Each day towboat crews consider the risks of the tasks ahead and then select the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) needed for a safe operation. Going out on the barge for deck work means putting on a work vest, second nature for most. Planning to chip the deck during painting season? Then, goggles with a face shield are part of the process. Almost everything we do aboard has some type of PPE to help protect us.

What about PPE for the internal parts of your body?

When tanking a barge in the summertime when the deck temperature can rise above 100°F with the humidity close to 100% your body needs to be ready to react with proper and adequate levels of nutrients. An adequate level of water is the key nutrient.

Think water, think PPE

Do you think of hydration prior to starting a task as part of the process needed to get the job done safely?

Water is essential for our bodies to function. It is the most important nutrient that our bodies require each and every day. You can survive without food for a while, but the human body will quickly fail without water after a few days.

Water is key in supplying nutrients and removing waste through blood circulation.

Keeping yourself properly hydrated helps carry away heat before serious damage can occur. The heat travels through your bloodstream to your skin, causing sweat to form on your skin. The evaporation of your sweat on the skin has a cooling effect that helps maintain a safe body temperature.

Hydration should start well before your summertime watch begins on a hot barge being discharged or loaded. Drink plenty of water the day before and in the hours before heading out on deck. Make sure you have a supply of water on the barge with you to keep up with your rate of sweating.

Dehydration is serious.

Once you start feeling thirsty, you have probably lost about 1 percent of your body water and are now dehydrated. With a 2 percent water loss, you could experience serious fatigue and cardiovascular impairments. Everyone has a different fluid need based on the amount of sweat your body produces, the temperature you are working in and even the clothing worn.

Once dehydration gets serious, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and even death can occur. It is not something to play around with.

Long term dehydration can lead to other problems such as fatigue, constipation, joint pain, high blood pressure, acid-alkaline imbalance, asthma and allergies and kidney problems such as kidney stones. If your urine is darker than a light yellow, you may need additional hydration!

Tankerman John-Kerry Snyder works on Hydration on the M/V MATAGORDA

Think hydration as another step in keeping yourself safe and functioning properly.

SMART Institute Returns to Higman

On June 23, for the second year in a row, the Higman Peninsula Office was chosen as a scheduled stop for nearly thirty participants in the Southeast Maritime and Transportation Institute (SMART Institute). Institute members spent the afternoon learning about inland towing, the waterway system, and about employment opportunities in the maritime industry. The group enjoyed an informative tour aboard the M/V Horn Island, thanks to Captain JJ Conner Jr, Master Pilot Craig Hurt and Tankerman Zac Lopez.

Captain Michael Maneely of M/V Higman Leader stopped by the office to assist with the question and answer session. In addition, one of our Higman San Jacinto College Interns, Blake Snapp of M/V Horn Island, helped with the event again this year, as did Austin Zody, our summer Intern from A & M Galveston. Each Higman employee made a positive impression as they answered questions and informed the group about the towboat industry as a whole, and as they conducted the vessel tour, pointing out specific machinery and equipment and answering questions.

The purpose of SMART is to enlighten and expose high school teachers and counselors, as well as college counselors and faculty, of opportunities for valuable careers in the maritime industry. The Institute is involved with four aspects of the maritime industry: Ports and Logistics, Vessel Operations, Ship Building and Repair, Pleasure Craft.

SMART Institute members listen and learn during the Q & A session

Capt. "Mike" Maneely of M/V Higman Leader came to answer questions and help explain towboat life and work. Kelly Cleaver of the Training Dept. conducted the meeting, and Intern Blake Snapp of M/V Horn Island also participated.

Five SMART visitors pose before boarding M/V Horn Island for their tour

Master Pilot Craig Hurt on M/V Horn Island explains

procedures during the wheelhouse tour

Zac Lopez, Tankerman on M/V Horn Island, points out
various systems during the engine room tour

3rd Quarter CBT

CBT's for the third quarter will be available Friday, July 10^th. These are required to be completed by all crewmembers. Courses for this quarter are:

Driving Safety
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER)
Radar Principles
SMS Policy Changes Part 5

We will be soon be reaching our 3000th CBT mark. Get in there and get your CBT's done for a chance to win a Walmart Gift Certificate.

Meet Jeremy Ragle, Higman Safety Supervisor

We are happy to announce the addition of Jeremy Ragle as our new Safety Supervisor. Jeremy comes to us after retiring from the USCG with 15 years of service where he was able to acquire a wide variety of experiences and responsibilities.

He is married to Mandy and has 3 children, Sonora, Brayden, and Lillian. In his leisure time he enjoys building custom firearms and restoring classic cars.

We are pleased to have him with us and know that he will be a key player in contributing to the overall success of the Higman team, so please give him a warm, "Welcome aboard!"

We welcome Jeremy Ragle as Higman's Safety Supervisor

He will be working out of our Peninsula office and can be reached via the following:

Office: 281-864-6034

Cell: 713-294-9188

Email Jeremyr@higman.com or click here: Jeremy

Safety Spotlight

Portable Ladder Safety

Falls from portable ladders (step, straight, combination and extension) are one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities and injuries.

Read and follow all labels and markings on the ladder.

Always inspect the ladder prior to using it. If the ladder is damaged, it must be removed from service and tagged until repaired or discarded.

Always maintain a 3-point (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand) contact on the ladder when climbing. Keep your body near the middle of the step and always face the ladder while climbing (see diagram).

Only use ladders and appropriate accessories (ladder levelers, jacks or hooks) for designed purposes.
Ladders must be free of slippery material on rungs, steps or feet.
Do not use the top step/rung of a ladder as a step/rung unless it designed for that purpose.
Use a ladder only on a stable and level surface unless it has been secured (top or bottom) to prevent displacement.
Do not place a ladder on boxes, barrels or other unstable bases to obtain additional height.
Do not move or shift a ladder while a person or equipment is on the ladder.
An extension or straight ladder used to access an elevated surface must extend at least 3 feet above the point of support (see diagram). Do not stand on the three top rungs of a straight, single or extension ladder.

The proper angle for setting up a ladder is to place its base a quarter of the working length of the ladder from the wall or other vertical surface (see diagram).
A ladder placed in any location where it can be displaced by other work activities must be secured to prevent displacement, or a barricade must be erected to keep traffic away from the ladder.
Be sure all locks on an extension ladder are properly engaged.
Do not exceed maximum load rating of a ladder. Be aware of the ladder's load rating and of the weight it is supporting, including the weight of tools or equipment.

A bent or damaged ladder creates potential for a
slip, trip or fall and must be replaced.

Vital Statistics

U. S Port Rankings (2013) and where Higman Tows transit (yellow).

Rose Point Tip of the Week

Look again to use a Boundary Area to mark channel problems

With heavy rainfall recorded in the South West during the last 2 months, shoals have developed on the west end of the ICWW. Recent reports from Higman Wheelmen highlight miles 409 and 420.

Rose Point is a powerful tool that can help you highlight areas of concern. Use the Boundary Area function when you receive Higman Fleet Alerts, GICA Nav Info messages or other trusted sources to highlight areas where extra caution is needed.

ICWW mi 409

An alarm will sound when the boat crosses the edge of the boundary to alert the wheelman of a designated area ahead. They are easy to set up and can be valuable as a reminder to the wheelman.

To create a boundary area:

In Planning Mode, click on Home.

Open the drop down box on the "New" button.

Select Boundary Area.

Start on the chart where you want to draw a boundary area.

Click once on each corner and double click on the last point.

ICWW mi 420

In the General Properties panel on the right side:

You can write a description such as "shoaling area on north side of channel"

Check the "Fill Area" box to color the area with a selected color.

Radar Terms to Get You through the Watch:

Part 5

Going beyond Gain, Sea Clutter and Rain - Adjusting the header line on the

FURUNO 2127

Beyond the basic tuning of your radar with gain, sea clutter and rain controls, there are other fine controls that modulate the return to give the best picture. During the next few weeks we will discuss some of these lesser known settings and look at how to adjust them for the best return.

Header Line Adjustment

See step 2

Looking for the header line adjustment on the Furuno 2127?

Well you won't find it in the operation manual. It is found in the installation manual though. Here's how to do it.

Steps to adjust the header line-

Press the [MENU] button to show the main menu.
We need to get to the [INITIALIZE] menu, so you will hold down the [HL OFF] button and press [MENU] five times.
You should now be in the initialization menu. Now press [2] or click [ECHO ADJ].
This will take you to another slew of settings. Now press [3] or click [HD ALIGN].
[HD ALIGN] is where you can set your header degree. Degrees range from 0-359.9 so you'll key in the degree change you want and press [ENTER].
Confirm the header is displayed how you like and press [MENU] to finish.

See step 3

See step 4

Eat This - Not That

Fast Food - Part 2

Sometimes it's a fact of life that you have to grab something to eat because you are rushed for time. As we have reminded you recently, eating fast food is not the most healthy choice. However, if you choose to eat fast food when your busy schedule has you on-the-go, below are options to eat somewhat healthier.

As you can see in the illustrations, you have your "bad option" and a "not so bad" option. Notice we are not saying a "good option." All in all, it is wise to avoid "fast food" or at least limit your trips to a fast food restaurant.

What you eat is an important part of your life. A diet high in saturated and trans fat raises blood cholesterol - a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Too much sodium can raise your blood pressure and too much fat and sugar can lead to obesity, both of which can contribute to heart disease as well.

For the purpose of comparison the below listed nutritional information is the recommended daily amount. This is based on age, gender, and body type.

Calories - 2000 - 2500

Fat - 65g/30g Saturated Fat

Cholesterol - 300mg

Sodium - 2000mg - 2200mg

It's Your Choice!

BAD	NOT SO BAD
Subway - Foot Long Spicy Italian Sub w/cheese and mayonnaise, Bag of Lay's Chips, Large Coke Calories - 1800 Fat - 100g/Saturated Fat 29g Cholesterol - 115mg Sodium - 3990mg	Subway - 6 inch Black forest Ham Sub w/olive oil, mustard, cheese, veggies, Tomato Basil Soup (cup), Harvest Sun Cheddar Chips, Light Lemonade. Calories 850 Fat - 28g/Saturated Fat 9g Cholesterol 107mg Sodium 2080mg

BAD	NOT SO BAD
Chick-Fil-A - Chicken Deluxe Sandwich, Large Waffle Fries, Large Coke Calories - 1240 Fat - 50g/Saturated Fat - 10g Cholesterol - 70mg Sodium - 1910mg	Chick-Fil-A - Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich with Lettuce, Tomato, Mustard, Small Waffle Fries, Side Salad, Iced Tea/Water. Calories - 670 Fat - 23g/Saturated Fat 6mg Cholesterol - 60mg Sodium - 1415mg

BAD	NOT SO BAD
Long John Silvers - 2 pcs. Fried Fish, 3 pcs. Fried Shrimp, French Fries, Large Coke Calories - 1250 Fat - 54g/Saturated Fat - 12g Cholesterol - 45mg Sodium - 2850mg	Long John Silvers - 2 Pcs. Baked Fish, 6 Baked Shrimp, Baked Potato, Green Beans, Iced Tea/Water Calories - 604 Fat - 2g/Saturated Fat 1g Cholesterol - 127mg Sodium - 1457mg

BAD	NOT SO BAD
Arby's - Smokehouse Brisket Sandwich, Large Curley Fries, Large Coke Calories- 1450 Fat -70g/Saturated Fat - 17g Cholesterol - 110mg Sodium - 2550mg	Arby's - Classic Roast Beef Sandwich, Chopped Salad w/Honey Mustard Dressing, 2 Potato Cakes, Iced Tea/Water Calories - 840 Fat - 33g/Saturated Fat 10g Cholesterol - 75mg. Sodium - 1740

BAD	NOT SO BAD
Panera Bread - Bacon Turkey Sandwich, Bowl of Potato Soup, Large Coke Calories - 1350 Fat - 49g/Saturated Fat - 26g Cholesterol - 155mg Sodium - 4,000mg	Panera Bread - 1/2 Steak and Cheddar Panini on French Baguette, Half Ceaser Salad, Low Fat Chicken Noodle Soup (cup), Iced Tea/Water Calories - 730 Fat - 31g/Saturated Fat 10.5g Cholesterol - 110mg Sodium - 2100mg

We caught Dennis red-handed! He claims his meal was necessary for the sake of research!!

Nav Zone: 2692

Per 46 CFR 4.05-1 All vessels on the navigable waters of the US that are involved in the following incidents must be reported to the Coast Guard in writing on a CG-2692. The 2692 must be completed for all accidents which involve one of the following:

Loss of life.
Injury that requires professional medical treatment where the employee is unable to return to work.
Loss of main propulsion or primary steering.
Any accident that compromises the vessels seaworthiness, which may include fire, flooding, etc.
Groundings (accidental or intentional) that creates a hazard to navigation, the environment, safety of the vessel or includes one of the above incidents. This does not include "bumping bottom".
Property damage in excess of $25,000.

Should the Coast Guard require a 2692, it must be faxed/emailed to the Safety Department within 12 hours. The Safety Department will then submit the forms to the Coast Guard.

If you are unsure if you should report an incident to the Coast Guard please consult the Safety Department (Bryan Smith, Amy Kappes, or Kyle Shaw) for clarification.

Remember the following incidents are required to be reported to your Dispatcher and an incident report filed on Higmanboats, even if you are not required to fill out a 2692:

Collisions
Allisions
Groundings
Fires
Sinking
Flooding
Loss of Steering
Loss of Propulsion
Man Overboard
Evidence of damage of unknown source (water in voids)
Damage from unknown source (notice upon picking up barges at fleet, etc)
Dropping equipment overboard or in tanks
Damage to docks, banks, structures, Aids to Navigation
Wake damage from other vessels
Wake damage to other vessels or shore facilities
Rescues of other vessels or personnel

Rules of the Road Questions

INLAND ONLY Which is TRUE of a vessel downbound with a following current when meeting an upbound vessel on the Western Rivers?

a. She has the right-of-way only if she is a power-driven vessel.
b. She has the right-of-way only if she has a tow.
c. She does not have the right-of-way, since the other vessel is not crossing the river.
d. She must wait for a whistle signal from the upbound vessel.

INLAND ONLY For the purpose of the Inland Navigation Rules, the term "Inland Waters" includes __________.

a. the Western Rivers, extending to the COLREGS demarcation line
b. harbors and rivers to the outermost aids to navigation
c. waters along the coast of the United States to a distance of two miles offshore
d. None of the above

INLAND ONLY Under the Inland Navigation Rules, what is the meaning of a one short blast signal used when meeting another vessel?

a. "I am turning to starboard."
b. "I am turning to port."
c. "I intend to leave you on my starboard side."
d. "I intend to leave you on my port side."

INLAND ONLY You are overtaking another power-driven vessel and sound a whistle signal indicating that you intend to pass the vessel along her starboard side. If the other vessel answers your signal with five short and rapid blasts, you should __________.

a. not overtake the other vessel until both vessels exchange the same passing signal
b. not overtake the other vessel until she sounds another five short and rapid blast signal
c. pass the other vessel along her starboard side
d. sound five short and rapid blasts and pass along her starboard side

INLAND ONLY At night, a barge moored in a slip used primarily for mooring purposes shall __________.

a. show a flashing yellow light at each corner
b. show a white light at each corner
c. show a red light at the bow and stern
d. not be required to be lighted

Nautical Trivia

The Texas City Disaster- SS Grandcamp

The Grandcamp was a liberty class vessel who was renamed after the war. The liberty class is a group of ships build in the US prior to WW2 and they numbered above 2,000. They were designed to carry 10,000 tons of cargo, usually one type per ship, but, during wartime, generally carried loads far exceeding this. The ship served in the Pacific theatre and in a Cold War gesture, the ship was assigned to the French Line to assist in the rebuilding of Europe.

SS Grandcamp

Along with ammonium nitrate-a very common cargo on the high seas-it was carrying small arms ammunition, machinery, and bales of sisal twine on the deck. Ammonium nitrate was loaded into the Grandcamp the night before in the 1^st and 4^th holds. And in-between those were holds 2 and 3 which held fuel oil.

April 16^th, 1947 started as just another normal day of loading for the longshoremen. But as the prepared to continue loading ammonium around 8am they noticed smoke in one of the holds. They attempted to put out the fire for the next hour before calling the Texas City fire department. By this time there was orange smoke billowing out of the hold. This attracted onlookers from the city, hundreds of them. It's what people always did

What was left of the Texas City port from an aerial view.

when there was a fire at the Texas City docks. As spectators kept gathering some noticed that the water around the ship was starting to boil and steam.

At 9:12am the ammonium nitrate reached its explosive threshold and detonated. The resulting blast was so explosive it leveled 1,000 buildings in Texas City, brought people in Galveston to their knees, shattered glass in Houston, and could be heard in Louisiana. The casualty count was 567 lives and is considered one of the worst industrial disasters thus far.

Stern Shots

Michael Huerta discovered our old "friend" still resides at our former location on DeZavala. Looks like he remains healthy!

Steersman Deldrick Harrison and Tankerman Sidney Phifer

work on painting the M/V POINT COMFORT

Dates to Remember

2015 - 2016 Tankermen Seminars

First Session	July 16
Second Session	August 25
Third Session	September 10
Fourth Session	October 1
Fifth Session	November 5
Sixth Session	January 26
Seventh Session	February 11
Eighth Session	March 1
Ninth Session	April 21
Tenth Session	May 12
Eleventh Session	June 21

2015 Advanced Pilothouse Management/Simulator at SCI


Fourth Session	Jul 20-22
Fifth Session	Aug 10-12
Sixth Session	Sep 21-23

2015 Steersman Boot Camp

Third Session	Jul 23-24
Fourth Session	Nov 2-3

2015 Higman Leadership

First Session	Oct 5-6
Second Session	Oct 15-16
Third Session	Oct 26-27

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

CBT Certificates earned by Higman employees to date during 2015: 2220

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 (left side near top) to get your own copy!

Answers to this weeks Rules of the Road: A,A,D,A,D

Have a great and safe week!

Sincerely, Gordie, Kelly, Janis, Dennis and Austin

GORDIE KEENAN
KELLY CLEAVER

JANIS ANDERSON

DENNIS ZINK

AUSTIN ZODY