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 for that reason, becomes 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 aim to outline a "Best Practice" sent in by the fleet. Share your Best Practice by sending to Gordie.

This week's "Best Practice" is from the M/V BAFFIN BAY:

Cleaning the main engine external air intake screens:

Whenever you are in heavy bug areas, like on the rivers during a Mayfly hatch, it doesn't take long for these screens to become clogged with bugs. This will cause a serious restriction to your main engine's air intake, which can degrade their performance.

With the engines shut down it only takes a few minutes to take down the intake screens, loosen the hose clamp, and hose the bugs off with the water hose. A small brush may help if you have some particularly stubborn bugs. Then just reattach the screen to the external port. Now, you are all done and the mains are breathing a lot easier!

Submitted by Capt. Mike Maneely

Lots of Mayflies to clean up after!

Licensing Responsibility

Here at Higman, employees have the privilege of having a shore based licensing professional. Some marine companies do not provide this assistance. Mrs. Patti Guthrie in the Covington Office has over 10 years' experience working with mariner licensing. Mrs. Patti's responsibilities include:

Assisting with USCG MMC's, including renewal and raise in grade.
Provide guidance with USCG medical certificate
Acquire Designated Examiner (DE) letters
Provide sea service letters
Acquire FCC radio operator permits

With all of Patti's experience and assistance, the responsibility of ensuring your licenses are maintained IS YOURS! It may be a good practice that all crewmembers starting a hitch do a quick "license check".

While onboard all Tankerman must have a VALID:

TWIC
MMC (orange book)
Medical Certificate (if the Coast Guard has issued)

In addition to the above all Wheelmen must have a VALID:

Radar Certificate (the actual certificate from the school)
Radio Operator Permit (issued by FCC)

It is also your responsibility to ensure that these licenses make it to the boat with you. Ensure that they are in your possession when you leave the house. If you are flying during your travel you should place your licenses in your carry on, who knows what happens to your check bags, as Capt. Justin Wood recently discovered.

The USCG claims that your MMC is waterproof, but as many have found they are not. It may be a wise investment to purchase a waterproof container.

Your licenses are just that; YOURS! Many of you of depend on this license for you and your family's livelihood. Take the extra precautions!

Eat This, Not That - Chicken and Dumplings

Fall is upon us and the weather will be getting cooler. A classic southern dish like chicken and dumplings (a lighter version of course) is just the answer to knock the chill off.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of corn starch

1 1/2 cups low fat, low sodium chicken broth

1 cup whole milk

3 large celery stalks, sliced thin on the diagonal

1 medium yellow onion, sliced thin

Salt and freshly ground pepper

2 cups shredded skinless breast meat from a roast chicken

2/3 cup Bisquick Heart Smart baking mix

1/3 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley

1. Place the cornstarch in a medium bowl, and whisk in the chicken broth and milk. Pour the mixture into a large saucepan or Dutch oven and bring it to a boil, whisking constantly. Add the celery and onion. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and return to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally about 10-15 minutes.

2. Stir the chicken into the vegetable mixture and raise the heat to medium-low. Cover the pot and bring to a steady simmer.

3. In a medium bowl, stir the baking mix and buttermilk together until the mixture forms a soft dough.

4. Drop 12 spoonfuls of the dumpling mixture into the pot, spacing the dumplings out as much as possible. Cover and simmer until the dumplings are just cooked through, about 7 minutes.

5. Sprinkle the parsley over the dumplings. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into soup bowls and serve.

Thank You to Our Deckhand Class

Training Volunteers

We appreciate your helping hand!

Volunteers from the Higman fleet assisted with line handling, knot tying, line splicing and other areas to help our newest deckhands become better prepared for towboat work. Everyone's participation was very helpful and greatly appreciated.

Rigo Santibanez, Pilot on the M/V Jesse B Gunstream, oversees skiff training for new Deckhands

Tankerman Dustin Horton of M/V Jesse B instructs Brandon Stockstill on the proper and safe way to handle skiff operations

Dominique Jones, Deckhand 2 on Miss Cynthia, works with Kenya Barnes on throwing and tying lines

Tankerman Bryan Oliver of M/V Jesse B explains barge duties

Safety & Vetting Spotlight

SECURING OF WATERTIGHT DOORS WHILE UNDERWAY

This safety alert reiterates the need for vessel operators to ensure that watertight doors are always closed while underway, except when being used for access.

This alert from the USCG is the direct result of a collision a few years back between a 534' cargo ship and a 166' offshore supply vessel. The incident occurred on the Mississippi River, in a restricted visibility situation. As a result of the collision, the offshore supply vessel capsized and sank. -- The crew of five was lost.

During the ensuing investigation of this incident, evidence was uncovered that indicated the offshore supply vessel was operating with its watertight doors in the open position. This is a violation of 46 CFR 174.210(e), which states that the master must ensure that a watertight door is always closed, except when being used for access. Watertight doors are a critical part of a vessel's subdivision, and consequently a critical part of damage stability considerations, so the importance of keeping these closed is very obvious. This becomes even more critical on smaller vessels, which may only have one or two watertight doors to prevent flooding the entire length of the vessel.

Please, keep these doors closed!

USCG Rules of the Road Questions

INLAND ONLY Which lights are required for a barge, not part of a composite unit, being pushed ahead?

a. Sidelights and a stern light
b. Sidelights, a special flashing light, and a stern light
c. Sidelights and a special flashing light
d. Sidelights, a towing light, and a stern light

INLAND ONLY A fleet of moored barges extends into a navigable channel. What is the color of the lights on the barges?

a. Red
b. Amber
c. White
d. Yellow

INLAND ONLY A barge more than 50 meters long is required to show how many white anchor lights when anchored in a Secretary approved "special anchorage area"?

a. 2
b. 1
c. 3
d. None

INLAND ONLY If your tug is pushing a barge ahead at night and it is not a composite unit, which light(s) should show aft on your vessel?

a. A white stern light
b. Two red lights
c. Two towing lights
d. A towing light over the stern light

INLAND ONLY What lights are required for a single barge being towed alongside?

a. Sidelights and a stern light
b. Sidelights, a special flashing light, and a stern light
c. Sidelights and a special flashing light
d. Sidelights, a towing light, and a stern light

Dates to Remember

2014 Tankermen Seminars

Tenth Session	OCT 15
Eleventh Session	NOV 20

2014 Steersman Boot Camp

Fourth Session

OCT 20-21

2014 Higman Leadership and Management Course


Third Session	OCT 23-24

2015 Wheelmen's Seminar

First Session	Mar 18-19
Second Session	Mar 30-31
Third Session	Apr 8-9

2015 Advanced Pilothouse Management at SCI

First Session	Apr 27-29
Second Session	Jun 1-3
Third Session	Jun 15-17
Fourth Session	Jul 20-22
Fifth Session	Aug 10-12
Sixth Session	Sep 21-23

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

CBT Certificates earned by Higman employees to date during 2014..............5040

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...C,C,A,C,B

This has been a busy month at the Higman Training Center.

With three sessions of "Higman Leadership and Management", two sessions of "Advanced Pilot House Management", a "Tankerman Seminar", a week of "Deckhand Academy" and a "Steersman Boot Camp", the training staff have not had a chance to catch their breath during the last few weeks.

You may have noticed the Higman Training Newsletter this issue is a bit light. We plan to be back to normal next issue. Keep the ideas coming!

Have a great and safe week!

Sincerely, Gordie, Kelly, Janis and Dennis

GORDIE KEENAN
KELLY CLEAVER

JANIS ANDERSON

DENNIS ZINK

� 2014 HIGMAN MARINE SERVICES, Inc.