The Diving Captain
Committed
Port Captain FROMTHEMD'SDESK
“We really have some committed people working on this PORTSIDE TOWING Ltd. Vision. “
Mr.MichaelDobson,OperationsManager
SEWARD
“Daddy was expelled from Kingston College because he would beat up the rich kids who gave the poor kids a hard time, and let me tell you! He could fight like Mohammed Ali”
Sharon Tsahai King
Born A King - of Kings
OnApril27th,1938,housewifeIrisWinifredKing,neeEwart,wifeofMarinePilot, SewardHermonKingSnr gavebirthtoa ChildoftheUniverse,SewardHermon AugustineKingJr.
Hewasraisedinthehomeoftwocolonnadesofpower HisMother,whowas tiredofthedrudgeryofhousewiferyenrolledincampaigningforthePNPandits thenreformistleader,NormanManleyinthemidstoftheworkersriotsof1938 andsubsequentUniversalAdultSuffrageof1944.Before this,only66,000 peoplecouldvote,amere7%ofthepopulation Waybeforethetermwas conceptualized,shewasapoliticalstrategistfortheBarrister,allwhileyoung, primary-schoolHermon,andhissiblingslearnedtheimportanceofthecauseof theordinaryJamaicanman.
In1950,sheenrolledinUniversityinChicagoandleftyoungHermonandhistwo brothersandsisterwithhisfather Thiswassuchaforward-thinkingmovefor thetime,teenagedHermonlearnedfeminismrighttherefromhisbloodline.
Hermon’sMotherreturnedtoJamaicafromuniversityin1955,the Country’sfirsttrainedpolitician He,atthattime,startedto absorbthemicro-cultureofRastafarianismthathadbegunto takerootinthe1950s
ThemovementattractedyoungHermonasitunderscoredthe baseofhumanequalitythathisMotherhadestablishedinhis life.Herson,wasalsobusycarvinghisowndestiny,ontheway tofollowinginthefootstepsofhisMarinePilotfather Itwas clearthatheandhisbrothersDonaldandBentley,duringthe timehismotherwasaway,drewclosertohisfatherandwere learningthewaysoftheSea likeitornot
Mrs. Iris King, Kingston’s First Female Mayor
Pilot Seward Hermon A. King Snr.
THE EARLY
TheRebelinHermon didnotdaretofightagainstthewishesof hisfather whowaswellknownforhisprowessin seamanship asaMarinePilot AsCaptain’sBlogchattedwithMarinePilots whoknewhim, storyafterstory,weheardofthefearlessnessof thisyoungbuck
OnestoryistoldbyPilotRoxyFuller,whorecountedthetaleof Hermon’sinitialrequiredseaexperienceonasea-goingtugboat RESCUE ItisimportanttorememberthatthisisHermon,the Revolutionary,sonofIris.Hewasonthetugboatpreparingto dockattheKingstonHarbour.Astheyassignedtheduties,it becameobviousthattheAmerican-caucasiancrewhadgiven Hermonallthemenialtasksandmatcheditwithracialslurs
HermonobjectedusingchoiceJamaicanadjectives, unconcernedabouttherepercussionsandwasmetwithaviolent confrontation Beforethetugboatgottothedockhedoveofand swamtoshore. Onthedock,intheshadows,Hermonfoundthe perfectpieceof 2x4 andhid.Notknowinghewasonthedock theAmerican-caucasianseamen,onebyone,madetheirwayoff theboat,intotheslapsof the young,wildrebel‘s2x4
S E W A R D
DAYS
Whatbecameveryobvioustoallwashisaptitude. HisFatherhadtaughthimto trusthisinstinctandrespecttheSea, Hequicklybecamewellknownforhis superiorskillsandabilityto‘handletheships’withspeedandprecision Asthe yearswentonhismaneuveringandgeneralstyleof Pilotingwaspatternedby newapprentices
ThewordsofPilotHubert‘Bertie’Kerrrangdeepasherecountedthefirsttime hesawPilotKinghandleavessel,“IknewthatwasthekindofPilotthatIwanted tobe” HeremembersthefirstmeetingwithPilot‘TAURUS’KingandthewellknownRaspofhisbassvoiceashespoke.Hewouldmakeutterancesthatwould shakethespacelikeROYALROARS.
PilotKerrtakesCaptain’sBlogdeeperintotheunderstandingoftheMan,The Myth,TheLegend.HetellsthestoryofthedebatewithMr.Hyltonofblessed memory,, thenchairmanofthePortAuthority,himselfalegendintheMaritime World ThefightforabuildingdedicatedtothePilot’sOffice,thesalarydebates andtherevolutionarymovesthatwouldtakeplaceacrossthePAJboardroom’s proverbial‘chessboard’bytheMastermind,thePropheticVisionary,PilotHermon ‘Woody,Taurus’King.TheManwhogotgainsfortheMarinePilotsthatwillbe enjoyed,foralongtimetocome,bymanywhohaveneverseenhisface.He hastens tousethewords: “Fearless,Visionary,Tactical,Philanthropic”,to describehismentor Hespokeinaweofsomeof thenerverattlingdemands madebyPilotKinginthefaceofthetopbrassofthePAJ Manytimesinaweof nervousfellowPilotsandhewouldwin.
Onethingwasclear,HermonKingSnr gavehimhisskillsofpilotingandIrisKing
MY DADDY WAS A 8
“We knew that Daddy didn’t belong to us he belonged to the world.”
o navigate life, marriage and children, he was unsettled as he felt that his calling was pressing The demands on him and the manifestation of his life’s purpose made him the least likely candidate for husband or even Daddy of the year “Daddy helped the world at the risk of his children” quipped his daughter Sharon Tsahai, her comment was ripe with aged emotions but viscous with love and understanding “There was a fire that was burning inside of him, this fire dictated that his life should be of service to not just us but to all ”
She remembers with fondness Daddy Taurus’ soft side in the midst of his quest to attack the Mission of his Purpose “That time when I cooked the ‘tough grain’ rice ” she said with a girlish giggle that seemed to come from the Daddy’s girl who still occupied space in her present self “I gave Dad a saucer full and he sat on a concrete stone and ate every drop! My Daddy”
Woody King had dug himself deep into the Rastafarian Faith, in the trenches with the ‘muck’ that came from the fact that the faith preceded its time He was a victim of Religious persecution This was typical of Jamaica’s 60's and 70's, stained with beatings and even killings of Rasta sistrens and brethrens The fact that Hermon was an ‘Uptown Rastaman’ from a well-to-do family, with a history-making politician Mother and a Marine Pilot father did not save him Though his parents were well known and they owned the full extent of the land that is now know as the Washington Boulevard, from Red Hills Road to Duhaney Park on either side
On one such occasion, Hermon, his brother Bentley and some 12th Tribe brethrens were in a family property using the holy sacrament when they were raided by the Police The beatings were unbearable to the point where Bentley lost a tooth As Hermon looked on at his brother suffering at the hands of the law, he stood up and demanded that they beat him instead of Bentley Such was the man Hermon continued in the Rastafarian Faith, he was widely read in the teachings and shared the wisdom to all he captivated with his mysticism
As it related to work, he was a walking contradiction with regards to the perception of a marine Pilot and the presentation of Pilot Taurus But what a beautiful contradiction He was all that was right about the faith, the love, the purity of intentions, the equality and the betterment of mankind
photo credit: Jamaica Gleaner.com
How it all Began
The Genesis of PORTSIDE
The Boldness of Pilot S Hermon ‘Woody’ King was unparalleled From the Towering shadow of his mother, Seward Hermon Augustine King had emerged, not just as a successor, but as a visionary who dared to dream, BIG dreams He aligned himself with a group of like-minded Marine Pilots and BOAT SERVICES, the Pilot Boat Company was started
Captain’s Blog is told of the story of the horrific 1992 incident in Montego Bay of a Tanker on fire. Pilot King watched in horror. In his mind, had a tugboat been there, it could have either used its fire-fight capabilities or assist to push the ship from the dock to minimize the environmental damage He quickly went into action and presented the idea to the Group of Pilots The majority were in agreement There is no doubt that his revolutionary persona and somewhat checkered past did not attract those Pilots who were more traditional and straight laced
After some investigation, a tugboat was sourced in the Bahamas and they set about to form the Company There was one hurdle and that was the permission of the Port Authority
Re-Enter the Master Negotiator The best of little Woody, Brother Woody, Seward Hermon King and Pilot Taurus were all needed that day He had watched his mother navigate the labyrinth of power, her words like arrows of fire, piercing and as a learnt student, he was ready Pilot Kerr tells the story almost with glee
“This thing can become Magnaimous!” Taurus predicted with all of the rasp his bass voice possessed and continued to negotiate They were successful, permission was granted
“He exercised wisdom in the selection of the Pilots whom he approached to make the initial sacrifice, ignoring the factions that existed. The unity was critical so Directors were picked from all perceived sides. Many mortgaged their homes to followed the VISION of the Revolutionary King. and tugboat Lawful was bought in the Bahamas.
Pilot Fuller remembers the emotions on the day of its first job “It was the Palawan Island, Lawful towed a dead ship and we all let go a collective sigh of relief Her next job was towing a dead car ship, we were on our way ”
That need to help and create equality never left Woody and it made many of his PORTSIDE moves be viewed as unconventional He was determined that the mission should be to make a better life for Jamaican seafarers He would therefore employ people who were in many cases not certified but were skilled, very willing and needed a job One such worker was desperate for a house and Woody would buy building materials monthly and hire workers and literally build the house “He would cash his salary, leaving precious little for himself and drive around with a paper bag of cash to distribute to needy Rastas, the Netball Team, the Workers or just about anyone who needed it SELFLESS!!!”
Captain Dennis Williams, who was brought to PORTSIDE by Woody shared that he really appreciated him. “He was ‘as plain as day’ Sometimes his language would alarm people but once you got to know him you would realize that he meant well”
REAL REVOLUTIONARY
Pilot King passed the mantle of seamanship to his son Jomo and retired to the solace and peace of his mountain home where he enjoyed the sight and sounds of his exotic birds and foliage. He went home to Zion on June 17th, 2020.
In reflecting on the Real Revolutionary, Pilot Fuller, whose life path juxtaposed King’s, felt surprised and blessed that was literally selected by Hermon to step forward into leadership. He uses the word “Selfless”. This connects with Sharon’s musings. In the later years of life, the contemplation... the assessment, it all became crystal clear, he belonged to the WORLD... not Iris and Seaward, not his siblings, not his children, not the Rastafarians, not the Pilots. He was a child of the Universe, for the betterment of all.
During the dramatic expansion of Portside Towing Ltd. under the primary guidance of Pilot Roxy Fuller, Pilot King was kept abreast. He visited the head office in 2020 and had a tearful acknowledgement that “PORTSIDE TOWING Ltd. was on its way to becoming ‘MAGNANIMOUS’. Pilot King, whose eye sight was failing by that time was taken on a tour and every square inch described to him in detail. He left in tears.
What a LEGACY!
Captain’s Blog Chipped the very tip of the iceberg that is Pilot Seward Hermon Augustine King. We got a peep into a level of fearlessness that has resulted in the betterment of the so many lives that have been blessed enough to cross his path and that of the entities that he has founded. We are grateful to have know him and WILL FOREVER HONOUR HIS LEGACY
Hermon, The King
~Donald E. King
“Even as a fledgling lad barely out of his teens, Others sought him out for his wise counsel and insurmountable heart Absorb the anger that never failed to take up the fight against intolerance and injustice from youth to manhood to midlife. The unselfish fight raged on through triumph and defeat. He always stood to the fore.”
Franklin Town’s Crown
~Sharon King
“Up, Up, Up Red Hills in Coopers Hill is where I man calls home
My pilot’s soul anchor is planted in its soil, no matter where I roam I only sail where justice lives for evolved cultures of the darker hue
I am a giant a many ways, Righteous is my ship’s name all respect due So no matter how and where I sojourn, I am Mother Ew’s beloved first grand son ”
"The greatest thing in the world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving."
Oliver Wendell Holmes
A Stronger Team... A New Direction
Greetings, Team!
Today, as we stand together on the brink of a new chapter, WE ARE A STRONGER TEAM I want to take a moment to acknowledge your dedication, skills, unwavering commitment and most of all your grace Over the years, we ’ ve weathered every storm and navigated the unknown with resilience, but now, it’s time for us to take a new course one that will challenge us to become even stronger as a team.
We have been challenged to sharpen our business to become a more professional Tug Boat Company with a cadre of CERTIFIED individuals who are beacons of excellence and unchallengingly proud people
No doubt the proverbial Seas are changing Whether it’s the shifting tides of the ocean itself or the demands of our mission, we must adapt and rise to meet these challenges head-on And I have no doubt we can. But to do that, we need to be more unified than ever before Every one of us brings unique strengths to this crew, and together, we can achieve the extraordinary.
THE LITTLE TUGBOAT THAT COULD:
PORTSIDE TOWING Ltd. is the epitome of ‘THE LITTLE TUGBOAT THAT COULD’ From a lofty dream by our ‘IDEATOR’ Pilot Seward Hermon King who marched ahead with a group of like-minded founders to this today, nine tugboats later.
TEN YEARS OF MASSIVE, CRUDE GROWTH
Though we started in 1992 and the story is well told, our unprecedented growth happened in ten short years, from 2012 to 2022. The rapid pace caused us to barely be able to catch our proverbial breath, resulting in some less than refined protocols This we have set to correct to right the ship and to ensure full compliance
THE NEW DIRECTION
A New Direction is a part of our strategic management plan and a mandate from the Shareholders We must therefore ensure that our Team is ready through training, procedures and policies We must also ensure that we are practicing wise fiscal management
We are a healthy Company therefore this is not about survival it’s about thriving It’s about pushing beyond what we’ve done before and becoming leaders on the seas, stewards of the marine world, and innovators of our craft From today, we set our sights on mastering new skills, and most importantly, supporting one another like never before
This journey won’t always be easy There will be rough waters ahead, no doubt But with each challenge, we have an opportunity to grow stronger as a team We’ll rely on clear communication, shared goals, and a commitment to our mission. Our strength lies in our unity, in our ability to look out for one another on deck, in the engine room, and on the shore.
STRONGER TEAM NEW DIRECTION
So, I ask you all: Are you ready to chart this new course? Are you ready to take our teamwork to new heights and redefine what it means to be the best Tugboat Company out there?
Let’s set our sails toward new horizons, stronger together, and with a renewed sense of purpose Onward, to the adventure ahead!
O N E T E A M
Jamaica makes mark at US Pool Checkers Championships
August 5, 2024
CHECKER’ED CAPTAIN
KINGSTON, Jamaica In a ground-breaking achievement, Jamaica’s Ricardo Roach clinched the silver medal in the prestigious Masters Division at the four-day American Pool Checkers Association (APCA) Championships in Chicago, Illinois. Roach’s remarkable accomplishment has ignited celebration across the local fraternity.
Roach’s achievement marks a milestone for Jamaica. He became the first entrant from the island to compete in the Masters Division. He amassed 58 points .
Jamaica's Ricardo Roach (right) and Jermaine Delattibudiere (left) pose with their trophies Between them is President of the American Pool Checkers Association, Albert Harrison ow
Captain Ricardo Roach in an impromptu match in the streets of Cartagena with a Columbian Champion
ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY
“ Ap thing in oth
Appreciation
DAY OF
Celebrate each other
“...wemustfindwaysto celebratepeople'slivesand contributions.Thereisso muchexcitementandjoyin buildinganempire...”
boat Malcolm Jones
Tug Boat Hermon King Crew
Tug Boat Bentley King, Capt Peters
COMMUNICATION CHECK! CHECK! CHECK!
YOUSPOKEANDWELISTENED!
After years of struggling to find an internet solution, we had an Engineer one-on-one with Chief Engineer Raymond and he suggested STARLINK We are therefore pleased to announce that after the final assessment and if the test is a success, we will procure STARLINK as the official internet solution forthetugboats
PLEASENOTE:
Cell phone use becomes a hazard when it distracts the crew from their duties Distracted crewmembers can place a vessel and its crew at risk
The use of PORTSIDE TOWING Ltd. associated STARLINK internet must be for professional and wholesome recreational use ONLY
COMMITTED
WISE
PORT CAPTAIN
CAPTAIN DENNIS WILLIAMS
hat some of the Island’s most prolific rom Trench Town., the bedrock of Jamaican he stars of PORTSIDE TOWING Ltd., Port Williams was born on 12th Street in the Town. Captain’s Blog sat down with we gleaned that he was raised in the culture and the soundtrack of his early life ng of Bob Marley’s guitar Bob at the time ly across the road from where young Dennis new that he was in the presence of whenever he was missed by his mother, her NIS!” would find him in the ‘KULCHA yaad’ a man dem ‘ a hold a reasoning’ way and was able to convince his Mom to way from Trench Town Comprehensive High e, by this time, was attending. Away from the ene which by this time was in the Political mes
ol came with its perceived negative trappings so he was moved to Excelsior High School while he domiciled in Morton Park in Dad’s newly purchased home.
After School, as a young free-spirited boy, young Dennis would go to the waterfront instead to taking his JOS bus to Morton Park He was captivated by the magic of the Sea He would watch the sights and listen to the sounds it was purely mystical, the Divers, the super vessels on the horizon, the sea birds all so much to take in for a young lad eager to define who he was It was on one such waterfront trip that he met Pilot Alfred Linton Pilot Freddie, as he was known was a Master Navigator and an equally great instructor. He asked young Williams a few questions about the sea, discovered his love, his knowledge, his aptitude and challenged him to make this love for the sea a career. Soon he was attending classes in navigation
CAPT. WILLIAMS
SothestoryoftheyoungnavigatormadeCaptain’sBlogmorecuriousaboutthelaunchintothelifeofaSeafarer.Howdidhetransitionthroughtheyearsto becomearepositoryofknowledgeandthemanwhoisresponsibleforthecareersofsomany,manyofwhomareourownPORTSIDETOWINGLtd.Captains. Thisisthemanwithsuperiorskills,alevelofhumilitythatisunmatched,voidof ego andwillingto sharehisknowledge.Themanwhodespitehisown challengeshasroseindefiantresiliencetobecomestrongerandwiser.
What was your first job after your training?
MyfirstjobwasgoingtoSeawithJeffLewisonSAM‘G’I willbeforevergratefultoJeffLewisashetaughtmea lot. ThevesselsailedtoHonduras.Believeme,Iwas terriblysea-sick.Ivomitedallthecontentsofmy stomachuntiltherewasbile. Thisdidnotmattertome asIwasdeterminedtobecomeasailor.Mr.Lewis commentedthathewassurprisedthatIliterallybounced backaftereachboutofvomiting Totellyouthetruth,thesalarywassmallbutIsawway intotofutureandrealizedthebenefitoftheexperience I workedonothervesselsincludingtheBananaSupply VesseloutofMiamias asecondmateandtheCaricom Vessel.Thesegavemealotofseaexperiencebutat28 yearsoldIrealizedthattheydidnotalignwithmyvalues andsoImovedon.
Which job featured big in your young career?
IwouldsaythatthiswaswhenPilotYoungmanrealized mycompetenceandmadethe contacttogetmeajob withtheHYDEShippingCompanyasaChiefOfficer.I reportedtoaYugoslavianCaptain.Ilearntalotfrom him.HetrainedmeontherudimentsofbeingaCaptain. BythistimeIhadpurchasedsomepropertywithmy redundancypaymentsfromtheCaricomvesselandI wantedtobeclosertomyhomeinMontegoBay I thereforecamehomeandgotajobwithMr Roberts’ underwaterboat ThisiswhereImetCapt Jefta Usherwood,whoeventuallytaughtmetoscubadive.
When did the PORTSIDE TOWING Ltd. Experience start?
Whileworking forMr.Roberts’underwaterboat Company,Ihadachanceencounterwiththelegend PilotHerman‘Woody’King.The MarinePilots had startedPORTSIDETOWINGLtd.,asmalltugboat Company.Therewasonlyonetugboatboathowever, LAWFUL.PilotKinginhisusualbassvoiceaskedme, “WhenyouagocomeworkfiweDennis?”Ireminded himthathealreadyhadaCaptain Soonafterhetold methattheyseparatedandIjoinedthefamily Andthatisjustwhatitbecame,afamily
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Captain’s Blog
Captain’s Blog
Captain’s Blog
Captain’s
Capt. Williams became co to dream dreams that came through and to literally call this into reality. “She is...she was a special one. Captain’s Blog tried many times to redirect the conversation to happier topics but he insisted that he was “OK” and continued
"I could never talk about my life and not talk about my darling wife "
“She said that she had a dream and someone close to the family would pass I rubbished the dream but she insisted We continued to talk about purchasing a home in Montego Bay for us as she wanted to leave St. Elizabeth. Shortly after acquiring the home, we chatted but she did not seem as happy as I expected, her focus was the dream. She begged that I should keep safe. Without warning one day, she was gone.Thiswassosudden.”
The love That Williams expressed for his wife is palpable, the kind of love that is putrid and thick. He initial thought going on without her was not possible. He is better now and understands the dynamics of life. He is comforted by the solidity of the union they had and accepts thehappeningsasGod’sperfecttiming
Hehaspouredhisfreetimeintohisfarmandhischildren,oneofwhomisapartofthePORTSIDETOWINGFAMILY.
ALABAS
"MY BEST SEA-GOING YEARS WERE ON THE LAWFUL."
“TugboatLawfulbecamemynewoffice.Icaneasilysaythatthishasbeenmybestsea-goingexperience.Thetrips tookmebackandforthbetweenPortKaiser,PortAntonio,MontegoBayandDiscoveryBay YounamethePortandI wasthere IhaverelatedtheseexperiencestotheyoungCaptainsintraining-thetechnologywasnotasitistoday, weusedtraditionmethodsofunderstandingseamanship.WewereCOMMITTEDtoourlivesatsea.Wewere dependable,therewasnohesitationtomove”
Captain’s Blog
WHATWASYOURMOSTCHALLENGINGEXPERIENCE?
“AsPORTSIDETOWINGstartedtogrowandacquirenewtugboats,wedepartedfromCartagena,Columbiawiththe newlyacquiredtugboatBentleyKing Shebegantotakeinwaterintheopenseas Thereweresomemomentsof seriousconcern.Inthesesituations,thecalmnessoftheapproachtothesolutioniscrucial.Weradioedapassing megatankerwhoremainedclosetousuntilPORTSIDETOWINGrespondedwiththeCOSMOBOWEN torescueus andtowustosafety Wegotbacktobasesafelywithsomerattlednerves
“I feel pride now that I see where PORTSIDE is going I love the New Direction My hope is that I will be fit and strong enough to ensure that I will be a part of the New Portside. I owe a lot to this Company and I hope to be a part of its new direction for many years to come. I pray that the family unit will become stronger and the younger ones will speak a language of commitment to see the VISION of the Founding Fathers come alive.”
With quite an impressive fleet of Nine Tugboats, maintenance is a critical part of the Company’s
Dry docking is also a required part of the certification of the tugboats based on MAJ and IMO regulations
GEORGE MUNRO
COSMO BOWEN
WHY IS DRY DOCKING IMPORTANT?
HULL INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
Corrosion Control: Tugboats spend most of their time in water, where the hull is exposed to salt, chemicals, and other corrosive elements. Dry docking allows for thorough inspection and treatment of corrosion or rust, which can weaken the hull and affect the vessel's structural integrity.
Hull Cleaning: Marine organisms like barnacles, algae, and other debris accumulate on the hull over time This fouling increases drag, reduces fuel efficiency, and affects the tugboat’s speed and maneuverability. Dry docking facilitates cleaning the hull.
Repainting and Coating: To protect the hull from corrosion and fouling, fresh layers of anti-fouling and anti-corrosive paint are often applied during dry docking.
Propellerand RudderInspection
Tugboats rely heavily on their propulsion and steering systems for maneuverability. Dry docking enables the inspection, repair, or replacement of propellers, rudders, and shafts, ensuring that these critical components are in good working order.
Maintenanceof UnderwaterComponents
Intake and Exhaust Systems: Tugboats have various underwater intakes (for cooling, ballast, etc ) that need to be inspected and cleaned to prevent blockages or malfunctions Similarly, the exhaust systems may need maintenance to ensure they are functioning efficiently
Seawater Cooling Systems: Tugboats use seawater cooling systems for their engines, and these can get clogged or corroded Dry docking allows for cleaning and maintenance of these systems
PHOTOCREDIT: KishawnRaymond
PHOTOCREDIT: KishawnRaymond
Regulatory Compliance & Certification
Maritime regulations, such as those imposed by the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, often require regular dry docking of tugboats for thorough inspections. These inspections help ensure the tugboat meets safety standards and is seaworthy.
Insurance and Legal Requirements: Many insurance companies and the PORT AUTHORITY OF JAMAICA also mandate periodic dry docking for safety and liability reasons.
PerformanceOptimization
FuelEfficiency:Regularcleaningofthehullandmaintenanceofthepropulsionsystemduring drydockinghelpsmaintainfuelefficiency,reducingoperationalcosts.
Operational Safety: Ensuring that all systems are functioning optimally reduces the risk of accidentsormechanicalfailureswhilethetugboatisinoperation
KishawnRaymond
CARTAGENA, COLUMBIA
Crewmembers at the COTECMAR Dry Dock Facility
PORTSIDE TOWING Ltd. is blessed with a cadre of extremely skilled seafarers who are very able to assist in the Dry Dock planning, sailing and monitoring, in the event the tugboat to which they are assigned is scheduled to go to dry dock. To prepare for the dry dock project crew members must ensure that:
They possess the requisite licence for sailing to the location
Be flexible / adaptable
Be committed
Be Knowledgeable. Review material on the boat to be ready to answer questions and monitor repairs.
Crew of Tugboat AJAX at the COTECMAR Dry Dock facility Left to right: Chief Eng Raymond, Port Eng Brown Port Capt. Williams, Capt. Lynch, Safety Capt. Roach, AB Patterson
Safety Capt. Roach and AB Patterson along with engineers from COTECMAR
Directors Pilot Kerr and Pilot Fuller along with executives from COTECMAR
Barlow Condensed
S P O T
L I G H T
DIVING INTO THE WORLD OF USHERWOOD
Below the tranquil depths of the Sea, another WORLD awaits This is the WORLD of Usherwood The WORLD that awaits in its azure depths, enveloped in a serene silence, punctuated only by the rhythmic sound of USHERWOOD’s own breath. Gravity has no hold over him here. Freedom is the force and his movements are a synchronized dance
This is God’s place Untouched, Undeniable Beautiful, Undisturbed and daring to respond to only the dictates of his HAND
Captain’s Blog was curious. How did this become USHERWOOD’S World? When did he fall victim to its magnetic pull? When did he yield to its call? Let’s take a ‘DEEP DIVE’ into this WORLD of USHERWOOD
USHERWOOD takes us back to the colourful Jamaica It is the ‘70s, when a hyper-active young boy is first exposed to the Sea by his family. This introduction became innumerable beach trips, too many for him to recall the number. Each was more enchanting than the next, each was far more defining than the other. Etched in his memory though was the magic of the SEA, its wonder and its allure, the intricate patterns in blues and vivid hues, teem with life.
On several of his visits to the Sea Shore young Usherwood would disappear to watch the Seafarers who fed their communities with the pride of their catch Their stories captivated him, he was enthralled by their skill and their fearlessness He became a staple on the fish-buying trips and they gave him joy he had found his happy place
The confirmation of this came from his primary school book ‘Reading Corner’ where he read his school book about SEA adventures from cover to cover, many times connecting the dots between his own SEA experiences and those of the OLD MAN and the Sea.
It was obvious that young USHERWOOD was mesmerized by the SEA, the waves crashing against the shore and the salty breeze in the air. He dreamed of exploring the depths of the ocean and uncovering its mysteries. Seeing his enthusiasm, his family gave him gift after gift all related to the SEA. many of his gifts were books with stories of sailing and fishing.
“I was given the opportunity to become a ‘frog man’”
Captain’s Blog needed to know how he got introduced to diving.
“In 1992 I became a member of the Montego Bay Marine Park Volunteer Association, where I got the opportunity to fulfill a life long dream of learning to handle boats and most of all to become a “frogman” ( the old term that some people used for scuba diver).”
FROG MEN
When the U.S. Navy established the Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs) during World War II, the heroic Sailors that we now know as Navy SEALs were commonly referred to as “Frogmen ” Today's Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community pays homage to its predecessors by using the same nickname.
“The Marine Park connection actually opened doors, from getting extensive boat handling training, to learning to scuba dive, then becoming finally getting my PADI Open Water Certification
Eventually I started working with a Watersports/Tourism Entity, which also opened doors ” PADI (the Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the most recognized dive training organization worldwide with over 30 million divers and counting. PADI Dive Instructors undergo rigorous training to ensure your scuba certification class is fun and safe
WHAT IS PADI CERTIFICATION?
“There’s nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater, you realize that you’ve been missing the whole point of the ocean.“
Dave Berry
S MY ATE”
reational diving which I orable diving experiences nd Cayman, which I can
ame from doing dive jobs oximately nine years prior boat handling at mployed in water a Coxwain License This I acquired lliams and having him through my journey into the the better.
TOR but also the in seafaring in
ed a new frontier
tus as a Captain of the firm belief for growth and in the process of . ”
erview impressed is Capt. Jefta to the seat of world
sy on a dive doing of the COSMO WOOD
CAPT. JEFTA USHERWOOD
“Failure is not an option there will always be hurdles and potholes, so fight the good fight ” Capt. Jefta Usherwood
C A P T . U S H E R W O O D
Philosopher, Albert Jacquard
Inthemostsimplisticofexpressions,theteamisonamissiontosatisfyitsneedsandtheCompanyisaboutmakingmoney,right? NO!EspeciallyduetothefactthatwearemindfuloftheVisionoftheFoundingFathersandprimarilythe‘Ideator’,PilotS.HermonKing. Thisisbiggerthanallofuscombined.ThisisaboutcreatingaJAMAICANMaritimeGiant.Onethatwillstandheadandshouldersabove allotherInternationalmaritimecompaniesandonethatwewillallbeproudtobeapartof Wemustthereforebeproudtoownthis Vision,tobevanguardsofthe Mission.Thisistheonlywaytoguaranteesuccessforall The onlywaytoensurethatproverbial GOOSEWILLCONTINUETOLAYTHEGOLDENEGG.
Aesop,Greekfabulistandphilosopher,wrotethestirringtaleoftheGoosethatlaidtheGoldenegg Inthetale,the farmerownedagoosethatlaidgoldeneggs Hefoundhimselfinneedofmoneyhoweverthegoosewasnot producingeggsfastenoughforhimtosellthem Consumedwithgreed,thefarmercutopenthegoosethinkinghe couldgetthemfaster.Tohissurprise,whenheopenedupthegoose,therewerenoeggsthere. Certainly!Here’samoreconciseversionoftheanalogyof“TheGooseThatLaidtheGoldenEggs”inrelationto viewingtheemployerasthegoose:
ValueCreationandDependability
In“TheGooseThatLaidtheGoldenEggs,”thegooserepresentsareliablesourceofwealth,producinggoldeneggs consistently Inabusinesscontext,employeescontributetheirskills,creativity,andcommitmenttothe organization’ssuccess RecognizingthisinherentvalueiscriticaltothePORTSIDEMANAGEMENT Itisessentialfor theleaderstounderstandthatnurturing(feeding)theirworkforceleadstoenhanceproductivity.Shortsightedness andpooremployeetreatmentonthepartoftheCompanycanalsobeseenas‘goosekilling’practicesthatweare committedtoeliminate HereatPortside,wecontinuetofindinnovativewaystocreateanenvironmentwhereboth theorganizationanditsemployeesthrive
TheDangersofGreed
Thecruciallessonofthedangersofgreedoccurswhenthefarmerdecidestokillthegoosetogetallthegolden eggs.Thisendsupunfavourableforthefarmerashelosesthegolden-eggproducinggooseandtheeggsinone greed-lacedmove.Thiskillingofthegooseislikenedtoemployeesengaginginmal-productivebehaviourswhich inthelongruncontributeoftheCompany (the‘goose’s’)death Behavioursthatdamagethebrand,minimize earning,increaseexpenditureandcutperformance outsideofthecontractualarrangementoftheexchangeof labourforremuneration, allactsofreceivingmustbeopentoreciprocity
Thisthereforemeansthatinthispeculiarrelationshipitiscriticalthatallpartiesinvolvedtreateachotherfairlyto maintainthehealthofthegoose.Thissetsthestageforsuccessandpromotethehealthofthe‘goose’ “Wearethebondsweweavewitheachother, shareholders,clients,managers,investors, employees,suppliers,andfinanciers…allcreatea uniquerelationship-basedecosystem.”
InvestmentinGrowthandDevelopment
Investmentsmustbemadeinthegrowthanddevelopmentofeachother’s ‘goose’.
Employersmustinvestin: Theworkspace
Asweintrospect,letusaskourselves,whenwasthelasttimewefedour goosetoprepareittoproducebountiesofgoldeneggsforalongtimeto come? P O R T S I D E T O W I N G L T D .
Traininganddevelopmentoftheteammembers
Employeeengagement
Emotionalhealthandwellbeing
Strongleadership
HealthandWellness
Direction
Remuneration
Employeesmustinvestin
TheCompany’sBrand
TheCompany’sreputationforexcellence performanceatwork
CosteffectivenessintheuseoftheCompany’sResources
Theflexibilityrequiredforsuccess
ThecommitmenttotheCompany
TheRippleEffectonOrganizationalSuccess
Employees,inmanycases,havenotmadetheconnectionbetweenactsthat cankillthegolden-eggproducinggoose.LetusanalysetheRippleEffect.Let’s askourselvesthepertinentquestions.
AmIfeedingthegoosethatlaysmygoldeneggsoramIstarvingit? Whataboutreportingforworklate?DoIpreparingtoleavebeforethe expectedendtimesothatIcanachieveanon-timedeparture?DoIstillexpect timeoffduringworkhours?Yet,ifaskedtoassistwithatask,withinreason, outsideofworkhours,theanswerisasternno.Yousee,here,theCompany’s timecanbereducedtosatisfypersonalreasonsbuttheemployee’stimeisoff limits hmmmTheremustbemutualrespect TheCompanymustrespectthe employeestimeinthesamewaytheemployeemustrespecttheCompany’s time.
Canwetalkaboutaskingforspecialfavoursandensuringthatthereis confidentialitybutbeingtheloudestvoiceofdescentwhentheCompanydoes notofferabenefitthatyouthinkteammembersshouldget
TheRippleEffectmustbeunderstood.PortsideTowingcontinuestoworkto ensurethatteammembersaretreatedlikeafamilyunitedtowardsthe VISION Wemustbeconstantlyremindedthatactionsthatdonotsupportourteam membersarecounterproductiveandstarvethegoose Wecontinuetowork towardsthebettermentofourmostvaluableasset,ourHumanResource. Over thepastyear,tofeedthegoose,wehaveputintoplace:
Employeere-certificationplan
InternetServices(AJAXtesting)
Imagerebranding
ModificationoftheStoresProcess
CrewRostersystemtominimizethedisturbanceofrestperiods
OPERATIONALLY SPEAKING
A NEW DIRECTION, OPERATIONALLY
In the managem assessments are a place that is q direction’ year W The amazing res team members years. Let us look at a / Success’ for crew focus Here are s
1. Training and When we have s based training le development, lea Enhanced Train focusing on safe technical skills Leadership Dev leadership roles or leadership tra
2. Safety and C Safety Culture: encouraging rep conditions. Incid meeting will be c Incidents.
Regulatory Com up-to-date with requisite licence
3. Technology I With the joining ramped up Digital Tools: W and operational
4. Health and W Mental Health S overwhelmed, ple support through c Work-Life Balan the interruptions balance.
5. Diversity and Promote diversi problem-solving.
Mr Michael Dobson
OPERATIONS MANAGER
6. Sustainability Initiatives
Look out for Environmental Training: to educate crew on sustainable practices and the importance of environmental awareness
7. Feedback and Communication
Opening Channels for Communication:
Establish regular feedback loops where crew members can voice concerns and suggestions.
Team Meetings: With the introduction of the internet, regular meetings will be held to discuss progress, challenges, and updates on Company direction.
8. Career Advancement
Clear Career Pathways: Define clear pathways for advancement within the company, including necessary qualifications and experience. This has started with the Engineers, many of whom have gotten their promotions while others are on a advanced career planning programme.
By focusing on these areas, PORTSIDE TOWING Ltd can set a new direction that enhances the experience and performance of its crew members and staff, ultimately leading to greater operational success and a positive workplace culture
