Man Overboard (MOB)

 

What can you do to make sure it doesn't happen to you?

 

In our industry, working on deck is an everyday routine. Whether it is washing down the boat, catching lines, or building tow, crewmembers are at constant risk. There are many risks and dangers to look out for when working on a towboat. One, and arguably the most dangerous is "man overboard." And, those crewmembers who spend the most time on deck such as deckhands and tankermen are especially at risk.

 

Consider these sobering statistics:

• Over two thirds of the MOB fatalities are to crewmembers who work on deck.
• The number one cause of death to mariners are falls in the water, especially when working alone at night.
• The leading activities that involved MOB fatalities are line handling and walking on deck or barges alone and not being observed.
• 90 percent of MOB fatalities occurred in calm weather with less than 1 foot seas.
• Most MOB fatalities occurred on the Western Rivers.
• A Coast Guard study in 2012 cited 359 incidents of "man overboard", which resulted in 205 deaths. Think about it for a second, that is almost 60 percent.  In other words, for every 10 people that fell overboard 6 died.

There are many things crewmembers can do avoid becoming a statistic:

• Always wear a PFD when working on a barge or in a skiff.
• Always let the wheelman know before going out on a tow.
•  Keep someone informed of your whereabouts at all times.
• Communications are key to a safe operation.
• Conduct a pre-evolution meeting with all hands involved prior to mooring or building tow. Ensure everyone understands the task at hand and how to operate safely.
• Ask for assistance if needed from a dock hand, fellow crewmember, or wheelman.
• Advise the wheelman of any dangers or obstructions in completing your assigned task.
• If shorthanded and there will be only one man on deck, discuss expectations and possible scenarios.
• Understand your limitations. It may not be wise to try throwing a wet line 15 feet. Difficult throws can greatly decrease stability and balance.
• Know your surroundings. Are your lines coiled and cleared on deck?
• Are you standing near a hatch cover while attempting to catch a line? Is it properly dogged?
• Is the deck wet or slippery?
• Are there any slips, trips, or falls hazards.
• Always have a waterproof flashlight with you. Not only will it allow you to see any dangers on deck at night, it could be used as a signaling device if you did fall overboard.
• Drills, Drills, Drills, practice makes perfect. By conducting MOB and other emergency drills you might save a life, and it could be yours.

How will your boat handle a man overboard?

Jacob's ladder deployed over a hatch cover.

• Does everyone know and understand their role for MOB according to the Emergency Station Bill?
• Does everyone know how to operate the skiff if needed? Do you practice putting the skiff over the side?
• Does your boat have a Jacobs Ladder to retrieve someone out of the water?

Are your life ring buoys in place and ready to be deployed? Have the strobe lights been tested?  Can you remove the strobe lights quickly if necessary?  Are the life ring buoys outer shell free of excessive cracks and wear and tear?

Steersman Boot Camp

 

Preparing for the wheelhouse.

 

The first Steersman Boot Camp of 2014 was held on February 12th and 13th. It was at the Channelview office and conducted by Gordie and Dwight. 

 

The boot camp provided information and insight on various subjects that will be useful to our soon to be wheelman. Some of the subjects that were covered were currents and weather, running rivers and canals, wheelhouse management, radar basics, Rose Point, problem solving/time and distance, and conducting proper incident reports.  Of particular note was the great participation and attention of our steersman. 

 

As a reminder, the next steersman boot camp is scheduled for April 21st and April 22nd. We look forward to seeing you there.

 

Campers hanging in the Radar Lab

2014 Wheelmen's Seminars

 

It's that time of year.

 

The first Wheelmen's Seminar of 2014 is scheduled for March 17th and 18th and at Cypress Bend Resort in Many, La. 

 

This seminar should prove to be very informative and fun for everyone. This year we will be having all the wheelmen divided in four different teams. There will be 8 information sessions, along with a sports session with team competition in archery. There will also be various awards given for best overall team, best team leader, etc. 

 

So get ready to put your game face on. See you there!   

 

Ever Wrestled a Monster, Ridden a Bull or Partied like a Rock Star?

  

 

Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance found in plants like cocoa beans, tea leaves, and kola nuts and is actually classified as a stimulant drug. It is very popular, used mostly in beverages, and consumed by up to 90% of the world population. The amount of caffeine in an energy drink ranges from 75 milligrams (mg) to over 200 mg per serving. Compare this to 34 mg of caffeine in Coke and 55 mg in Mountain Dew.

 

It's important to realize that individual responses to caffeine vary.  For this reason energy drinks should be consumed carefully because of how powerful they can be to your body.  The stimulating ingredients of energy drinks can boost the heart rate and blood pressure, sometimes to the point of heart palpitations - with your heart pounding, racing or even skipping a beat.  And, since caffeine is a diuretic, these drinks can also dehydrate the body, and, like other stimulants, they can also prevent sleep.

 

        

    

Frequent effects of caffeine:

• It is a diuretic causing the body to lose water through urination. This can lead to dehydration and is the reason that caffeinated drinks are not a good idea when working out or doing other physical activities. In fact, it is suggested that you add 8 ounces of water for every cup of coffee you drink.
• Caffeine causes you to feel jittery, skittish, restless, excitable and anxious. It can temporarily speed the heart rate. If you're feeling stressed, then a cup of coffee can increase, rather than help, this feeling. Too much caffeine can make it difficult to concentrate.
• It can cause insomnia making it hard to fall asleep whether you take it during the day or night.
• Caffeine at high doses can cause headaches.
• Some caffeinated beverages can have other ill health effects. For instance, the acid in coffee can upset the stomach, and coffee can worsen ulcers, raise blood pressure and blood cholesterol, and speed up the heart rate, increasing the risk of heart disease.

  

Energy drinks should not be used while exercising.  Combining the loss of fluid from sweating with loss of fluid from the diuretic quality of caffeine can result in severe dehydration.  If you think of energy drinks as simply the highly-caffeinated drinks they are, you will have an accurate picture. You wouldn't use soda or pop as a sports drink so don't use energy drinks for that purpose either.  And since most mainstream energy drinks do not provide electrolytes, there is a higher likelihood of an energy "crash-and-burn" effect.

 

When energy drinks are used as mixers with alcohol the combination carries a number of dangers.  Mixing a depressant with a stimulant sends mixed signals to the nervous system and can possibly cause cardiac problems such as heart arrhythmia -- erratic, ineffective heart beats.

• Stimulant effects mask how intoxicated you are and prevent you from realizing how much alcohol you consumed impairing judgment even more.
• Stimulant effects give the impression you are not impaired. No matter how alert you feel, your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the same as it would be without the energy drink. People can think they have ability to perform complex tasks like driving or crossing a busy road. Once the stimulant wears off, the depressant effects of the alcohol remain and can cause vomiting in your sleep or respiratory depression.
• Research found people drink more and have higher BACs when they combine alcohol and caffeine.
• Both energy drinks and alcohol are dehydrating. Dehydration can hinder your body's ability to metabolize alcohol and will increase toxicity, and therefore worsen the hangover and damage to your body.
• Some caffeinated beverages can have other ill health effects. For instance, the acid in coffee can upset the stomach, and coffee can worsen ulcers, raise blood pressure and blood cholesterol, and speed up the heart rate, increasing the risk of heart disease.

 

When used occasionally, energy drinks are not necessarily bad for you. Consumption of a single energy drink will not lead to excessive caffeine intake, but consumption of two or more drinks in a single day can. Beware that some claims energy drinks make of "improved performance and concentration" can be misleading. Since they are marketed as dietary supplements, the FDA does not have to approve or review these products before they are sold. Caffeine dosage is not required to be on the product label for food in the United States, unlike drugs, but some advocates are urging the FDA to change this practice.

 

 

Be cautious because just as with soft drinks, one can of an energy drink may actually be two or more servings.  Remain aware of this so you can correctly monitor the amount of caffeine, sugars and other stimulants you ingest.

 

 

 

 

Any B vitamins or amino acids like taurine added to energy drinks are better found by eating a variety of foods and taking a daily vitamin and mineral supplement.  

 

 

 

Due to a large amount of sugar and caffeine, energy drinks might give you a temporary energy boost, but too much sugar from energy drinks can add extra pounds. And, too much caffeine can cause side effects such as nervousness, stomach upset, irritability, increased heart rate and insomnia.

 

Here are better, all natural, ways to boost your energy: Get enough sleep, exercise regularly and eat healthy foods.

Keeping Records   

 

 

With over 450 vessel employees it is vital that our records remain up to date.  We use your license records to ensure that all employees remain current on all licenses.  The records are also used for audits by customers and the Coast Guard.  These records can also be used on dock access forms to get vessel employees into docks.  Please ensure that anytime you obtain a new license that the office gets a copy.  This includes:

• TWIC
• Coast Guard License
• Radar Certificate (must have for master/mate of towing)
• FCC Radio License
• Driver's license

 

If you have renewed any of these documents recently and are unsure if your personnel file is up to date please bring a copy or email it to the Peninsula Blvd Office.

Swing Lights Need To Be Right!  

 

Can your barge navigation lights stand up to a USCG Inspection?

 

This article is reprinted form March 2012 in response to a 6 volt battery "pigtail" type setup found on a Higman tow's swing light:  

 

The use of temporary electrical connections on "swing" lights is not approved on Red Flag Barges. This is typically, a blue swing light, wired directly to the terminals of a 6 volt lantern battery.

 

 

The proper setup is either:

1.   A portable blue swing light which is attached to the mast pole and is powered from a special electrical plug attached to a portable amber flashing barge light.

 

or...

 

2.   A 110VAC mast pole mounted swing light, which is plugged into a three or two socket gang box.  The gang box is plugged into the barge power wiring circuit.

 

 

Make sure your "swing light" installation is a legal one!  

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

 

 

During a recent fire drill conducted by the new crew on the M/V COVE POINT, a potential problem was discovered. 

 

The ringing of the general alarm bell signaled the start of the drill.  The crew assembled and found that excessive time had to be spent adjusting over tightened straps on each crewmember's life jacket.  Since the crew was new to the vessel, they had never been fitted.  Valuable time was lost in getting the straps adjusted.

 

If this had been a real emergency, crewmembers may have responded without a properly fastened life jackets or spent valuable time fitting the straps.  

 

To be prepared for an emergency, take a few minutes to go around the boat checking all life jackets for proper fit.  Slacken the straps so they can be quickly secured. Once snapped in place, the slack can easily pulled out for a proper fit.

    

Submitted by Capt. Jarrett Hopson

Welcome Francisco Zelaya who recently joined the Vetting Department of Higman Marine, working at the Peninsula Blvd. location.  "Cisco" previously performed Inventory Logistics and Operations consulting for Higman, and formerly worked as a Business Process Analyst at KBR.  He has a Masters in Project Management, and in his spare time enjoys reading.  Francisco lives in San Felipe with his wife, Meghan, and their five-year-old son, Ethan.   He is originally from Chicago, but has now been settled down south in Texas for 17 years.  

We are happy to have Cisco join Higman Marine

This year many cities in the north reached or nearly reached record amounts of snow.  Chicago has a season to date snowfall of 66.8 inches, which hasn't been seen since the 1951/52 season.  Detroit topped 70 inches, and the list goes on.  Several meteorologists are concerned that if we have a rapid warming with a rainy March and April, we can expect flooding in the Missouri and Mississippi river basins.  This could mean high water conditions.

 

As we move into the spring every Wheelman should consider the possibility of high water when approaching the river.  Here are some items that need to be discussed during your voyage plan:

1. Determining the proper time to transit bridges i.e. daylight only
2. Discuss Meeting in critical areas
3. Prior to departure make sure you steering is clear of debris prior to departing
4. Raise level of awareness when walking outside the vessel and on barges
5. Always have a detailed and proper watch change
6. Keep all lines on tops of the cargo trunks
7. Before getting in the river or departing the river, make sure that all crewmembers are accounted for and are properly trained in MOB spotting
8. All work vest and other PPE are properly fitted
9. Make sure that all PFD in the bunkroom properly fit each crewmember
10. Wear a life vest at all times when on the outside of the boat
11. Make sure your crew is ready to react with rescue skills if a person should fall overboard 

Another consideration of a severe winter is ice.  Much of the Great Lakes and the northern rivers are covered in ice.  As weather warms, the ice will break and start to head down stream.  The loose chunks of ice can cause serious issues.  Locks may become jammed.  The chunks have been known to cut through tree roots, uprooting trees into the river.  

 

USACE warns that buoys between Mile 187 to 0 on the Illinois and miles 200 to 109 on the Upper Mississippi River may be off station due to ice.  During such times it is important to remain extremely alert as a navigator.

 

NOAA Satellite picture showing ice coverage over Great Lakes.

 

USCG Navigation General

 

 

 

When approaching a lock entrance, the visual signal displayed when a single lock is ready for entrance is a flashing _____________.

A: red light
B: green light
C: amber light
D: white light

 

Permission to leave the riverward chamber of twin locks is given by the lockmaster and consists of which sound signal?

A: One short blast
B: Two short blasts
C: One long blast
D: Two long blasts

 

A radar range to a small, charted object such as a light will provide a line of position in which form?

A: Straight line
B: Arc
C: Parabola
D: Hyperbola

 

What area of the earth cannot be shown on a standard Mercator chart?

A: Equator
B: Areas including both North and South latitudes
C: North and South Poles
D: A narrow band along the central meridian.

 

Fog is likely to occur when there is little difference between the dew point and the _____________.

A: relative humidity
B: air temperature
C: barometric pressure
D: absolute humidity

© 2014 HIGMAN MARINE SERVICES, Inc.