SOUNDINGS - Harley Marine Services, Inc.

Harley Marine Services, Inc. 

SOUNDINGS 

June 2009 

Safe Responsible Reliable Efficient 

Starlight Marine Services/California Maritime Academy - 

Partners in Training 

On Wednesday May 20, 2009, Starlight Marine Services executed a 

successful first day of training in the Tractor Tug Simulator at the 

California Maritime Academy. Since January, California Maritime 

Academy and Starlight Marine Services have joined forces and worked 

hard to develop a Tractor Tug Simulator Program using their newly 

constructed Simulator Center. It has been our goal to develop a 

Simulation Program that would encompass Crisis Management, Bridge 

Resource Management and Emergency Tug Escort Maneuvering to allow 

us to evaluate our Captains in real time scenarios just as they might 

encounter in times of extremis. With a focus on San Francisco Bay areas 

of operation, along with the ability to integrate the Tug Wheelhouse 

Simulator with the Ship’s Bridge Simulator, there is no question that the 

goal of developing a realistic and challenging operating environment has 

been achieved. 

On Wednesday May 20, we brought in Captains Jason Lorenz and Doug 

Anderson for the first round of scenarios. The day started with an 

Operations Team Meeting, followed by a half hour of orientation time for 

our two Captains with the Tug Simulator itself. Once the Captains were 

comfortable with their settings and the simulator operator was ready to go, 

we briefed Captains Lorenz and Anderson together on the first scenario. 

Immediately following, Lorenz then entered the Simulator while Anderson 

stood by in the briefing room awaiting his turn. When Lorenz was finished, 

Anderson then entered 

for his turn. During that 

time Lorenz was then 

debriefed and allowed 

to go and observe the 

program from the 

control room. This 

process was then 

repeated five times with 

the various scenarios 

we developed for the 

day. 

 

 

June Holida ys 

14th—Flag Day 

21st—Father’s D a y 

Thumbs Up 

Thumbs up to Ken Olson 

for designing and 

building the Stoddard 

Sea computer program 

for U.S. Oil, your efforts 

and hard work are 

appreciated. 

Thumbs up to Byron 

Peterson for training the 

Olympic Tug & Barge 

shore side tankermen on 

the new U.S. Oil 

computer program. Your 

help is extremely 

beneficial to the daily 

operation. 

(continued on next page)

Page 2 

Safe, Responsible, Reliable, Efficient 

Starlight Marine Services/California Maritime Academy - Partners in Training (continued) 

After working through the scenarios with Captains Lorenz and Anderson, we were all very pleased 

with the results. It was clear that we had developed a program that challenges our Captains as well 

as instructors and opens the door to a high level of communication and education for both parties. 

Although it may be perceived at first as a massive video game, it only takes seconds for the sense of 

reality and challenge to set in. It was impressive 

to see the way both Captains Lorenz and 

Anderson approached this as a real time event 

and the way they worked through each of the 

scenarios with a concise and professional 

approach as if they were at the helm of the 

vessels they operate on a daily basis. It was 

relayed to us that, ―Everyone should do this, I 

cannot tell you enough how much I just learned‖. 

Between comments like that, the sigh of relief at 

the end of each simulation, and the sweaty palms 

when passing a ―good job‖ hand shake, it was 

very clear that we achieved our goal. We all 

learned from each scenario and that will be invaluable to us from this point onward. 

Keeping in mind the challenges we face day to day as operators, this method of training is proving 

itself as the right tool to enter into times of extremis without increasing risk to our crew and equipment. 

Over the next couple of months, it is our plan to 

focus and work with each of our local operators to 

evaluate and train on these scenarios. This 

would not be possible without the hard work of 

everyone who participated in the project. I would 

like to thank the entire Simulator Development 

Team for all of the hard work and dedication you 

have all put in. 

Simulator Development Team: 

California Maritime Academy: Captain Jim 

Buckley, Veronica Boe, Kim McNutt, Captain Jim 

Hartney, Captain Mike Noonan. 

Starlight Marine Services: Lydia Zink, Captain Dan Morrison, Captain Joshua Stultz 

Pilots: Captain William Atthowe, Captain Stuart Quan 

Jonathan Mendes, General Manager 

Starlight Marine Services

Page 3 


Facelift for HMS Liberty 

The HMS Liberty, part of the Harley Marine 

NY Fleet, is currently being repowered at 

Feeney Shipyard in Kingston, New York. 

During the repower, the 1970's vintage 

Detroit 149 Series engines and 3-71 

generator sets will be replaced with new, 

EPA Tier II Compliant, Cummins QSK38 

engines and John Deere powered generator 

sets. 

HMS Liberty at Feeney Shipyard 

HMNY employees will be working closely 

with Feeney Shipyard over the next 5 weeks 

during the conversion. By replacing the 

older engines and generators, the tug will 

reduce NoX and particulate emissions in the 

New York Harbor by 40 tons per year. This 

will also result in fuel savings as the newer 

equipment will be more efficient. The 

project is backed and supported by the Port 

Authority of New York & New Jersey, and 

they have extended a grant to relieve some 

of the financial constraints to HMNY. 

The older engines after being removed from 

the HMS Liberty 

Together the Ports and HMNY are investing 

in a ―green‖ waterfront and environment with 

this conversion. Harley Marine Services 

commends both ports for being forward 

thinking and partners in this process. The 

conversion is part of the long term plan of 

Harley Marine Services to continually move 

towards a ―green‖ operation that respects 

the environment. 

The new, EPA Tier II engines being lifted onto 

the HMS Liberty

SOUNDINGS Page 4 

June Birthdays 

Birthstone: Pearl 

Flower: Rose 

Harley Marine NY 

Richard Benoit—June 8th 

William Richardson—June 21st 

Miguel Ortiz—June 23rd 

Steven Pokas—June 23rd 

Harley Marine Services 

Mike Coon—June 4th 

Michelle Moll—June 8th 

Millennium Maritime 

Stephen Higgins—June 23rd 

Doug Houghton—June 25th 


Justin Hutton—June 9th 

Bradley Hilton—June 12th 

David Cougher—June 14th 

David Hanshaw—June 14th 

Joe Miranda—June 20th 

Sean O’Connell—June 22nd 

Max Jahn—June 24th 

Jack Forsyth—June 25th 

Adam Goodfellow—June 25th 

Phillip Jordan—June 27th 

Tom Plucinski—June 28th 

Bryan Adams—June 29th 

Jake Franco—June 29th 

USCG Merchant Mariner Application Regulations – 

Medical Review 

As you may know, the USCG licensing process has been centralized at 

the National Maritime Center (NMC) in West Virginia. The goal of the 

centralization was to create uniformity throughout the application 

process. As a result, inconsistencies in applications that may have 

been overlooked in the past regionally will be thoroughly examined and 

processed at the NMC. Thorough examination of every aspect of the 

application is done in order to ensure that all mariners are being held to 

the same standards. The NMC employs a unit of Medical Review 

Officers to examine the physical portion of the application and make 

sure to strictly enforce the physical abilities guidelines before 

authorizing the issuance of documents to an applicant. As of 

September 15, 2008, the Coast Guard is utilizing the Navigation and 

Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 04-08 titled Medical and Physical 

Evaluation Guidelines for Merchant Mariner Credentials as a tool to 

evaluate the physical and medical conditions of applicants. Part of the 

new requirements for the medical review is that applicants with a Body 

Mass Index (BMI) of 40.0 or higher are subject to further review. If an 

applicant is determined to have a BMI of 40.0 or higher they will be 

required to demonstrate to the medical practitioner performing their 

evaluation that they can meet the physical capabilities guidelines 

provided in the NVIC. A BMI calculator can be found at: 

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/index.html 

and a review of the physical evaluation guidelines may be found at: 

http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/Whats_new_to_NMC/Guide%20to% 

20Medical%20NVIC%2004-08.pdf . 

HR Department 

Pacific Coast Maritime 

Jason Miller—June 11th 

Starlight Marine Services 

Michael Hannegan—June 28th 

Tim Kline—June 28th 

Westoil Marine Services 

Ryan Voci—June 16th 

A very special birthday wish to 

Adam Goodfellow from Dana, 

Dylan and Jadyn. 

John Linster, Manager—Western District, ABS Pacific, presents Harley Franco, 

Chief Executive Officer, Harley Marine Services with an ABS membership plaque. 

Harley was elected to the ABS membership in November 2008, and will be 

serving a five year term.

Page 5 


One of our Most Dangerous Tasks: Commuting 

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among workers in the 

United States. OSHA does not have specific regulations covering motor vehicle 

safety, but the HMS Safety Dept. would like to offer these tips for keeping our 

employees safe while traveling to or from work. 

All our employees should take these precautions when commuting by car so that they arrive at work 

safely and get home safely too: 

Keep vehicles in safe operating condition. 

Wear seat belts and require passengers to wear theirs, too. 

Keep your mind on your driving and your eyes on the wheel. 

Stay 2 to 4 seconds behind the vehicle in front. 

Obey traffic rules, signs, and signals. 

Adjust speed to suit road and weather conditions. 

Keep alert when going through intersections and when passing other vehicles. 

Be careful in parking areas, especially when it's dark. 

Keep vehicles locked when parked, and keep doors locked while driving. 

Tips on how to keep safe on the street. Be mindfull when coming to work on foot as well. Here are some 

precautions: 

Watch where you're walking, and wear sensible walking shoes if you have a long way to walk. 

Take extra caution if sidewalks are slippery or when it is dark and visibility is limited. 

Be careful crossing streets; use crosswalks or cross at traffic lights whenever possible. 

Stay with the crowd on well-traveled streets, and stick to well-lit streets when it's dark. 

Walk to and from work with a friend or co-worker if you're concerned about safety. 

Avoid shortcuts through tunnels, alleys, parks, etc. 

Walk briskly and confidently, head up, and alert to what's around you. 

Watch out for people stepping out from doorways or parked cars. 

Avoid wearing expensive jewelry (or at least keep it out of sight). 

Avoid carrying large amounts of cash or discussing your destination or daily routine in public. 

More tips for commuting safely on Public Transportation. When employees take public transportation to 

and from work, they should: 

Watch their step getting on and off. 

Have their fare ready so that they don't have to take out their wallet. 

Stand well back from the edge of a subway or train platform. 

Avoid entering an empty train or subway car. 

Sit near the driver when there are few people on the bus. 

Sit up straight, and stay awake and alert while traveling. 

Hold on to their personal items securely. 

Be alert at bus stops or when walking to or from public transportation, especially at night. 

Why It Matters... 

Someone dies in a motor vehicle accident every 11 minutes, and someone is injured every 18 seconds. 

In parking areas, especially when it's dark, employees might be struck by vehicles or assaulted. 

When walking to and from work or using public transportation, employees may be at risk of being struck 

by cars, buses, or trains; being mugged or assaulted; or of tripping and falling. 

Training employees to take simple precautions can prevent accidents and injuries, and ensure that employees 

arrive safely at work and get home safely, too.

Page 6 


June Anniversaries 

Harley Marine NY 

Joseph Dady—2 years 

Kenneth Shaw—2 years 

Harley Marine Services 

Mike Curry—12 years 

Courtney Wickens—3 years 

Millennium Maritime 

Pat Lopez—10 years 


Brad Lowe—17 years 

Chris Swan—17 years 

Ron Echeverio—10 years 

Ben Lussier—9 years 

Steve Carleton—8 years 

Dan Corkery—8 years 

Tim Dougherty—6 years 

Garri Ferguson—6 years 

Mike Coleman—5 years 

Joel Gerstenberger—2 years 

Tim Hinman—2 years 

Richard Persinger—2 years 

Tyler Visser—2 years 

Jacob Beaty—1 year 

Mitchell Hetterle—1 year 

Scott Wurster—1 year 

Public Service Marine 

Trent Newlon—13 years 

Pacific Terminal Services 

Tina Garrett—28 years 

Larry Lamb—8 years 

John Overly—4 years 

Bruce Staneart—3 years 

Starlight Marine Services 

Martin Miller—6 years 

Chris Royeton—4 years 

Samuel D’Aloisio—3 years 

Sterling Jones—3 years 

Rodney Ortiz—2 years 

Daniel Morrison—1 year 

Michael Rubino—1 year 

Orio Steele—1 year 


Daniel Seeley—9 years 

Abril Palomarez—1 year 

DIVE AROUND THE CLOCK 

PacTerm employee Kevin 

Buffum will be participating in 

the third annual ―Dive Around 

the Clock‖ Dive-a-Thon Relay 

Charity Event benefiting 

Seattle Children’s Hospital 

Cancer Research. The divea-thon 

will take place at 

Redondo Beach in Des 

Moines, Washington on July 17th and 18th, 2009. Two person 

buddy teams will be rotated every thirty minutes for a 24 hour 

period to ensure that there is a continuous presence of divers 

in the water. 

Seattle Children’s is ranked as 

one of the best children's 

hospitals in the country by U.S. 

News & World Report magazine. 

Children’s is a private nonprofit 

that serves as the pediatric referral center for Washington, 

Alaska, Montana and Idaho. Children’s provides excellent 

patient care with compassion and respect, and conducts 

cutting-edge pediatric research. They are also a respected 

educational resource for parents and healthcare professionals. 

Since they opened the doors in 1907, they have maintained 

their founding promise: to provide needed medical care to all 

children in our four-state region – regardless of a family's ability 

to pay. 

The need for such uncompensated care has risen dramatically 

in recent years. In 2001, they provided $24.9 million in 

uncompensated care. In 2008, the sum topped $86 million, and 

they expect to provide more than $100 million in 

uncompensated care in 2009 to families in need and to cover 

Medicaid payment shortfalls. 

Please consider making a donation to Kevin for his efforts in 

the dive-a-thon by visiting his Firstgiving page at 

http://www.firstgiving.com/kevinbuffum1. 

You can donate online with a credit card. All donations are 

secure and sent directly to Seattle Children's Hospital 

Foundation by Firstgiving, who will email you a printable record 

of your donation.

Page 7 


What is a ―Master’s Review‖? 

A Master’s Review (MOM 03-050) is an opportunity for the Master and crew to review the QS 

Manual, Marine Operations Manual, Forms and other documents in order to provide critical 

feedback for continual improvement of Harley Marine’s Quality Systems. 

Master’s Reviews help to discover: 

Procedures that don’t work as planned 

Unforeseen changes in operational conditions 

 

 

 

 

 

Failure to achieve objectives and targets for safe and environmentally responsible 

operations or compliance with regulations 

Unable to ensure proper maintenance of machinery or equipment in compliance with 

current procedure(s) 

Identification of potential emergencies 

Identification of critical equipment or systems 

Identification of quality, safety and/or environmental concerns and suggested 

improvements 

Quality Systems - Q & A 

How often should a Master’s Review be conducted? 

The Captain and crew should review selected procedures in the MOM at least once a year. 

Tip: During a safety meeting, choose a procedure in the MOM to review, especially 

one that is critical to your operations. 

How should I complete the Master’s Review? 

The Master’s Review form is located electronically in the Wheelhouse Management System. 

What should I put in a Master’s Review? 

You should include the document/procedure that was reviewed and your findings. Be sure to 

include information about the appropriateness of the procedure: is it practical to your 

operations? Suggestions for improvement? 

If you notice that the procedure(s) is inaccurate or inconsistent, be sure to also fill out an 

NCR/CAR form.


OLYMPIC L RESCUES A SICK SEAL 

On Saturday, May 9th, the Olympic L had an 

unexpected visitor aboard the barge. In the early 

morning hours, a baby seal pup made its way onto 

the loaded Olympic L while at Long Beach 

Anchor. Tankerman Aaron Wells noticed the pup 

was not well and probably ill. He notified 

dispatcher Marco Vuoso to coordinate for Marine 

Mammal Rescue to pick up the ill pup. Rescue 

was made at their next job alongside a Carnival 

Cruise ship where the pup was transported back 

to the dock to an awaiting truck. 

Thanks to the crews on the Olympic L and the 

John Quigg, the pup is safe and recovering in the 

Marine Mammal Rescue facility. Crew on the 

Olympic L was tankerman Aaron Wells and 

deckhand Michael Traughber. The Tug John 

Quigg crew was Captain Jay Carlin and 

Engineer Raul Hernandez. 

Great job guys for looking out and being 

concerned for the safety of our marine life. 

"Cystic Fibrosis Southern California Walk-a Thon" 

As mentioned in a previous article, Pete Hofmann of Public Service Marine participated in the Cystic 

Fibrosis San Dimas Great Strides Walk-a-Thon on May 2, 2009 at Bonelli Regional Park. Overall, 

the event was a great success! The weather, always a question at that time of the year, was perfectpartial 

sun and in the 70's. There 

were 35 groups in attendance that 

walked to help find a cure for CF and 

support the foundation. Individuals in 

each group have had their lives 

impacted by knowing someone with 

cystic fibrosis, which is why they all 

come together to do what they can to 

help find and fund a cure. In total, 

600 participants walked and together 

they raised $150,000! 

Thank you to all who have helped 

financially and for your thoughts and 

prayers. We all look forward to the 

day when a cure is found to fight this 

terminal disease.

Page 9 


KABOOM 2009 

This past May, Starlight Marine Services hosted 

its annual KABOOM event on their dock. 

KABOOM is a fireworks show put on by the Bay 

Area radio station, KFOG. A choreographed 

fireworks show is displayed over San 

Francisco’s skyline to music enjoyed by their 

listeners. 

This year, we were pleased to have such highly 

regarded guests from within our industry join us 

as well as SMS dispatcher Grant Hedley and 

Dispatch/Customer Service Manager, Paul 

Tokuda. 

Just as we had hoped for, the weather could not 

have been better with a slight breeze and clear 

skies. Everyone enjoyed the spectacular 

firework show that lit up the beautiful San 

Francisco Bay courtesy of KFOG. If the fireworks 

and company were not enough we also 

enjoyed a great live band, warm fire, delicious 

food and libations. 

Thank you to everyone who played a part in 

making this event a success! I would especially 

like to thank the crew here at Starlight that 

made this such a stress free, fun and seamless 

event! 

Thank you again! 

-Lydia Zink 

Starlight Marine Services

Page 10 


Grand Canyon Rim to Rim Hike 

On Tuesday May 19 th a small crew set out on an Epic 

―Rim to Rim‖ hike across the Grand Canyon. The hikers 

Doug Houghton, Trent Newlon, John Beckman (Chemoil) 

and their trusty driver Paul Tokuda set out for the NORTH 

RIM at 5am. By 6am the hikers were headed down the 

North Kaibab Trail with 24 miles to go. The first part of the 

trail winds through the forest then suddenly there it is, the 

Grand Canyon. For the next 14 miles the trail descends 

over 6,000 feet through some of the most beautiful 

scenery in the country. Along the way there were 

squirrels, deer, a few condors, huge bumble bees, and 

lots of lizards. Some of the rock formations and cliffs look 

as if they were carved and engineered to balance just 

right. 

By the time the team hit the last few miles of the descent 

the heat of the day had arrived. The temperature in the 

bottom of the canyon had climbed to over 100 degrees. 

The grueling reality of the trek started to set in…what 

goes down must go back up! After a fifteen minute break 

to fill up the water bottles, nurse sore knees and blisters, 

it’s back at it. Just a mile was left before they would cross 

the Colorado River on the suspension bridge and they 

would officially be at the bottom of the Bright Angel Trail. 

Only 11 miles and 5,000 feet of climbing were left! 

At first, going uphill feels good on the knees and is a 

welcome relief from the pounding of descending. That 

relief is quickly burned away when the trail turns from the 

river and upward into a dry, hot canyon. The sun seemed 

relentless at this point and the South Rim looked like an 

invincible giant. Slowly through out the afternoon the 

three continued to put the canyon behind them one step at 

a time. The trail head was a welcome end to a long and 

memorable journey. 12 hours later and 24 miles from the 

North Rim, they snap a picture at the finish line, the top of 

Bright Angel Trail on the South rim of the Grand Canyon. 

The sore feet, knees, and backs will go away but the 

memories of the adventure won’t soon fade. Well done 

guys.


Cooking with the Captain 

Captain Chris Starkenburg 

―Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya‖ 

Ingredients: 

1 cube Butter 1/2 tsp. Ground Cayenne Pepper 

2 1/2 lbs. Boneless, Skinless Chicken thighs, cubed 1/2 tsp. Whole Oregano 

1 Large Ring of Smoked Sausage, cut into 

1/2 inch thick wheels 

1 tbls. Fresh Parsley, chopped 

1 Large Yellow Onion, chopped 1/4 tsp. Crushed Red Chili Peppers 

4 cloves Garlic, finely chopped 1-2 tbls. Tabasco Hot Sauce 

1 cup Red Bell Pepper, chopped 2 tbls. Tomato Paste 

1 cup Yellow Bell Pepper, chopped 1 14.5 oz. can of Diced Plum Tomatoes w/ 

juice 

2 Large Jalapeños, seeded and diced 4 cups Chicken Broth 

1 Bay Leaf 

3 cups Long Grain Rice Kosher Salt and Pepper to taste 

2 tbls. Blackfish Seasoning Green Onions, for garnish 

Directions: 

1. Add the butter to a large Dutch Oven over medium-high heat. 

2. Once the butter has melted, add the chicken and sausage, cook until lightly brown. 

3. Add the onions, garlic, and peppers. Simmer for 3-4 minutes. 

4. Add all of the remaining ingredients except for the green onions. 

5. Stir and bring to a boil. 

6. Cover tightly with a lid and place in a 350 preheated 

oven for about 20-30 minutes until the rice is 

cooked. 

7. Once the rice is tender, remove from the oven and 

let rest for 10 minutes. 

8. Fluff everything with a fork. 

9. Garnish with green onion and serve. 

Cooking Suggestions: 

A Dutch Oven works great, but you can also use a large 

skillet that is oven proof. You can also cook on the 

stove top, but watch the heat you so you do not scorch 

the rice. You can also use pork instead of chicken for 

this dish. 

Serves: 6 people

Page 12 

Safe, Responsible, Reliable, Efficient

Harley Marine Services, Inc. 

910 SW Spokane Street 

Seattle, WA 98134 

(206) 628-0051 

www.HarleyMarine.com 

Editor: Stephanie Wright 

swright@harleymarine.com 

May Employee of the Month 


Brad Hilton, Deckhand 

Congratulations to the Olympic Tug & Barge employee of the month, deckhand 

Brad Hilton. Brad joined the OTB Portland team in 2007 and has 

been a "go to guy" ever since. His all around skill and knowledge began in 

the Coast Guard. That coupled with his engine room know how and work 

ethic have made him a stand out employee. Brad is always available and 

willing to put in the extra work when called upon. Thank you Brad for all 

you do. 

Public Service Marine 

Jimmy Belino, Deck-Tankerman 

Congratulations to the Southern California employee of the month, decktankerman 

Jimmy Bellino. Jimmy has shown what it means to be a team 

player as he has assisted in several different aspects of the PSMI 

operation. Not only is he a team player, but he has a great attitude while 

working with others. Jimmy recently took over monitoring and providing 

the equipment with supplies and parts. Thank you Jimmy for taking on the 

additional responsibility, we appreciate all that you do. 

Captain Chris Iszler of Pacific 

Coast Maritime as he presents 

Engineer, Ben Latham with a 

Harley Marine float coat. 

Thanks Ben for your continued 

dedication to HMS over the 

last 22 years. 


Carlo Orlando, Chief Engineer 

Congratulations to the Southern California employee of the month, Chief 

Engineer Carlo Orlando. Carlo started his career at Westoil in 1999 as a 

deckhand on the barges. Over the years, he has moved onto the Tugs 

and has worked on the Z3 and currently on the John Quigg. He has been 

instrumental in helping with the transition as we have adjusted the fleet. 

Additionally, he has taken the initiative to draft the fueling procedures for 

the John Quigg. Carlo demonstrates that he is a ―team‖ player and WMS 

Management is happy to present him Employee of the Month. 


Timothy Hayward, Engineer 


James Carignan, Mechanic 

Lovell Hunt, Painter 

May New Hires

SOUNDINGS - Harley Marine Services, Inc.

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