|
|
|
|
September 5, 2005 -- Vol. 5 Issue 36 Written by Jack R. Simpson (unless otherwise noted), owner of J.R. Simpson & Associates, Inc. and contributing editor to The Waterways Journal.
| ||||||||
 In This Newsletter:
This week, dear Readers, we begin a new line of offbeat humor (I think) that has been extricated from the Internet and I find amusing. Hope you do too. Ever Wonder
Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin? A Personal Note From Jack
 Emergency Help for Unemployed The U.S. Department of Labor has just announced a $116 million emergency program to create jobs for hurricane victims who are unemployed and who are able and desire to help in disaster cleanup. Beyond that, the department has established an emergency program for paying unemployment to people who had jobs that normally did not qualify them for unemployment. People who are in that category can call the toll-free number 1-866-4-USA-DOL (1-866-487-2365). If they have access to computers and the Internet, they can contact: www.dol.gov. Earlier Congress passed a $10.5 billion emergency funding bill for the down payment on hurricane related expenses. Finding Missing Persons If you are searching for missing family members or friends, you might find help at: katrina.earthlink.net Seamen’s Church Offers Assistance Also on our agenda today is the effort being made by the Seamen’s Church Institute to help mariners with problems related to Hurricane Katrina. As it relates generally to charities to which people can give, local newspapers and most of the television networks are posting contact information so that contributions can be made directly over the telephone. The following relates to what The Seamen’s Church Institute is doing for mariners who need their services. The information is contained in a communiqué from SCI on September 2. Friends: Many of you have been gracious to ask if there was any way in which you could be of assistance as we at Ministry on the River and The Seamen’s Church Institute struggle along with you to comprehend the magnitude the disaster that Hurricane Katrina has brought. To that end, let me make you aware of the following steps we have taken. The following info is taken from our web page (www.seamenschurch.org). SCI’s chaplains serving river, coastal and deep-sea mariners are, as always, providing pastoral and practical support to those mariners affected by the Hurricane. SCI’s Ministry on the River team is also serving as a clearinghouse of information for mariners and maritime companies whose communications have been affected by the hurricane. If you are a mariner who cannot reach your employer or if you are a maritime company that cannot locate its employees, please call: 1-800-708-1998. Help the Seamen’s Church Institute Assist Mariners Affected by Hurricane Katrina! SCI serves mariners, first and always. Numerous mariners working and living in the Gulf Region have been affected by the wrath of Hurricane Katrina. The Institute stands ready to provide financial assistance to those mariners and their families through SCI’s Mariners’ Assistance Fund, and we welcome your support in this effort. Please send your contributions to: Seamen’s Church Institute 241 Water Street New York, NY 10038 THANK YOU! For those of you concerned about Sr. Joy, she and the sisters went to Baton Rouge on Sunday, and are safe there. We believe that their convent is under water in New Orleans. Our understanding is that her mother and brother evacuated to the Super Dome, but at this time we do not know if they have gone elsewhere from there. Thank you again for your care and concern. Please keep us in your prayers, as we continue to seek to share God’s love on our inland waterways. Should you need to contact me, I can be reached at work (270-575-1005) or on my cell phone (270-556-4248). Grace and peace to you all. Ann Mills Coordinator of Special Projects Ministry on the River 111 Kentucky Ave. Paducah, KY 42003 www.seamenschurch.org The Hurricane Katrina Blame Game The blame game over response to Hurricane Katrina began several days ago, and it is clear that many questions need to be answered about response to this tragedy. However, as of right now, everyone, regardless of political party, should be pulling together to help ease, not exacerbate, the problem. At this point I will only repeat what I have said in literally hundreds of editorials over the past 29 years writing for "The Waterways Journal." The Congress and other Corps critics have chosen over the years to continue heaping responsibilities upon the Corps while at the same time diminishing the agency’s budget. It has been known for more than three decades that the levees at New Orleans were not adequate to handle a storm of the magnitude of Hurricane Katrina. Yet those in a position to bolster the Corps’ budget in an effort to protect the nation’s number one seaport, neglected to do so. At the same time, literally billions of dollars were spent (many call it pork) to bolster the ratings of congressmen at home. That is not statesmanship. These individuals have placed their own interests ahead of the interests of the nation and its people. How will the Louisiana and Gulf Coast voting block mark their ballots next time? The nation is going to suffer greatly from the Port of New Orleans being out of commission. Perhaps this experience will jar a few hard heads into realizing the importance of water transportation to our nation. Finally, it can be said that the environmental movement has probably done some very good things for our country. But it also is one of the major critics of the Corps and has been instrumental in fighting improved budgets. For years the Corps has asked for money for levee improvement in the Port of New Orleans. And these requests have been ignored by administration after administration. Now we are going to pay for it. Newsletter News
B&B cannot hope to bring anything new in the way of news about Hurricane Katrina. But we can provide a few snippets containing conclusions and impressions that have shown up in various news releases we have received or searched out. That is what you will find under "On The Waterfront" today. We ask again that if any of our readers are in touch with subscribers who say they cannot received B&B, please tell them to visit our archives at www.littleriverbooks.com. We have received "cannot deliver" messages, but these are cases where we cannot get in touch with the subscribers to explain the problems or help them work them out. Also, we ask readers who have acquaintances working on the river and who are experiencing difficulties contacting their companies of getting information about them, to refer them to the Seamen’s Church Institute number give above. Web News
For some reason we suffered email "sending" problems Sunday and Monday, so even though we tried to respond quickly to those who emailed us, we were not been able to do so. The outgoing emails just kept stacking up. Then after while, without explanation, the dam broke (no pun intended) and we could send anything we wanted. Go figure! For Those Inclined To Pray
 We have modified the steps for joining our Prayer Circle. If you visit the Prayer Circle link on at www.littleriverbooks.com, you will find that those who sign up are completely anonymous. We do not ask for first names nor states of residence. Joining is as simple as providing an email address to which we can send future prayer requests. Each prayer request list includes a link for including requests.
By joining our Prayer Circle, you can tap into the prayerful support of circle members wherever they are. Membership and prayer requests are open to everyone. Advertising
Your classified ad can go in this space for $10 for one week, $20 for two weeks, $25 for three weeks, and $30 for four weeks. For details click here. On The Waterfront
Kirby Corporation Comments on the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Its Operations Houston, Texas (September 1, 2005) - Kirby Corporation ("Kirby") (NYSE:KEX) announced today that Hurricane Katrina caused no noticeable damage to its inland tank barge fleet of 887 active tank barges, 241 inland towboats, four 35% owned offshore dry-cargo barge and tug units, and operating administrative facilities. Joe Pyne, Kirby’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Refineries and petrochemical plants in the impacted area are currently closed or operating at reduced levels. It is unknown as to when many of these plants will be back in operation. With respect to navigation, all waterways in the affected areas normally navigated by Kirby vessels are open to barge traffic with the exception of certain portions of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway between Houma, Louisiana and Florida. Movements along the Texas and southwestern Louisiana Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Kirby’s major area of marine transportation operation, are occurring on a normal basis, as well as movements from these areas to destinations on the Mississippi, Ohio and Illinois Rivers. The closed areas along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway are currently being surveyed and we are hopeful they will be opened in the near future." Commenting on the crewing of Kirby’s towboats, Mr. Pyne stated, "At the present time, all of our towboats are crewed. Some of our vessel personnel live in the impacted area and the needs of their families come first. We may experience some short-term crewing issues as we rotate crews to address personal issues." Mr. Pyne further commented, "We do not have enough information to fully evaluate the effect of Katrina on Kirby’s business. The impact of the closure of the refineries and petrochemical plants, as well as the impact of these closures on the U.S. economy, is unknown at this time. Historically, this kind of disruption is short to medium-term positive due to disruptions in normal supply and distribution. However, with the significance of the devastation in the New Orleans area and along the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast, it is too early to determine the impact of Katrina on Kirby’s 2005 third quarter and year earnings. On a positive note, the Ohio River Valley received much needed rain as a result of Katrina, alleviating the low water areas on the Ohio and lower Mississippi Rivers. Kirby had been light loading tank barges for destinations on these rivers for several weeks." Kirby Corporation, based in Houston, Texas, operates inland tank barges and towing vessels, transporting petrochemicals, black oil products, refined petroleum products and agricultural chemicals throughout the United States inland waterway system. Through the diesel engine services segment, Kirby provides after-market service for large medium-speed and high-speed diesel engines and reduction gears used in marine, power generation and railroad application. (Editor’s note: I felt that Kirby’s report included sufficient material of wide interest to utilize it in full.) Snippets from Hurricane Katrina News
Houseboat Accident Update An August 27 update on the destruction of a 36-foot houseboat on the Ohio River near Cincinnati on August 25 may raise more questions than answers. The 30-year old disabled Gibson houseboat was destroyed during the early morning darkness by the tow of Marquette Transportation’s Titletown U.S.A., which the Coast Guard reported had a full staff and operating radar. The report revealed that the boat’s owner, Gary Betz, 48, of Cincinnati, also operated under an alias, Steve Dooley, and had been known by that name to the co-owner of Aces Marina for half the summer. Identification bearing both of those names were found on the body. Oddly, Betz (or Dooley) and his friend David Claudill, 44, of Claremont County, Iowa, (the only survivor) were the only ones on the boat when they left the marina for their late night fishing trip. Betz’s body was found Thursday. Of the three bodies that emerged from the river Friday, all three were believed to be homeless men from a nearby encampment. Further, the vessel was not registered and there were no personal lifesaving devices aboard. It was reported that neither Betz (Dooley?) nor Claudill could swim and that they usually left the marina at night. The boat was reportedly in terrible shape. Now it is in worse shape and still lying in the mud on the river bottom. As of Friday, Claudill had revealed very little information about the passengers, or even how many were actually aboard. No reports of missing persons had been received, officials said. Stay tuned. NWC Annual Meeting Moved to Little Rock  Due to Hurricane Katrina, the National Waterways Conference Annual Meeting has been moved from New Orleans on September 14-16, 2005, to Little Rock, Ark., October 31- November 2, 2005. The new host hotel is The Peabody Hotel.
Those wishing to make hotel reservations may do so by calling 1-800-PEABODY. To register for the conference, please visit www.waterways.org or call our office at (703) 243- 4090 to have a registration form faxed to you. The registration deadline for the early bird rate and for hotel reservations is October 11. The NWC registration price ranges from $375 to $420. (Editor’s note: I recommend that anyone with other questions about refunds, registration, etc., call the (703) 243-4090 number or visit NWC’s web site.) advertisement
The River School - Deck and engineer licenses, radar observer, tankerman, fire and water safety courses, video programs. Travel classes in convenient locations. (800) 238-7113 www.riverschool.com 
Recipe Box
If you are a towboat cook, home chef, backyard barbecuer, tailgater, or know anybody who is, please pass the word along to submit recipes! Our Readers Write
Re: New Orleans Levee System In light of this horrible tragedy in New Orleans and Gulf States, I am wondering what you know about the levee system around New Orleans. I understand it was built a long time ago to withstand a category 3 hurricane. What kind of legislation, if any, has been introduced (passed, rejected, etc.) through the years to improve that levee system? I just wonder if money or "environmental lobbying" may have prohibited strengthening of the system. It’s hard to believe the Corp relied on "luck" that a storm would not hit that area, especially with such vital links that affect our whole country. I would have expected the Corp to fight for improvements… maybe I’m just too much of an optimist. I had a long conversation with Harry Koeller who recapped some of the things you and he talked about. He said he really enjoyed talking the "river" with you. He’s a swell guy that I have known all my life. Mary Leeper (Editor’s note: I have written about the river for "The Waterways Journal" for 29 years. The Army Corps of Engineers has many times requested money and made recommendations about the New Orleans levee system. It was never denied by the Corps that the system would perhaps withstand only up to a Category 3 hurricane. But the Corps can only do what Congress and the Administration will fund. Many recommendations were made following the big flood of 1993, and they were totally ignored. In my book, it is Congress and the Administrations (of several presidents) that have let the country down. The Corps is A-1 in my book. But they will get a lot of undeserved criticism for this tragedy.) Re: The Boabarge 16 Trips to Argentina Good day to all. My name is Terry Laite. I work For Atlantic Towing Ltd. out of Saint John N.B. Canada. I was Looking through the web at pictures and stories of tugs and boats, and I came across the story of The Boabarge 16 and the trips to Argentina with the Atlantic Hickory (ex Irving Miami). (It is still owned by the same company that originally built it.) The trip to Argentina was a long one but a great trip weatherwise.  I am sending you a picture of the tow; as you can see, it was a strange one. The barges (cargo ) stuck out 50 feet on each side; and as strange as it looked, it was a stable and good tow. I am sorry the pictures are so big. I have been sailing for 30 years, (18 on deep sea tugs) and I have thousands of pictures of tugs and our tow from around the world. The Hickory is right now heading to Singapore with a Boabarge (8-9?) with a jack-up rig that is too big for either canals, so it will be taking the South Africa leg, and it will take around 80-85 days to get there. I will be flying over in three months to bring it back. Sorry for bending your ear. I enjoy the pictures.
Terry Laite Saint John N.B. Canada (Editor’s note: Our many thanks to Terry for sharing these pictures and story about Boabarge 16. We only hope he gets to read B&B in addition to visiting the Photo Center.) Re: The Towboat Nicholas Duncan I found your site when I was performing a web search for the towboat Nicholas Duncan. It was designed by my grandfather, Thomas Rees Tarn, who was a naval architect and visited by my father, mother and two oldest siblings when they traveled across the country during their move from Pittsburgh to Southern California. I have a commemorative book on the dedication of this towboat; it has beautiful black and white pictures of the vessel. The book was given to my grandfather by the shipbuilding company. I am curious as to the status of the Nicholas Duncan. How can I research if the vessel still exists and where it’s located, or at least, what ever happened to it? My great-grandfather was a master mechanic (Steam Engine Engineer) and worked for the James Rees and Son’s shipbuilding company. That is where my grandfather received his middle name, a common practice of the day. I also have a brochure from that company that belonged to my Great-grandfather that has fine pencil sketches and photographs of many of the vessels the company produced. I must take the time to scan these photos in and share them on your web site. Thomas R. Tarn II Re: Monkey Rudders It was me that started the discussion of "monkey rudders" on Yahoo Tugboats but, unfortunately, the responses seemed to have gotten sidetracked to the subject of paddleboat monkey rudders. I tried to make sure that everyone knew I was talking about what Capt Mark Freeman and others in the Pacific Northwest call, rightly or incorrectly, as "monkey rudders" and these were rudders set into openings in the skegs or deadwoods of single-screw - I was not talking about rudders appended aft of a paddlewheel! It is true that Cap Freeman thought the local version of monkey rudders originated on the Columbia River and that river certainly had paddlewheelers, but we’re talking screw-driven small tugs with one or two openings in the skegs ahead of the prop in which a rudder in positioned and operated so as to assist the main rudder. And nobody else on Yahoo Tugboats seems to have heard of such things. Ah me! My best, and do keep writing. Hugh Ware, News and Book Review Editor "TugBitts" Magazine Re: B&B, Who Can Read It And Who Can’t I just read your note on the forum about your experiences and stuff like that. Then I went to your page and saw some interesting stuff about the Mississippi River and inland navigation in general. So I subscribed to your newsletter and probably I will visit your site another time (don’t have the time at the moment). Another thing: most of the Dutch mariners of inland shipping don’t speak or even read English at all! And that’s where you’re involved with on this forum. But it’s nice to recognize your site and newsletter once at least, so maybe only several persons will visit it. Jean-Pierre Dubbelman Student of Civil Engineering and related to the inland shipping Boat Photo Center
 We still welcome all the boat pictures we can get right now. Appreciate the effort. - Jack
This week’s contributions come from: Thomas Waller, who posted the Mv. Allison S; Ed Rahe, who posted the Bruce R. Birmingham, Kevin Michael, Natchez, and Twyla Luhr; Jim Currens, who posted the Kathy Ellen, Wayne P. LaGrange, Crimson Glory and Rusty Zeller; Ron Richardson, who posted the Mississippi Queen; and Hugh Davis, who posted the Transporter. Click here to visit the Boat Photo Center. Book Beat
 Father Mississippi - By Lyle Saxon —
442 pages. 68 illustrations. Soft cover. 6 x 9 in. As the author explains in his introduction, "This book is not a history of the Mississippi River in a strict sense of the word, although he has outlined the discover, the exploration and the settlement of the valley…but this volume is like a scrap-book in which he has collected men’s thoughts, his own thoughts… "These incidents seem to me," he wrote, "informative, or amusing, or terrible, or tragic, or fantastic, but they are all part of the living pageant which moved down the river through the changing years." First published in 1927, Father Mississippi contains accounts of those who lived their lives along the Mississippi River, and documents the first ripple in a wave of tremendous changes that took place in its environment. More than 70 years later, Father Mississippi still stands as an important history of the floods of 1927, most often remembered for their far-reaching impact on the cities along the Mississippi River, and the devastation they caused to towns in the southern Mississippi River Valley region. The accounts provide easy reading while acquainting the audience with characters such as Father Hennepin and Molly Glass, the murderess, who speak in their own words. Photos of life along the river and of the floods accompany those captivating excerpts. Usually shipped with 48 hours. Our Price: $25.00
 Master Of The Mississippi - By Florence L. Dorsey — 312 pages. 4 illustrations. Soft cover. 8.5 by 5.5 in. Contains bibliography and index. Master of the Mississippi is the story of Henry Miller Schreve, who taught the Mississippi River to fetch and carry for the nation. The book is compiled from letters written by Shreve, journals kept by his father and brother, and letters by members of the Shreve family. It also includes records and descriptions of journeys into the Mississippi, Ohio, and Red River countries, as well as histories of various sections and time periods of the Mississippi Valley. History, legend, and folklore have always been the author’s chief interests, and a long period of research has preceded the publication of Master of the Mississippi. Usually same-day shipping! Our Price: $22.00 The Gift Shop
 Oval Brass Bulkhead Light - This brass bulkhead light can use up to a 60w electric bulb and mounts with two screws. The frosted glass lens is protected by a brass framework. Can also be overhead mounted. Dimensions: 5-3/8" wide x 7-5/8" long x 4-3/8" deep. Light source: 110v electric, 60 watt max.2034 Oval Brass Bulkhead Light $59.99  Log Books - Attractive, embossed covers made of heavy, flexible, waterproof material. The spiral bindings allow pages to open flat for ease in recording information. Every log contains over 80 pages for recording critical information, in addition to handy quick reference pages covering various topics. All logs are designed to fit inside the covers shown below.
Teak Log Covers - These attractive, handmade teak covers with a high gloss lacquer finish, provide complete protection for our line of log books. The covers are both practical and decorative. All covers feature a solid brass engravable plate. The Marlin, Sailboat, and Powerboat plates have ample room for engraving the vessel name, captain, and hailing port. Weems & Plath Log Books sold separately. Click here for a multiple selection of log books and covers. 
Steamboat Clock & Barometer - The hinged porthole-style case is solid brass with a lacquered antique finish. It has quartz movement for convenience and accuracy and runs on one AA battery. The matching Steamboat Barometer has visible aneroid barometer movement, and the antique brass case is hinged so that the movement is accessible from the front.280522 Steamboat Quartz Clock $136.49 280722 Steamboat Barometer $146.99 
Tow Talkin'
September 5, 2005 By Kathy Flippo  Labor Day already! Where does the time go? The towing season on the Upper has not quite three months left. If the boats don’t get out of St. Paul by Thanksgiving, chances are they won’t, because Old Man Winter can set in quickly and with a vengeance up there.
Labor Day is also the last big weekend for pleasure boaters to have fun on the river. They don’t realize that September and October are the prettiest time of the year to be on the water. I wonder how many people will lose their lives this weekend for lack of common sense. Seems like they set foot in a boat and common sense goes overboard. This has been quite the summer. Drought up here caused the corn crop to bottom out and also caused the Upper Mississippi to get so low down below Muscatine, Iowa, that towboats were bumping bottom and worse yet, getting stuck. Dredging got the channel open only to have the river become next to impassable farther on down. Then the lower Ohio bogged up and dredges had to rush… to continue reading this column, click here. See you on the Web, Jack Little River Books jacksimpson@littleriverbooks.com Don't forget to visit our website! |
||||||||
