Of course to most that read this newsletter "on the one" has significant meaning as two tows close in, head to head on the waterway. Each tow will prepare to pass the other, port side to port side. There is no confusion here.

The actions taken by the wheelman behind the sticks is profoundly understood and normally includes a sincere trust of the other wheelman.

Words have meaning, but more importantly, they must have understanding.

Is everyone on the same page?

Holding the pre-evolution conference, the pre-critical task mini meeting, call it what you want, this is one of the most important parts of our operational day. The conferences held by the crew before each watch change, before docking, locking etc. or any other operation (critical or routine) will have a dramatic effect on your boat's success. This is where understanding begins.

How effective are these meetings on your boat?

Do all crew members speak the same towboat lingo? A new deckhand may not understand all the terms being thrown around by the veterans. Terms taken for granted by the old timers could have fuzzy meanings to someone on their first trip. "Watch the bump," huh?

Does everyone understand what is about to happen? Sometimes individuals will nod "yes" with little awareness of the real plan. Ask frequent questions to ensure complete understanding of the task at hand. The more understanding, the more buy-in will develop with all crew members. Ask, don't just tell, in these meetings.

Is there ample feedback generated by the crew to ensure that the job is being done in the safest and most efficient way? Everyone has good ideas and a balanced discussion can help solve potential problems. Help bring out the good ideas. Keep the discussion on course, though. Random discussion can be counterproductive. Again, ask; don't just tell.

Don't let the safety message get lost in the details. This could be an example of the mini-meeting: "Talk me into the dock and catch a line on the first kevel at the end. Oh yeah, be safe out there." This discussion needs more then just "be safe out there." The list should include:

Details of safety concerns specific to the operation

PPE requirements

Radio check procedures

Once again, ask, don't just tell.

The inability for all crew members to understand important information that is timely and accurate is a common theme in many of the incidents seen on the waterway. Take time to have clear understanding among all crew members of what is up ahead each and every day.

Good communication before and during an evolution is imperative to operate safely.

2016 Calendar Contest

A Reminder to Our Higman Photographers

Please continue to submit calendar photo entries for the Higman 2016 Calendar Contest. We need pictures of Higman Boats and/or Barges. All pictures submitted will be voted upon by the Peninsula Office and the top 13 photos will be published in the 2016 calendar.

Be creative taking pictures of Higman boats or barges in various areas and settings. Focus well so the subject is crisp and clear. Be sure there is sufficient lighting to provide a photo with good exposure. These guidelines are necessary so photos are good quality, able to be enlarged for the calendar.

Please be sure photos are taken in landscape (sideways) mode in order to fit properly on a calendar page. Photos in portrait (up and down) mode do not work well for the calendar. Unfortunately, we cannot consider portrait (up and down) pictures for publication in the calendar.

To enter, email a high resolution digital photo. Please click here to email Janis or Kelly.

The deadline is November 1, 2015. You only have two and a half months left!

Thank you for your participation and have fun!

Going to the Dentist and Can't Find Your Dental Card?

You don't need one!

Just let the dentist know you have coverage with Guardian, group #344565, customer service 1-800-541-7846. They can look up your benefits with your social security number.

That's it!

2015 Higman Leadership Training

Plan to Participate in October

We have three sessions scheduled in October for Higman Leadership training, starting with the first one Monday-Tuesday, Oct. 5-6. These meetings are specifically designed to train potential leaders to progress and grow in leadership skills and participate in team-building activities. All three meetings take place at the Training Center at the Peninsula Blvd office.

The dates for Higman Leadership are shown below, and will be listed at the end of each Training Newsletter. Choose the one that works best for you. If you wait and do not attend in October, you will have to wait a full year until Fall 2016 when this is offered again.

Don't delay! Call or email soon to register. Click on either name to email Janis or Kelly to reserve your space for the event and request hotel accommodations. Or, if you prefer, you can call Janis at 281-864-6010.

OCTOBER 5-6	MONDAY-TUESDAY
OCTOBER 15-16	THURSDAY-FRIDAY
OCTOBER 26-27	MONDAY-TUESDAY

Deckhand Academy Volunteers

How do we select our deckhands you might ask?

We will be holding a Deckhand Academy class the week of August 31. We are looking for volunteers, especially tankermen, to assist with the class. If you do want to volunteer, we will pay your daily rate and provide lodging and meals if you do not live in the Houston area. If you are interested, contact Dennis at 281-864-6018 or e-mail dennisz@higman.com. Volunteers we had in our past classes have done an outstanding job; they not only answer any questions the class has, but also provide detailed information on "towboat" life and "hands-on" training. Your assistance is greatly appreciated and we look forward to your help.

There have been many questions about how the whole deckhand process works. First, an application must be submitted online at www.higman.com. An applicant must have a TWIC card in hand, not just applied for with a receipt, and not waiting on the TWIC card to arrive. They must know how to swim, for obvious reasons. They must have a valid driver's license and have no criminal record for felonies or misdemeanors, subject to determination by Higman. This is a very important part in our selection process because we need to know if this will keep an applicant from obtaining a tankerman's license issued by the Coast Guard. As stated many times, we do not hire career deckhands. You must be able to move up; and getting a tankerman's license is the first step.

The next step is selecting candidates. We receive over 100 applications a month so this can be a very challenging task in the selection process. We try to select candidates mostly from referrals from all of you in the fleet. Our feeling is that you know better than anybody who most likely will succeed in this business. For this next class we received over 200 applications and we were selecting 10 candidates. Seventy-five applicants were selected for testing and interviewing. The next step is the test which consists of 12 math questions and 7 reading comprehension questions. An applicant can only miss a total of three on both tests combined.

Next, is setting up interviews from those who passed the test; this time 30 were selected. There are two of us that conduct the interviews which are held in Houston and Covington. The interview is pretty in-depth and thought-provoking for the candidates; a minimum of 12 scripted questions are asked. After the interview, a score is given for each candidate. Then, the hardest part for us comes in determining who we select. This is something that is not taken lightly; we are looking for the best possible candidates. Of course, nothing is a sure thing when you hire someone. But, we want to feel confident we are sending the best people out to our boats -- those who are motivated to learn, want to be a part of a team, and have their eye potentially on the wheelhouse.

We get many phone calls on why we didn't select certain candidates and it can be a combination of things such as not passing the test, missing more questions on the test than someone else, or not scoring well on the interview. Bottom line, as stated before, were are trying to get the best of the best. If we do not choose your referred candidate it's not personal; they can always resubmit their application for the next class. Also, we do not want any of you to get discouraged or upset; keep referring candidates to us because we need your assistance and input. Below is a sample of the math questions on our test.

Answers are at the end of the Newsletter. Give it a try.

2+2-4� 50% =

98 + 63 - 37 =

Express 0.35 as a percentage.

(63 + 71) x 6 =

If you are loading a barge and it is dropping at 6'' inches per hour, how far would it drop in 3 � hours?

A barge holds 30,000 barrels. You will load it to 50% of its capacity. How many barrels will be loaded?

Safety Spotlight

Attention to Detail

by Safety Supervisor Jeremy Ragel

We as a whole need to work on attention to detail.

We need to pause for a moment and get the details right, such as: Should I use extra care when docking at Kinder Morgan? Should I wait a few seconds longer to reduce the distance I have to throw a line to not risk tearing my shoulder?

Should I review the charts and ensure that I am making an approach on the correct pier and that I'm not going to damage it in the process?

Am I properly hydrated and not at risk for kidney stones? Do I need to choose water and a healthy meal before working in the heat to reduce my risk of heat exhaustion?

Are my feet spaced properly and away from the edge before throwing a line and following it over the side?

Am I on the same page with my tankerman as I pass through a lock? Am I getting in a hurry, stepping in the danger zone, and tripping on a line causing me to fall into the water?

And, finally, am I damaging my company's reputation as professionals?

We have been lucky to have not had any one of these incidents turn fatal. In my time spent working search and rescue I have too often seen much more grim outcomes from eerily similar circumstances.

Please help me keep Higman a safe working environment that everyone can take pride in by taking time to pay attention to the details.

Rose Point Tip of the Week

How's Your Header Line

The header line displayed on your Rose Point chart plotter can be turned on and off by opening the "Boat" tab found on the Task Pane Panel (far right).

Click on the "Boat" task pane tab to open the section of the
By clicking on the "Display Heading Line", the header can be turned on or off.
There is also a "Stern Header" available if that is helpful in your operation.

After a trip to the shipyard for some minor repairs, you seem to be going sideways down the canal; at least as far as the chart plotter is telling you. What could be the problem?

Most likely the Satellite Compass antenna on top of the wheelhouse was knocked off center. The Rose Point Chart plotter gets its heading information from the SC-50 Satellite Compass.

Take a look at the Satellite Compass antenna. The antenna is a round, white dome, about 2 feet in diameter, located on top of the wheelhouse.

If you look closely at this antenna, you will see an arrow molded into the parameter of the dome. The arrow should be pointing forward and should be no more than 2.5� left or right of the centerline.

If the arrow is a few degrees off of centerline to the right or left, the boat will appear to crab down the canal on your chart plotter. The header line will be off center.

To repair, the antenna base can be adjusted if connected with a threaded coupling. Twist left or right to center up the arrow. If you cannot adjust to the proper alignment or the base cannot be tightened to hold in place, contact your Port Captain for repairs.

For more information on fine tuning your header line, go to Higman Training Newsletter, Nov 27, 2013.

Towboats and Flags

Fly it right onboard your boat.

The US flag is an important part of our maritime tradition. The familiar 50-star "stars and stripes" flag is also known as the national ensign when displayed on a vessel. It is the most important flag on board and identifies her national character. A vessel's character is determined by her national registry.

How should the national ensign be displayed onboard?

The traditional position of honor on a vessel is at the farthest place aft. On a working towboat, this is not practical with the nature of the steering flat and the low freeboard at the aft rail. With vessels that cannot carry the flag from this aft position, it is acceptable to fly it from the mainmast on the centerline of the boat.

No other flag should fly above the national ensign and no flag should fly aft of the national ensign. With the angle of the flag lanyard on most of our vessels, this may not be totally practical if flying a state flag below the national ensign. In this case, height trumps the aft position.

Should there be a national ensign aboard our barges?

When barges are made up to the boat, the tow becomes a unit. In this case the ensign should fly as far stern as possible which means aboard the boat. There should be no national ensign aboard our barges.

The only flag that should be flown aboard the barge should be the company burgee.

Flag condition

Wind, sun, soot and stack gasses take a great toll on your flag. Look at the condition on a regular basis and replace as needed. Tattered and faded flags need to be retired. Retired flags can be sent ashore for proper disposal. The training Department can handle you old flags.

What's wrong with these pictures?

Note: This article was first published 2 years ago. After finding some ragged looking flags in our fleet, I thought it was time to revisit. Let's keep our flags flying proud and looking good.

Eat This - Not That

Fast Food - Part 4 "The Hall of Shame" continued.

We have been doing a continuing series on fast food and the part it plays in your lifestyle and well being. As we have stressed, fast food is not good for you especially if you eat at fast food restaurants frequently. In this edition we offer you the worst of the worst fast food, aptly named, "The Fast Food Hall of Shame."

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 guideline is the recommended daily amount for 2000-2500 calories. Base your own personal daily dietary needs on your specific age, gender, and body type.

Calories - 2000 - 2500

Fat - 65g/30g Saturated Fat

Cholesterol - 300mg

Sodium - 2000mg - 2200mg

It's Your Choice!

Blimpies 12" Hot Pastrami Sub

Calories -1140

Fat - 48g/Saturated Fat - 21g

Cholesterol - 220mg

Sodium - 4310mg

Digiorno for one Garlic Bread Crust Pepperoni Pizza

Calories - 840

Fat - 44g/Saturated Fat -16g

Cholesterol - 50mg

Sodium - 1,450mg

Outback Steakhouse Baby Back Ribs (Half Rack) with loaded baked potato

Calories - 1314

Fat 84g/Saturated Fat 30.0g

Cholesterol - 281.0mg

Sodium -2369


Chili's Jalapeno Smokehouse Bacon Big Mouth Burger Calories - 1660 Fat -119mg/Saturated Fat - 38g Cholesterol - 220mg Sodium - 4000


Romano's Macaroni Grill New York Cheesecake with Caramel Fudge Sauce (one slice) Calories - 1090 Fat - 73g/Saturated Fat - 44g Sodium - 650mg

All in the name of research

Nav Zone: VTS Reporting Requirements

Hazardous Vessel Operating Condition

Per 33 CFR 161.12, As soon as is practicable, a VTS User shall notify the VTS of a hazardous vessel operating condition. A Hazardous Vessel Operating Condition means any conditions related to a vessel's ability to safely navigate or maneuver and includes:

The absence or malfunction of vessel operating equipment, such as propulsion machinery, steering gear, radar system, gyrocompass, depth sounding device, automatic radar plotting aid (ARPA), radiotelephone, Automatic Identification System equipment, navigational lighting, sound signaling devices or similar equipment.
Any condition on board the vessel likely to impair navigation, such as lack of current nautical charts and publications, personnel shortage, or similar condition.
Vessel characteristics that affect or restrict maneuverability, such as cargo or tow arrangement, trim, loaded condition, underkeel or overhead clearance, speed capabilities, power availability, or similar characteristics, which may affect the positive control or safe handling of the vessel or the tow.

There are several VTS stations that we transit, Houston, Port Arthur, Berwick Bay (Morgan City), Lower Mississippi River (New Orleans), and Louisville (only during high water). Each has their own reporting requirements. What channel do you use? When do you switch channels? Where do you check in/out? The Coast Guard maintains a website that has a listing of the requirements for each VTS and manuals for each, click here. The manuals can also be found on Higmanboats.

Rules of the Road Questions

BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In illustration D023RR below which item shows the arc of visibility of a green sidelight?

a) A

b) B

c) C

d) D

INLAND ONLY You have made your vessel up to a tow and are moving from a pier out into the main channel. Your engines are turning ahead. What whistle signal should you sound?

a) Three long blasts

b) One prolonged blast

c) One prolonged and two short blasts

d) Five or more short rapid blasts

BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In a crossingsituation, a stand-on vessel which is forced to takeaction in order to avoid collision with a vessel on herown port side shall, if possible, avoid __________.

a) turning to port

b) turning to starboard

c) decreasing speed

d) increasing speed

BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vesseldoes NOT sound a fog signal of one prolongedfollowed by two short blasts?

a) A vessel engaged indredging

b) A sailing vessel

c) A vessel being towed

d) A vessel engaged in fishing

BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vesselmay exhibit identifying lights when not actuallyengaged in her occupation?

a) A trawler

b) A fishing vessel

c) A tug

d) None of the above

Nautical Trivia

The LOOP (Louisiana Offshore Oil Port)

This deep water port is located in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana near the town of Port Fourchon. LOOP provides tanker offloading and temporary storage services for crude oil transported on some of the largest tankers in the world, super tankers. These tankers are VLCC's and ULCC's can transport between 2 to 3 million barrels of oil per tanker. When loaded these tankers can have a draft of around 60 ft deep; this is why the LOOP was created. It serves as a port located in 110ft deep water 20 miles off the coast.

LOOP handles 13 percent of the nation's foreign oil, about 1.2 million barrels a day, and connects by pipeline to 50 percent of the U.S. refining capability. Once anchored at one of the three single point mooring (SPM) buoys, hoses are attached to a ship's manifold for offloading. Hi-tech, flexible hoses are attached to the ship's manifold to receive and transport the crude oil. It is pumped from the ship in an underground pipeline.

Oil movement controllers from LOOP, in close communication with the ship, initiate the offloading of the vessel to the LOOP Marine Terminal where it is pumped into a 48-inch diameter pipeline to the LOOP storage facilities at a rate of up to 100,000 barrels per hour.

Stern Shots

Capt James Campbell shows off his new boat to his

grandson, Tankerman Kyle Bellett.

Captain "Bub" (James) Meredith has a nice big smile aboard his newly assigned vessel, M/V Higman Pride! Congratulations, Bub!

Dates to Remember

2015 - 2016 Tankermen Seminars

*Please note date changes for 9th and 10th sessions

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 7 - new date
Tenth Session	*May 31 - new date
Eleventh Session	June 21

2015 Advanced Pilothouse Management/Simulator at SCI

Sixth Session

Sep 21-23

2015 Steersman Boot Camp

Fourth Session

Nov 2-3

2015 Higman Leadership

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

2016 Wheelman Seminar

First Session	April 20-21
Second Session	May 2-3
Third Session	May 11-12

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: 3781

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: B,C,B,C,C

Deckhand Academy Answers:

2+2-4� 50% = 0

98 + 63 - 37 = 124

Express 0.35 as a percentage.35%

(63 + 71) x 6 = 804

If you are loading a barge and it is dropping at 6'' inches per hour, how far would it drop in 3 � hours? 21" or 1' 9"

A barge holds 30,000 barrels. You will load it to 50% of its capacity. How many barrels will be loaded? 15,000 bbls

Have a great and safe week!

Sincerely, Gordie, Kelly, Janis, Dennis

GORDIE KEENAN
KELLY CLEAVER

JANIS ANDERSON

DENNIS ZINK

AUSTIN ZODY

� 2015 HIGMAN MARINE SERVICES, Inc.