| 2021 | Quarter 3 | Issue TWO|
the voyager Newsletter
Welcome to another issue of Dupre Marine’s quarterly company newsletter! We promise it will be interesting, informative and fun!
CONTENTS
Calvin’s Corner
Employee Spotlight
Safety Topic
DMT Anniversaries
Company Updates
What’s Cookin in the Galley?!?
Quiz
“Culture isn’t just one aspect of the game—it is the game”
“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty”
“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will
”
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.”
“Rivers are veins of the earth through which the lifeblood returns to the heart.”
“The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible”
culture
Message from Calvin Self
“Culture”, we use this word all the time. We use it at DMT almost daily when describing our fleet or a particular vessel. But what does it really mean, what are we trying to convey when we use the term “vessel culture”? Simply put, vessel culture is the collection of attitudes, beliefs and behaviors of all crew members that make up the regular crew of a vessel.
Someone told me recently that you can’t teach good culture, but I don’t know that to be true. Maybe teach is just the wrong word when discussing culture, maybe a better word would be “grow”. I know that may sound strange to some of you but hear me out. We hire new employees to work on our vessels and many of them are young inexperienced deckhands. We then put these young men in our vessel crews’ hands, and it is their job to mold these inexperienced deckhands into safety minded employees that are proud of their job. What is that if not growing a positive culture? Each and every employee at DMT has a responsibility to take the time to correct bad behaviors and encourage good ones. In other words, it is your responsibility to have a positive personal culture and have a positive influence on those around you.
Just as it is each employee’s responsibility to have a positive personal culture, it is the duty of the captain to ensure the collective vessel culture is where it needs to be. This is one of his most important jobs. This is the job that all the other jobs feed off of. If a captain has a crew that has a good work ethic, is safety minded, and takes pride in his work, it makes all the other jobs much easier.
A safety-first mindset. A good work ethic. Taking pride in your job and the company you work for. Wanting to be the best. Employees that check all these boxes are the ones that have a positive effect on the culture of a vessel and company. Employees that check these boxes make us who we are. Salute.
safety topic:
Heat safety
PREPARE TO BEAT THE HEAT
A heat wave has recently spread across the country, but as we know that heat sticks around here for several months. Heat advisories and a high heat index can quickly lead to heat related illnesses.
Dupre Marine provides our deck crews with several items to help alleviate heat illness symptoms such as: chill cloths, Boonie hats, dry weave shirts, Sqwincher pops, bottled water, electrolyte drinks and then water jugs, coolers, umbrellas for the tankermen, who have to stay out on the barge. Captains are to be sure their crew has the tools they need to avoid heat illness.
However, it is more important to know how to recognize heat illness symptoms in yourself or a fellow crew member and how to prevent those symptoms.
Know the weather for the day. Check temperatures, heat index (Real Feel), and although the sun can increase the risk and clouds help when it is cloudy, the heat can still affect you.
SIGNS OF HEAT ILLNESS (watch for symptoms in yourself and crew members);
Fatigue
Cramping
High pulse rate or weak pulse
Rapid pulse (SERIOUS)
Heavy sweating
Lack of sweating (SERIOUS)
Headaches
Intense thirst
Dizziness or blurred vision (SERIOUS)
Nausea or vomiting (SERIOUS)
High body temperature - Chills (SERIOUS)
Red, hot and dry skin (SERIOUS)
Disoriented (SERIOUS)
Convulsions (SERIOUS)
Fainting (SERIOUS)
WHAT TO DO WHEN HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES OCCUR:
⚠️ Read this table for a simple referral for heat related illness. Always advise the Officer on Watch of any heat related illness
⚠️ If any crew member shows signs of heat illness, use Stop Work Responsibility until the crew member is cool, comfortable and safe from harm. Do not leave unattended.
⚠️ If untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke, which is life threatening. If heat exhaustion is suspected, do the following:
⚠️ Move the crew member out of the heat and into a shady or air-conditioned location
⚠️ Lay the crew member down and elevate the legs and feet slightly
⚠️ Loosen clothing
⚠️ Have the person drink cool water or electrolyte drink
⚠️ Sponge or spray cool water and fan to keep cool
⚠️ Monitor closely
⚠️ For Heatstroke: Call for emergency help, immerse the crew member in water, massage with ice
HOW TO BEAT THE HEAT:
Stay hydrated with water and include electrolytes, do not wait until you are thirsty
Take frequent breaks for 5+ minutes for prevention and 10+ minutes if experiencing any heat symptoms
Take breaks in the shade (indoors, canopies, umbrella)
Be prepared before you head out to do your job and make sure you have on a Boonie hat, appropriate clothing, water/electrolyte drink should be on site.
Limit sugary food and drinks that dehydrate
Monitor the weather
Worker smarter not harder
Take adequate meal breaks
Know the signs of heat illness
Look out for your fellow crew members and check on them
Cannot be repeated enough, STAY HYDRATED
Read this interesting article on Dehydration Causes and Symptoms
It is the goal of Dupre Marine that all employees work safe hitches and go home to their families after their hitch is completed
company updates
I think we can all agree the past few months has brought some huge changes to Dupre Marine! With the addition of (in 2021) the M/V’s Parker James, Brendan K, Rex Dobson and Miss Genevieve, this has also brought on a lot of new crew members.
WE SINCERELY WELCOME ALL OUR NEW CREW MEMBERS TO DUPRE MARINE!
Dupre Marine Crew Info:
The Dupre Marine Safety Rewards have started again! All new full time/signed on crew members will begin to receive login information and how you get the points over the next couple months. Crew member points thereafter will be distributed quarterly based on safety and performance and you must be employed for that full previous quarter. So to receive points in July (for end of 2nd Quarter 2021), you must have been employed for the full quarter (April, May, June 2021)
Steel toe boots are required footwear. All Dupre Marine crew members will get $100 towards new boots: all deck crew every 6 months and wheelhouse every year. Please get with April, Denise or Michael when you need to purchase new steel toe boots. We use Joe’s Boots in Houma, which we will payroll deduct the amount over $100 or you may purchase elsewhere and submit your receipt to April for a reimbursement up to $100. We are now tracking boot purchases. Deck crew this is an important part of your PPE, so please make sure your boots are in good shape always. Captains, please inspect the boots of your crew regularly. If you have any questions, please contact Frank.
Everyone must complete their Moxie Training: New hires must complete the Dupre Marine Initial Orientation within 5 days of your first hitch and new wheelhouse personnel must also complete Rose Point (in section 6) prior to boarding the vessel. Once the Initial Orientation is done, that is it for that part, the annual must be done by the end of the year and all others must be done within 6 months then they are good for 5 years. Please don’t wait on your training, Moxie has changed, when a section expires, you are non-compliant and it goes away and difficult for us to reinstate.
For those who are new or may not know, this website and our social media pages are filled with photos and videos sent in mostly by our crew members or Frank, Jeremy and other towboaters. If you have photos you want to share, please send them to Denise via text, email or dm on our Instagram or Facebook pages. If you haven’t done so, please check out all the amazing contributions on all our socials and this website.
If you have ANY changes to your address, personal info, marital/child status, banking info, please let Jamie know as soon as possible! You can call her during office hours or email her directly at jrobichaux@dupremarine.com. Please also know that any of these changes must come directly from the employee.
If any of our crew members would like to contribute content to future newsletters, please email Denise dmorencie@dupremarine.com
Office hours are 0800-1700 Monday to Friday, please note the times you contact shoreside during off hours when it is not urgent. If it can wait until office hours, please call then, and of course if it is urgent call the necessary contact for the problem.
“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right”
“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”
“Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.”
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”
“There is NOTHING, absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats”
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
“We steer the boat, we don’t alter the river”
“Do one thing every day that scares you”
featured employee: SEth Helmer
Following in the footsteps of a family line of boat captains, especially his uncle, Captain Zane Naquin, who he has mostly steered with in the 2+ years at Dupre Marine, Seth Helmer is soon headed to the wheelhouse. With hard work, determination and a great work ethic and attitude, he has his Mate Pilot’s license in hand and ready to put it to use very soon sitting in that captain’s chair working his own watch. He has the passion for this job and making it happen day by day.
And Seth is recognized within our fleet and shoreside as a hard working, well respected and all round good person. He goes out of way to get the job done, train, help whenever and wherever he can. A well liked man always making it happen!
What makes it all worth it for Seth, we are sure, is family. At 27, Seth currently lives in Houma, LA with his wife and three children, recently purchasing their first home. As much as he loves his work, heading home after each hitch to spend time with his family is worth every minute.
Thank you Seth for being part of the Dupre Marine Family and a definition of company culture. You are appreciated!
#prideinyourride #passion #positivity
Denise Morencie
Maybe you have seen the hashtags I have used on many of our social media post, but do you know why? They are not just a search tool used to drive views of our posts, but most importantly what I believe creates Dupre Marine culture. A passion for your work, a positive attitude and taking pride in your work and vessel. I see it in the photos I am sent: a beautiful sunrise, a shiny door or bell, a photo of one of your fellow Dupre vessels. Many of these come to me with a quick note of “good morning” or “looking great” or “I thought you would like this”. They are simple photos of positivity, passion and pride. A small part of the big picture.
This is not just about taking photos and sharing them with me (although please do!), but encouragement to step back and look at how you approach your day. Start the day with a positive attitude! Is it possible every day? Probably not, but starting with positivity is liable to catch on to your fellow crew members. Positivity will lead to passion for your work, approaching each task you do as an accomplishment, not just a job. Passion leads to pride in your vessel and the work you put into it, a feeling of putting your best work in to have the best-looking, best performing boat on the water!
Below is several of our recent posts on Instagram giving all of you a shout out to your hard work, passion, positivity, teamwork and of course pride in your ride!
What’s cookin’
in the galley
with paco
One of Laird “Paco” Rodrigue’s favorite desserts, the Strawberry Lotta Cake and sounds like a perfect summer treat for the whole crew!
You will need:
1- big deep dish disposable aluminum pan.
3-boxes of super moist strawberry cake mix.
3- large boxes of Strawberry Jello.
3- large boxes of vanilla pudding.
6 to 8- quarts of frozen strawberries.
2- large tubs of whipped cream.
Let strawberries defrost while preparing cake. (Probably overnight) Mix all 3 boxes of cake mix as directed per box and bake at 350. ( will take longer to cook then directed so keep an eye on it after the 30-35 minutes mark) when inserted tooth pick comes out clean it’s done.
After cake is done set aside and mix jelly as directed per box.
Poke entire cake with fork and pour Jello mixture onto cake.
Put cake with Jello in refrigerator over night.
Next day mix pudding as directed per box and let set for around 30 minutes after mixed then spread over cake evenly.
Drain juice from strawberries and spread evenly over pudding.
Spread cool whip topping evenly over strawberries.
Return to refrigerator for 2-3 hour so all ingredients set.
Note: This cake will be heavy it’s best to leave in refrigerator to cut servings ( I use a spatula) Also leave in refrigerator at all time to prevent melt down.
Hope you enjoy!
DUPRE MARINE’S ANNIVERSARIES for 2021 Third Quarter
Jared Belanger: July 3rd ~ 1 Year
Joe Billiot: July 22 - 11 Years
Jade O’Neal: July 25th ~ 2 Years
Calvin Self: July 29th - 8 Years
Chad Verdin: July 5th ~ 7 Years
Jeff Verdin: July 5th ~ 7 Years
Michael Ortego: August 6th ~ 6 Years
Paul Arabie: August 10th ~ 6 Years
Frank Bumgarden: August 12th ~ 2 Years
Brett Verdin: August 19th ~ 2 Years
Jeremy Scholz: August 27th ~ 2 Years
Alva Dupre: September 4th ~ 18 Years
Robert Stracner September 26 - 7 Years
HIGHLIGHT
CONGRATULATIONS to Captain James Tub Davis on the M/V Everard Dupre and to Captain Chad Verdin on the M/V Kathleen Dupre for their Kirby NO HARM Awards presented by Port Captain Frank Bumgarden! These important awards are for each of their Stop Work Responsibilities (SWR) submitted. Keeping it safe out there! Great Job!!
Remember to submit your Near Misses and Stop Work Responsibilities in Helm regularly. They are not only strong safety learning tools, but also recognized in the charter group and rewarded from Kirby Inland Marine. An important recognition.
⚠️ Always be ready to work wearing the proper PPE and wearing it correctly! Your PPE will NOT protect you if it is not the correct type, is damaged or worn and if is not on correctly and adjusted properly!
⚠️ Be responsible and know what PPE is required to use in your particular work situation Check yourself and ask yourself if you have on what is needed and required to be safe for that job
⚠️ If you have any questions concerning your PPE, please contact Port Captain Frank Bumgarden