| 2023 | Quarter 1 | Issue SEVEN |
the voyager Newsletter
Welcome to 2023’s First Quarter Issue of Dupre Marine’s Newsletter!
2023 new year, new goals!
IN THIS ISSUE
Calvin’s Corner
Employee Spotlights
Safety Topics
DMT Anniversaries
Company News & Updates
Cookin’ in the Galley
Just for Fun!
NEW: Crew Safety Quiz
Be the Barrier
It is no secret that the industry our employees work in can be a dangerous one. Hazards are ever present and always threatening to cause harm. We try our best to reduce the risks people face daily by implementing procedures, wearing PPE, conducting risk assessments, and participating in training and drills, but nothing we do completely eliminates all hazards. Most of the time, the tools we use simply reduce the hazard to an acceptable level. I have always had a problem with that statement…” reducing hazards to an acceptable level” seems incomplete to me. It seems as though we can do more. Then, I remember that the most important weapon we have to combat hazards, our last line of defense, is forever and continuously being deployed, you.
You are the barrier between a task being completed safely and one that causes harm. You are the barrier that prevents a co-worker from falling from a barge or standing in a danger zone. Many of you, without thought or notice from others, do little things day after day that prevent an incident or injury to yourself or others, and, if we are to get to ZERO, that is the mindset it will take. It will take every employee looking out for every employee not because we want recognition or a pat on the back but because we care. We genuinely care about the wellbeing of others and want them to succeed. Dupre Marine can put every possible safety measure in place, but nothing we do can have the impact that a mariner with a passion for their job and completing that job safely has. You are the difference between a safe watch and an unsafe one. You are the barrier!
10 yeaRS OF AWESOMENESS
Dupre Marine was presented with an award for 10 years with Kirby Inland Marine in their charter group. Starting with the M/V Kylie M Dupre 10 years ago and now with 12 of our vessels in the Kirby Charter group. A huge thanks to anyone who has participated over the years!
no harm awards!
After a whirlwind 2022, Dupre Marine received 3 NO HARM Awards from Kirby Inland Marine for the M/V Ambrie Dupre, M/V Chris Miller and M/V Orange.
We would like to commend all the crew members that participated in making this happen!
Let’s make 2023 one of our best!
stretch!!!
Most soft tissue injuries can be prevented by simply taking a few minutes to stretch before your watch. Watch this video for an easy stretching routine and add in a minute of cardio like jumping jacks or running in place to get you warmed up!
cookin’ In the galley
We are trying a little something new in 2023 for the “Cookin’ in the Galley” segment. I used to always ask new deckhands if they can cook. Some would say they were good cooks and mentioned a few reliable meals they liked to make, others could barely make a sandwich. Mike Serdinsky and Paco Rodrigue have given us a few of their favorite recipes, on previous newsletters (go back and check them out!) that their Captains and crew loved. Keep them happy with good food!
I will include recipes that taste good, filling, nutritious and easy to prepare! I will include substitutions and options to change it up! In the next issue, we will open the recipes back up to the crew members!
Sausage over Spaghetti Squash:
Spaghetti squash is a great substitute for pasta and very nutritious. It can be roasted in the oven or even easily cooked in the Instant Pot (if you have one onboard). Here is a microwave method I have used which is very easy. Videos for all methods can be found on YouTube.
Spaghetti Squash 1/2 per person is more than enough (zucchini or rice is a good substitute)
Bacon, a few slices cut in pieces (optional)
2 large onions cut in chunks
2-3 bell peppers (any color) cut in chunks
fresh garlic or garlic powder
salt and pepper
Fresh Sausage (Green Onion, Italian or Cajun) 1/2 lb per person, cut into chunks (you can substitute chicken cut in chunks or use ground beef)
Fresh mushrooms cut in half - approx 2 8oz packages for a crew
Basil (optional)
Pasta sauce (optional)
Parmesan cheese shredded or mozzarella (or both!)
Cook the spaghetti sauce and don’t forget to scoop out the seeds. As shown in the video, gently scrape the squash lengthwise with a fork and it comes out like spaghetti.
In a sauté pan or pot, cook the bacon and add the onions and bell peppers until the onions are a little browned. Add the garlic, salt, pepper, basil (you won’t need much seasonings with the sausage, but you will with chicken or beef). Add the mushrooms and the sausage and cook until done.
If you wish to use pasta sauce you can mix in with the sausage/meat mixture and melt the mozzarella cheese on top.
Place the meat mixture on top of the spaghetti squash and top with Parmesan
dmt fun quiz!
For everyone (no googling!)
For more fun quizzes and puzzles check out our previous newsletters!
DMT spotlight: Kevin Daigrepont
10 year anniversary
Kevin Daigrepont came to Dupre Marine in 2013, when there were only 6 vessels in the Dupre Marine Fleet and started on the M/V Megan E Dupre. Coming from a large towboat company, he took a chance on this small family owned towboat company and made Dupre Marine his career home for the past 10 years as Lead Tankerman, currently on the M/V Kleberg working with Captain Woody Stracner for several years.
Kevin is recognized within our fleet and shoreside as a hard working, well respected crew member and just a really great guy! I know we always enjoy his visits when he gets off the boat to have a chat with us before he heads home to his family. On the boat, Kevin goes out of way to get the job done, trains, helps whenever he can, while taking safety serious everyday.
Living in Marrero, LA with his family, as much as he loves his work, when Kevin finishes each hitch we know he enjoys spending time with his family. It makes his dedication to work worth it.
Thank you Kevin for being part of the Dupre Marine Family for the past 10 years! You are appreciated!
dmt spotlight: Jeremy cavalier
10 year anniversary
Congrats Jeremy Cavalier on 10 Years at Dupre Marine!
From Rory:
11 years ago DMT was given the opportunity to work for Kirby. In order to successfully meet/exceed expectations this new opportunity presented I had to add to our shoreside staff. Jeremy was the first person hired! Although he was new to the towboat business, I knew he was mechanically inclined and had the intelligence and drive to become a great Port Engineer. Throughout the years Jeremy has proven that he is the right man for the job!
Thank you Jeremy for your loyalty and dedication to DMT! Here’s to 10 more!
safety topic: d.a.r.t.
The DART Model is a four-step communication process that can continue infinitely by repeating itself to ensure a directive is clearly sent, understood, and verified before action is taken, then verified when the task is completed.
Simply explained: The Wheelman on watch, via the radio, directs the deckhand at the head of the tow to do a task regarding navigating a bridge. The deckhand responds via his radio, “Roger that” and repeats what the wheelman said. The Wheelman confirms its ok to proceed. Then the deckhand can take action on the task and tells the wheelman its done.
DIRECT: Sender communicates an order or information
ACKNOWLEDGE: Receiver interprets information and acknowledges by repeating the directive or information
RESPOND: Sender confirms the information is accurate, “Roger”
TAKE ACTION: The receiver takes action and verifies complete
MAN OVERBOARD PREVENTION
REMEMBER, ALWAYS LOOK OUT FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR CREW MEMBERS!
NO MAN OVERBOARDS
STAY DRY AND STAY ALIVE!
NEARLY 50% OF ALL INDUSTRY FATALITIES ARE DUE TO FALLING OVERBOARD.
PLAN AHEAD
BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS AND THE SITUATION, IDENTIFY HAZARDS
STAY ALERT
TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS
COMMUNICATE WITH THE WHEELHOUSE AND OTHER CREW MEMBERS
FOLLOW PROCEDURES AND PERFORM TRAINING EXERCISES
ACT FAST!
1. Shout loudly “Man Overboard” and alert the Wheelman on watch immediately
2. Throw the man overboard a life ring or even another life vest to keep him afloat. Keep the victim in sight at all times if possible and encourage him “HELP” is on the way.
3. The wheelman should stop the engines/put in neutral and use the rudder action to swing the tow away and prevent the undertow from pulling the person overboard under the boat or tow.
4. Sound the general alarm, announce “Man Overboard” to alert your crew and alert other vessels in the area. Also alert marine traffic by hitting the “Man Overboard” button in Rose Point.
5. If the person overboard is visible use all means possible to rescue including pole or launching the skiff. In a skiff approach from the down river side. Get him back to the boat as quickly as possible and provide necessary first aid.
6. If the person is not visible in the water, notice a landmark or mark where last seen. Notify marine traffic in the area and request assistance and continue search and rescue.
⚠️
It is the goal of Dupre Marine that all employees work safe hitches and go home to their families after their hitch is completed
SAFETY QUIZ:
THIS IS A REQUIREMENT FOR ALL VESSEL EMPLOYEES WORKING DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2023
ALL crew members must answer these questions. When you are complete and hit “Submit Answers” you will get a response email with your score. This will be a part of your safety compliance.
Rory’s Favorite Quote:
“Gentlemen, we will chase perfection, and we will chase it relentlessly, knowing all the while we can never attain it. But along the way, we shall catch excellence.”
~VINCE LOMBARDI
DUPRE MARINE’S ANNIVERSARIES for 2023 First Quarter
AS OF JANUARY 2023:
David Moore ~ 1 Year
Don Rodrigue ~ 3 Years
Jason Arceneaux ~ 1 Year
Joe Williamson ~ 7 Years
AS OF FEBRUARY 2023:
Zane Naquin ~ 8 Years
Alvin Miller ~ 1 Year
Bryce Larousse ~ 2 Years
Quinton Johnson ~ 2 Years
AS OF MARCH 2023:
Cleve Vincent ~ 3 Years
Patrick Gunter ~ 1 Year
Eric Spencer ~ 2 Years
Raymond Maxie ~ 2 Years
Jeremy Cavalier ~ 10 Years
Naru Rodrigue Jr ~ 2 Years
company news & updates
vessel news!
More big news is Dupre Marine’s newest vessel, M/V Wells Porche. The Wells was Christened on January 12, 2023. Here is the video from the Christening.
Also this quarter, we said goodbye to the M/V Megan E. Dupre. She was sold and headed to a company to work way up north! Many of our current crew members have rode time on the Megan over the years!
And at the end of this first quarter of 2023 we added yet another Kirby boat to our fleet, the M/V Cove Point. Welcome them to our fleet as you see them on the waters getting painted those DMT colors!
FYI’s
A reminder ALL deckhands and tankermen who work on any vessel in unit tow service must be clean shaven, regardless if our crew members are tanking or shore tankermen are utilized. Any wheelmen with facial hair must be neat and trimmed as specified by Calvin or Frank for the customer requirements. This is a DMT policy as well as our customers’ policy. It is for your safety.
Karly is keeping up with yearly uniform shirts. If you wish to purchase extra shirts, please get with Karly and you can be payroll deducted for the extras.
Stop right now and check the expiration dates on all your credentials (MMC, Medical Card, TWIC, Drivers License, etc). Although we track your info in Helm, lately it is not enough time before expiration. With your time on the boat and the time it takes to get the process done, you could expire and not be able to work. It could take a couple months to several months. Please get with Karly if you need any help with your MMC. And here is the link to renew your TWIC card online https://universalenroll.dhs.gov/programs/twic
This is your livelihood, your career, so keep track of it please!
If you have ANY changes to your personal info, marital/child status, banking info, please let Jamie or Karly know as soon as possible! You can call during office hours or email directly jrobichaux@dupremarine.com or kboudreaux@dupremarine.com. Please also know that any of these changes must come directly from the employee.
Do you get stuff shipped to the office for crew change? We are more than happy to get your packages to the vessel, but please help us out and text/call/email to let us know when it is coming so we can look out for it.
Complete all your current and due Moxie online training. This is a compliance requirement, audit requirement and also tied into your Safety Reward Points that will be distributed near the beginning of each quarter
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. And we are on TikTok @dupremarinetowboats for any video contributions!
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.
submit NEAR MISses OR STOP WORK RESPONSIBILITY
Did you know if you have the BEST High Learning Value Near Miss and/or Stop Work Responsibility (SWR) submission, you can earn extra Safety Reward points. We often have a couple crew members receive over 175 Safety Reward points!
Submit as often as possible in HELM!
pump up those numbers!
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pump up those numbers! 〰️
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
⚠️ 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 Lynsie 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 Lynsie or Michael 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.