged
b. may be exchanged
c. must be exchanged if passing agreements have not been made by radio
d. must be exchanged only if course changes are necessary by either vessel

INLAND ONLY....When two power-driven vessels are meeting on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or waters specified by the Secretary, where there is a current, which vessel shall sound the first passing signal?

a. The vessel going upstream stemming the current
b. The vessel downbound with a following current
c. The vessel that is towing regardless of the current
d. Either vessel

Nautical Trivia

Early days of Higman Boats.

Higman Towing Company dates back to 1917, originating in Orange Texas. The company in those days built many vessels locally at shipyards in the Orange, TX area.

Levingston Shipbuilding Company was one of the shipbuilding companies in Orange, Texas on the Sabine River that built some of the early wooden hull Higman vessels. The company was started by Samuel H. Levingston in 1859, building paddle-wheel steamers for service on the Sabine River and converting river steamers to gunboats for the Confederate States Navy.

The first boat built in their Moss Avenue Yard was for Higman Towing Company. The wooden tug, M/V Lutcher Brown was completed in 1919.

The below picture lines up five Higman Towing Company boats from that early part of the twentieth century. From left to right, (the best I can tell from the original photo), is the:

M/V Edgar Brown Jr., M/V Johnnie Brown, M/V F. Lutcher Brown, M/V Dr. E. W. Brown and the M/V Captain Louis Brown.

From Levingston Shipbuilding files, the M/V Edgar Brown, Jr. was completed as a wooden tug in 1927. The M/V F. Lutcher Brown was completed in December 1937. The M/V Dr. E. W. Brown was completed in January, 1941.

Stern Shots

Captain Sam McWhorter of M/V Belle Chasse with Kelly and Amy at lunch during Leadership training

Delicious Thanksgiving bird served on M/V Baffin Bay -- properly cooked, no doubt

Captain Stevie Joe is alert and aware at the sticks

Troy Totorico hard at work splicing line

Dates to Remember

2013 Advanced Pilothouse Management at SCI

First Session	MAY 12 - 14
Second Session	JUN 16 -18
Third Session	JUL 21 - 23
Fourth Session	AUG 18 - 20
Fith Session	SEP 29 - OCT 1

2014 Tankermen Seminars

First Session	JAN 17
Second Session	FEB 20
Third Session	MAR 11
Fourth Session	APR 28
Fifth Session	MAY 21
Sixth Session	JUN 5
Seventh Session	JUL 29
Eighth Session	AUG 6
Ninth Session	SEP 23
Tenth Session	OCT 15
Eleventh Session	NOV 20

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........... 4,638

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 Rules of the Road: B, D, D, C, B

Have a great and safe week!

Sincerely, Gordie, Kelly, Dennis and Janis

GORDIE KEENAN
KELLY CLEAVER

JANIS ANDERSON

DENNIS ZINK

� 2013 HIGMAN MARINE SERVICES, Inc.