Building quality into your towing operation should be the goal of every crewmember. To run a towboat and to push a set of barges, those on the front lines are faced with activities that require constant decision making and full participation of everyone on board.

The foundation of a quality towboat operation starts most importantly with each individual crewmember.

Our policy and procedure manuals help foster quality by offering guidelines and checklists to keep your operation pointing in the right direction. They keep us working on the same page and they help us to determine if something is going wrong. The policies are followed-up by checklists and sign off sheets that ensure tasks are done.

Most of these checks though, are after-the-fact and are not always practical in minute by minute activities.

How do we ensure that what we do in our daily onboard activities are leading us to quality (and successful) outcomes?

How about developing a personal "double-check mentality"?

A "double-check mentality" is a thought process that starts as you personally and consciously plan out your next move or activity. It means mapping out in your mind the next step so it to is correct.

The "double-check mentality" tells you to check what you have already completed during each step of an operation to ensure that everything in your control is right. This does not mean second-guessing yourself. It means taking the time to ensure that the step you just completed is correct and complete.

Taylor Milam makes all his checks on the M/V BAFFIN BAY

Let's look at some examples of where a "double-check mentality" can help:

Real life example #1...The Higman Training Department is building a "Line Handling Demonstration Area" in the "Big Blue Building" at the Peninsula office. I needed to complete the welding of the kevels on our moving platform and fabricate a mounting bracket for the 120 volt winch so our current Deckhand Academy Class could start practicing.

The walk from my work area to our shop in the warehouse is probably 200 yards. I made that trip at least three times that afternoon because I did not use my "double-check mentality". How did it go?

I decided that a drill and some drill bits were required to complete the mounting bracket.

I walked to the warehouse, grabbed a couple of drill bits and the drill; did not do my "double-check"
Walked all the way back into the Big Blue Building and realized I needed a bigger drill bit and also noticed that the drill chuck was missing, meaning another long walk back.

You get the picture. Taking time to double-check myself during each step would have saved time and energy.

Real life example #2...This is an example with a much more serious outcome that could have been prevented by using the personal double-check. While taking on fuel at a marine fueling terminal, a tankerman connected the fuel supply hose to a lube fill line resulting in a spill to the containment area and a contamination of the onboard lube oil tank. How could this happen?

The tankerman connected the fuel hose to the clearly stenciled 15w40 lube fill pipe. Not even a basic check was made here.
The tankerman failed to notify the Relief Captain before starting the transfer. A personal double -check before starting should have told him he was not following company policy.

A "double-check mentality" double whammy failure happened here. There was no check of the lineup. A mental review of the procedure would have alerted the Tankerman that the Wheelman must be notified before start-up.

Imaginary Life # 1...Doing it right. It is time for you as the hot shot tankerman to make a round of the barges while underway. Before walking out on the barge, you mentally complete your double-check.

PPE, equipment - a work vest, flashlight, pocket knife, etc; make a conscious double-check of what you have to bring and what you may need. Have you made your radio check?
Safety review - Are you ready to face the barge environment with all consideration for keeping yourself and the rest of the crew safe? Do a mental double-check" on your safety requirements.
Job assignment - mentally review what your assignment is on the barge. Do you have the right tools?
Contingency planning - Take a few moments to think about what you may find that has not been anticipated.
Think outside the box - Is there something that could use my attention while out there? For example, should I bring a can of WD-40 and spray all the hatch dogs while checking the voids?

The point of the "double-check mentality" is to plan ahead and then follow up with each task with a well thought out implementation. From there, "Quality" will follow!

Body Mass Index - Your "BMI"

Body mass index (BMI) is a measurement of body fat of adult men and women based on their height and weight, as well taking into consideration their waist size. Healthcare professionals often use BMI to determine if patients are underweight, at healthy weight, overweight or obese. Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight is important for everyone since it can help prevent and control many serious diseases.

People who are overweight or obese have a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer or other serious health problems. Maintaining a healthy weight not only helps lower your risk for developing serious illnesses, it can also help maintain your sense of well-being and provide more energy to enjoy life.

It's important to remember that your BMI is only one measure of your health. A person who is not at "normal" weight according to BMI charts may be healthy if he or she has healthy eating habits and exercises regularly. On the other hand, people who are thin but don't exercise or eat nutritious foods, are not necessarily healthy just because they are healthy weight on the BMI chart.

Measuring your waist can help tell how much fat you have stored around your belly. People who are "apple-shaped" and store fat around their belly are more likely to develop weight-related diseases than people who are "pear-shaped" and store most of their fat around their hips. Using a tape measure, snugly measure your waist, but do not press the tape into your skin.

For most people, the goal for a healthy waist is:

Less than 40 inches for men

Less than 35 inches for women

Under, Healthy, Over, Obese

Being underweight means a person's body weight is too low to be healthy. This usually refers to a BMI under 18.5, indicating weight 15-20% below normal for height and age. If you are underweight this might indicate an underlying disease. Being underweight, or any unexplained weight loss, may require a doctor's diagnosis.

Healthy weight is considered a BMI between 19 and 24.9, placing you in the recommended weight range for your height. But your health may still be at risk if you are not getting regular physical activity and practicing healthy eating; consider adding these important habits if they are not in your regular routine.

If your BMI is 25 to 29.9, you are in the overweight category. This may or may not be unhealthy, depending on some other things, like your waist size and other health problems. However, it often indicates excess weight that is unhealthy. Again, add healthy habits to your regular routine to shape-up and enhance your health.

If your BMI is 30 or higher, you're in the obese category. This is a wake-up call that you may need to lose weight and change your eating and activity habits to get healthy and stay healthy. Consult your doctor for specific help for your condition.

Check your BMI for your height and weight using the chart below

What Factors Contribute to Your Weight?

BMI and waist measurement are good guidelines. However, many factors contribute to a person's weigh including environment, family history, genetics, behavior, habits, current health issues and metabolism -- the way your body changes food and oxygen into energy. Always consult your health professional for more information and directions for your specific health needs.

Two Important Habits for Healthy Weight

Eating properly - Choose a variety of nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains and small amounts of energy-rich foods like olive oil, nuts and dried fruits.
Exercise regularly - Daily aim for 30- 60 minutes of moderately intense activity.

Are You Ready for a Repair?

When was the last time you had to use your lockout tagout kit?

As part of maintenance on any boat, the lockout tagout kit needs to be used. You may need to use it on the winch breaker while working on the winch, or on the main engine start when a diver is in the water, or maybe the needle gun is broken and needs to be serviced. The lockout tagout kit can be used on any piece of equipment to avoid accidental use that may injury someone.

It may have been awhile since you last used your kit, so ensure that all crew members know where to find it and that it is well stocked. If you need more tags, please place it on your next supply order.

If you have crew members that are not familiar with the policies you can find them in Section 1, Part F of the Policy and Procedure Manual. Or they can take the CBT course that was provided in 2012.

What is Steersman Boot Camp?

We have d

eveloped a new specialized seminar for Steersman. The most critical career transition for an individual in the towing industry is a pilot's first days by themselves. These seminars are designed to help steersman make a smooth transition. Instruction will be provided by Higman shore staff and Capt. Dwight Whittington. Topics covered will include:

Radar Fundamentals
Currents and Weather
Rose Point overview
Problem Solving
Close quarters maneuvering
Critical systems
Management/Leadership
Maritime Liability

This will be a 2 day seminar held at the Higman Training Center. Steersman are required to attend once during their training time. They will not be required to attend a tankerman meeting. The dates for 2014 are:

February 12-13

April 21-22

July 24-25

October 20-21

Please contact Janis or Kelly in the training department to reserve a seat.

Nav Zone

Low Water on Canal/Bays

Many of you may have noticed that bays and the canal have been extremely low over the past week. These low tides may continue over the next weeks and should use extreme caution. But why the extreme lows?

There are two things that seem to be influencing theses low tides:

The shift in the Jet Stream in early January. As many of you remember, the Jet Stream was shifted south causing bitter cold and northern winds. These Northern Winds or "nor'easter" can push water out of bays.
The "Mini-Moon". A lunar apogee occurred on January 15th. An apogee is when the moon's distance is furthest from the earth. On the 15th, at 8:53 pm, the moon was 252,609 miles from the earth. The moon can vary from 251,034 to 252,711 miles away. This particular apogee 101 miles shorter than the maximum apogee. This particular apogee occurred just 3 hours from the full moon creating a "mini-moon". The last time we saw a "mini-moon" of this size was on November 15th, 1994 and the next time we will see it will be May 13, 2052.

Moon at apogee (left) vs. perigee (right)

The lunar apogee with the already low condition from the Nor'easter caused extreme lows. We will have another apogee of this degree coming on July 28th of this year, though we should not expect any Nor'easter storms in July to compound the apogee tides.

USCG Rules of the Road

The Moon is farthest from the Earth at _________________.

A: the full Moon
B: apogee
C: the lunar solstice
D: quadrature

Which statement is TRUE concerning apogean tides?

A: They occur only at quadrature.
B: They occur when the Moon is nearest the Earth.
C: They cause diurnal tides to become mixed.
D: They have a decreased range from normal.

The points where the Sun is at 0� declination are known as _________.

A: solstices
B: equinoxes
C: perigee
D: apogee

Which statement is TRUE concerning equatorial tides?

A: They occur when the Sun is at minimum declination north or south.
B: They occur when the Moon is at maximum declination north or south.
C: The difference in height between consecutive high or low tides is at a minimum.
D: They are used as the basis for the vulgar establishment of

In some river mouths and estuaries the incoming high-tide wave crest overtakes the preceding low-tide trough. This results in a wall of water proceeding upstream, and is called a __________.

A: seiche
B: bore
C: boundary wave
D: surge

Nautical Trivia

Sir Ernest Shackleton

The turn of the last century was considered the heroic age of polar exploration. Englishman Capt. Robert Scott reached the South Pole on January 17, 1912 only to find that he had been beaten by his Norwegian adversary, Ronald Amundsen. Scott on arriving at the South Pole was greeted with the Norwegian flag. Scott commented, "Great God! This is an awful place.' Amundsen had reached the pole one month earlier on December 14, 1911.

ENDURANCE caught in ice.

Two years later in 1914, British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton sailed south aboard his ship, ENDURANCE, attempting to be the first person cross Antarctica from coast-to-coast.

Shackleton and his crew 27 men never made it ashore on the Antarctica continent. Deep in the Weddell Sea, ice conditions gradually grew worse until, on 19 January 1915, ENDURANCE became frozen fast in an ice floe. The ship trapped in the ice, drifted slowly northward through the following months. When spring arrived in September, the breaking of the ice put extreme pressures on the ship's hull. Shackleton's men moved supplies and provisions onto the ice near the trapped vessel. The ship was slowly crushed and on November 21, 1915, the wreck finally crushed and sank.

What's followed was a seven month epic odyssey that concluded with one of the greatest small boat voyages that has ever taken place. From the sinking, until April 1916, the crew struggled across ice floes to reach land. On April 14, 1916, Shackleton and his men reached Elephant Island, the first solid land they had stood on for 497 days.

Lifeboat JAMES CAIRD setting off for South Georgia Island

from Elephant Island.

Elephant Island was an inhospitable place, far from any shipping routes. Consequently, Shackleton decided to risk an 800 nautical mile open boat journey to Stromness, a South Georgia Island whaling station, where he knew help was available. The strongest of the tiny 20-foot lifeboats, christened JAMES CAIRD after the expedition's chief sponsor, was chosen for the trip. Ship's carpenter, Harry McNish made various improvements, including raising the sides, strengthening the keel, building a makeshift deck of wood and canvas, and sealing the work with oil paint and seal blood. Shackleton chose five companions for the journey.

The JAMES CAIRD was launched on 24 April 1916; during the next fifteen days, it sailed through the waters of the southern ocean, at the mercy of the stormy seas, in constant peril of capsizing. On May 9th they landed on an unoccupied southern shore of South Georgia Island. Once ashore, the crew had to transverse 36 mileS over mountainous terrain to reach the whaling station at Stromness. From there a ship was dispatched to Elephant Island to rescue the rest of the crew.

Whaling Station at Stromness, South Georgia Island abandoned in 1961.

Considering the circumstance of the perilous journey and the weather conditions encountered at the bottom of the world, no crewmembers were lost. Sir Ernest Shackleton today, is studied for his amazing leadership skills.

Stern Shots

M/V ARANSAS PASS plows though ice near St. Louis

Cory Fleeman checks voids for M/V High Island's tow. Photo credit to Ray Sergent.

Tankerman Kenneth Wright from the M/V MISS CYNTHIA works with new deckhands at the Higman Deckhand Academy.

Dates to Remember

2014 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
Fifth 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

2014 Steersman Boot Camp

First Session	JAN 13-14
Second Session	APR 21-22
Third Session	JUL 24-25
Fourth Session	OCT 20-21

To schedule training please email Kelly or Janis or call at 281-864-6010.

Answers to this weeks Nav Gen Questions: B,D,B,C,B

CBT ......the 2014 site will be up in about 2 weeks. We will keep you informed.

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!

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.