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K e y s t o n e S h i p p i n g Co .
S pr i ng 2 0 1 6
S AFETY L INE
2016 K EY STONE FLEET SEMINAR
This February Keystone traveled
to Traverse City, Michigan for our
annual Keystone Fleet Seminar
from February 29th through
March 4th. With attendees
ranging from our Key Lakes,
tanker, and MARAD fleets we
had a great cross section of
talent. Everyone was actively
engaged and participated in a
variety of discussions.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Keystone Fleet Seminar
1
NDRF Contract
1
Shipyard Safety
2,3
Near Miss Highlight
3
Extreme Heat
4
First Through the
Locks
5
Making Sailors out of
Soldiers
5
Keystone Spotlight
6
We want to thank our guest
speakers for taking the time
to join us, even our own
Captain Rick Jordan gave a
detailed yet entertaining
presentation for us!
We collected feedback while we
were on site, but if you have
ideas for what you would like to
see please let us know!
Our main focus this year was
Keystone’s Safety Culture. We
had numerous discussions on
how the office and ships can
work together in order to
improve our already high
standards. On the ships you will
likely see some of these
discussion points rolling out
soon!
We not only talked about safety,
but looked at new projects that
are in the works such as the
MUNSON repowering and the
rolling out of DocMap.
President Don Kurz addressing the fleet at Keystone’s Opening
Dinner for the 2016 Fleet Seminar on February 29, 2016.
KEYSTONE AWARDED NDRF CONTRACTS
On January 22, 2016 the U.S.
Transportation Secretary
Anthony Foxx announced that
the DOT had awarded contracts
for the management,
maintenance, and operation of
the 48 vessels which belong to
the National Defense Reserve
Fleet (NDRF).
CAPE DIAMOND in Charleston, SC
Keystone received the largest
number of contracts at eleven
vessels which take part in the
DOT’s Ready Reserve Force.
Contacts were extended for our
Cape R vessels in Portsmouth,
VA and for the Cape K vessels
in New Orleans, LA.
The Cape D’s are our newest
addition to our MARAD fleet
and include the CAPE
DECISION, DOMINGO,
DOUGLAS, DIAMOND,
DUCATO, and you can’t forget
the one E, our CAPE EDMONT!
Keystone proudly
welcomes the newest
addition to our family,
the Cape D’s positioned
in Charleston,
South Carolina!
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SHIPYARD SAFETY
With multiple vessels
having gone on drydock
and still more to go, it is
important to be mindful
of additional operations
that will be taking place
and the added
precautions necessary to
stay safe.
“We wish to salute
again in 2015 the extra
safety efforts of our
Shipyard Repair
Superintendents,
Masters, Chief
Engineers, and Roving
Safety Officers. Your
hard work and safety
vigilance paid off with
stellar results. Well
done!”
-Capt. Tim O’Connor
During dry dock many
different operations are
occurring at the same
time. Heavy rigging is
taking place beside hotwork, sandblasting, and
installation of delicate
instruments or cabinetry.
There are not only the
crew to be mindful of, but
also there will be
subcontractors on board.
All of this additional
activity leads to an
increase in the potential
for injuries. It is important
to take the time to plan
work activities at the
beginning of each project
in order to ensure safe
work habits are being
followed.
The shipyard is a busy
place to work in every day;
so make your personal
safety and that of your
shipmates a priority in
everything you do!
USNS OBREGON at Drydock in
Philadelphia Ship Repair—January 2016
SO WHAT IS THE HAZARD?
Let us work our way around the
vessel in order to observe a
number of safe work habits to
keep in mind for the dry-dock.
 PPE - PPE should be a part of
every job! Make sure you are
choosing the safe and
appropriate choices for you
and your crewmembers.
 Confined Space Entry -
Always look for posted
Marine Chemist Certificate or
the Shipyard Safety Officer
for an inspection form before
entering a space.
 Cleaning - often requires
scraping, pumping, or gas
freeing (removing liquid
residues) that can take
place in spaces containing
flammable or combustible
liquids, gases, toxic or corrosive materials. Prepare each
job by removing liquid residues, securing piping and
pumping systems, and determining ventilation needs.
 Scaffolds, Ladders, and
Access - before working
with or around ensure that
equipment is safely secured
I N S I D E STO RY H E A D L I N E
and supported, that they
are level, safe access is
provided, adequately
decked and guard rails are
in place.
 Fire Protection – make
sure fire safety plans are
compatible with shipyard
and all employees on
board are aware of the
safety plan including
subcontractors and
shipyard staff.
 Surface Prep - includes
removal of old paint, oil,
scale, or rust where toxic
S a f e ty L i n e
cleaning solvents, chemical
removers, mechanical
removers or flammable and
combustible liquids may be
used. Make sure proper
materials are used.
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machinery, and deck machinery
as injuries can occur due to
unanticipated machinery movement or release of materials.
 General Working Conditions –
housekeeping, lighting, slips,
trips and falls, working alone,
safety color codes for physical
hazards and many other general
safety rules must be maintained
while in the yard to prevent
accidents.
 Painting – paints and other
preservative coatings contain
many toxic and flammable
materials such as hydrocarbon solvents, and epoxy resins. Take measures to prevent toxic inhalation, skin
absorption, and for possible
fire and explosion hazards.
 Electrical – potential for
electrical shock hazard is greater
during ship repairs due to
temporary power cords and welding leads. Make sure before
working energized equipment is
guarded, deenergized, and appropriate PPE is used to prevent
electrocution, burns
or electrical shocks.
 Machinery & Piping Systems be aware of other projects
taking place in boilers, piping
systems, propulsion
Seakay Spirit in Drydock in Freeport, Grand Bahamas—Jan.2016
 Tools and Materials Handling - improper use and
lack of maintenance can
result in worker injuries.
 Hot Work - weld-
S.S. DENEBOLA as she departs
Boston Ship Repair - December 18, 2015
ing, cutting, burning,
abrasive blasting,
and other heat
producing
operations are all
considered hot work
and increases the
risk of fire and
explosion hazards.
Always maintain a
fire extinguisher or
water hose near hot
work activities as
part of the firewatch.
Know what you are
doing and do it safely!
Please remember that
all crewmembers have
the ―stop work‖
authority if something
looks unsafe to them;
so use it!
NEAR MISS HIGHLIGHT
Near Miss Reports provide useful issues to discuss and consider as you go about your tasks aboard our
vessels and ashore. With our new Safety Line format the office is going to choose one or two near
misses as appropriate to share with the entire fleet as our featured highlight.
Keep sending in your near misses and maybe yours will appear in the next issue!
Smoking Transformer
Incident: When crewmember
connected an appliance in his
stateroom to a 220V-110V
transformer, the transformer
became hot and started
smoking.
opened and inspected a
loose wire was discovered.
Facts:
Root Cause: The newly installed
transformer was likely there for
repair. Inadequate segregation
and labeling of equipment is a
safety hazard especially when
new crew members come
onboard.

Lessons Learned:

The transformer was newly
installed in the room and
had been found in the
Electrical Shop.
When the transformer was

Ensure oversight that work
areas are organized and
labeled to ensure not
using faulty equipment
that is in for repair.

Test equipment with
unknown history prior to
installation.

When using new equipment
have someone present in
order to ensure it is
properly working.
This is a lesson for everyone to
one make sure faulty goods are
properly stowed or thrown out
and two to make sure new crew
members know their work areas
for theirs and others safety.
Make sure to test
equipment with unknown
history for your
and your crew
members’ safety!
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OPERATING IN E XTREME H EAT
Engineering and Administrative Controls
 Frequent water breaks
 First aid training for heat stroke or heat
Potential Hazards

Heat exhaustion

Heat stroke

exhaustion
Dehydration

Sunburn

Eye injury from ultraviolet radiation


Exploding pressurized containers
Hot metal decks, handrails, ladders,
machinery guards, etc.
Personal Protective Equipment
 Work clothing that provides protection
against hot surfaces and sunburn


Additional salt in diet

Buddy observation system

Storage lockers for flammables

Ventilation fans
Eye protection with shaded lenses
Be aware that this can happen at
home as well as on the vessel!
How to Use the Heat Index

Across top locate predicted high temperature


Down the left side locate predicted humidity
Follow across and down to find the apparent temperature or
―What it feels like today‖
Heat Index of 90—100: Sun stroke, heat cramps, and heat
exhaustion are possible with prolonged exposure and physical
activity.
Heat Index of 105—129: Sun stroke, heat cramps, and heat
exhaustion likely. Heat stroke possibility with prolonged exposure
and physical activity.
Heat Index of 130 or higher: Heat stroke or sun stroke imminent.
HEAT STROKE,
K e ys t o n e S h i p p i n g C o .
1 Bala Plaza East
Suite 600
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
TEL : 610-617-6800
If you have any suggestions
or comments please submit
them to Capt. T. O’Connor
toconnor@keyship.com
Summer is almost here so it is
time to start thinking about the
three kinds of heat related
illnesses. Heat cramps, heat
exhaustion, and heat strokes are
all possible during hot weather. All
heat related injuries need prompt
medical attention!
Heat cramps are muscle cramps
usually occurring in the arms or
legs, but also may be in the
abdominal or chest muscles.
Heat exhaustion signs include
heavy sweating weakness, fast
pulse, normal body temperature,
headache, dizziness, nausea, and
vomiting. First aid for heat
exhaustion requires the worker to
be moved to a cool place. Keep
them lying down with their legs
straight and elevated 8 to 12
inches. Apply cold packs, wet
towels, or just wet their clothing in
order to cool them down.
E X HAU S TI O N , AN D
Heat stroke is a true
emergency! Signs and
symptoms include high
body temperature,
unconsciousness, hot
skin, rapid pulse and
breathing, weakness,
dizziness, and headache.
Immediate first aid is
required. Move the victim
to a cool place and
immediately cool the
worker by any available
means; use ice and water from a
job site cooler for example. Keep
the head and shoulders slightly
elevated and make sure to
monitor the airflow of the victim
to ensure they are breathing.
Prevention of heat illness is very
important. Gradual adaptation to
working in hot weather is a start.
As the weather heats up take a
few short breaks during the day
and if possible schedule heavy
work that has to be accomplished
CRAMPS
during cooler periods of the day.
Dress sensibly and drink plenty of
water! Keep a sharp eye out for
potential heat injuries in coworkers as well. Practice prevention!!
It is the name of the game and
will keep you from becoming a
victim of a heat related illness.
Remember, these are serious
medical emergencies. Call for
professional help onboard the
vessel immediately!
S a f e ty L i n e
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FIRST THROUGH THE LOCKS!
It’s spring at the Soo; despite the frigid
temperatures and snow when our vessels
went through the Locks this year!
and a ceremony was held onboard the
Roger Blough on Thursday afternoon with
Captain Mark Blatnik.
March 25, 2016 the new shipping season for
the Great Lakes kicked off with the opening of
the Soo Locks. Both our vessels the Edwin H.
Gott and the Roger Blough were the first ships
through the locks this season. The Roger
Blough was upbound in ballast heading to
load up and the Gott was downbound.
Raymond Bell, president of the Soo Locks
Visitor's Center Association took a ride through
the locks with Captain Tim Alfson on the Gott
This is the third consecutive year that the
Key Lakes Fleet has had a vessel open the
Soo Locks. Not only is it our fleets third
time, but this is the second year in a row
that it was both the Gott and Blough!
The opening of the Locks is like the
opening day of baseball up on the Lakes
and we are so proud of our vessels for
holding onto that record.
Captain Tim Alfson on the Edwin H. Gott
Congratulations to
all that helped in
this achievement!
Roger Blough was the first upbound vessel through
the Soo Locks 2016
Edwin H. Gott was the first downbound vessel
through the Soo Locks 2016
MAKING SAILORS OUT OF SOLDIERS ON THE USNS PLESS
Embarked soldiers & marines going through Safety Orientation drill en-route. All were assigned to the USNS Maj Stephen Pless, in support of
operation Pacific Pathways 2016. Exercises supported with strategic U.S. allies include: Cobra Gold (Thailand), Foal Eagle (Korea), & Balikatan,
the Tagalog word for “Shoulder-to-Shoulder” (Philippines).
"We strived to offer all MILDET to participate in various training modules
onboard and en-route to destination ports of call so as to show them what
routine shipboard life is all about. These included Marine Safety, Marine Fire
Fighting, and basic Navigation training. Those participating took a keen interest
in all, adding something to their daily routine onboard in a positive way."
-Captain Brian Patten, USNS Maj. Stephen W. Pless
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K e y s t o n e S n a p s h o ts
OBREGON in Drydock with 3rd AE Jacob
Brohawn, 3 AE Robert Bohovsky, and
engine cadet Heather Lade
Shoreside staff participating in a tabletop emergency
drill exercise at our Pennsylvania office
If you have any photos
you would like to share
please send them in!
Capt. Mark Blatnik
on the ROGER
BLOUGH
Capt. Rick Jordan presenting at the annual seminar
Mate Don Parker, 2nd AE Bryan Kwiatkowski,
& Ch Engineer Steve Thompson at annual seminar
Port Engineer Robert Hodgdon, Capt. Adam Blackwell,
Program Manager Andy Hake, and Port Captain David Carroll
at annual seminar in Traverse City, Michigan
SEAKAY SPIRIT coming out of Drydock