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This issue opens with an update from Purchasing Manager Tracy Fleming, who shares insights on improving procurement processes and aligning purchasing systems with Human & Organizational Performance (HOP) principles—making operations more efficient and user-friendly for the crews who rely on them.

Inside this Issue:

Risk Management Good Practice – Chemical Storage: A reminder on safe labeling, segregation, and handling of onboard chemicals.

SEACAT 2025 Exercise: USMMI’s participation in the multinational maritime security exercise spanning Southeast Asia, demonstrating the company’s growing role in supporting global maritime stability and operational readiness.

Lessons Learned – Alarm Fatigue: An analysis of how repetitive or confusing alarms can desensitize crews, with Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) takeaways on maintaining alertness and reinforcing situational awareness.

Wellness Corner – Immune Support for Cold & Flu Season: Tips to boost health and resilience during high-exposure months, emphasizing rest, nutrition, and hydration.

Safety Refresher – Falls Overboard: A focused review of best practices for PPE use, lifelines, and partner systems when working near the waterline.

Regulatory Round-Up – Pilot Transfer Safety: A preview of upcoming SOLAS Regulation V/23 amendments on pilot ladder performance standards, effective January 2029, and steps USMMI will take to ensure compliance.

Psychological Safety – Closed Loop Communication: Reinforcing a proven three-step communication method—Send, Repeat, Confirm—that prevents misunderstandings during critical operations.

Safety Stars: Recognizing exemplary mariners for proactive actions aboard the Shenandoah Trader, Pohang Pioneer, and Redwood Trader—each demonstrating vigilance, initiative, and strong teamwork.

August 2025 Safety Metrics: Thirty-one near misses analyzed, with top causal factors including situational awareness, electrical safety, and life-saving appliance readiness.

The monthly Behavior-Based Safety reflection—“Pause, Inspect, Protect”—encourages all crew members to slow down, verify conditions, and correct hazards before they escalate.

As USMMI continues to grow and evolve, this issue reinforces that safety is not just procedural—it’s cultural, driven by communication, accountability, and care for one another.

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In this edition, Safety Analyst Jordan D’Hereaux highlights the company’s progress in embedding Human & Organizational Performance (HOP) and Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) principles throughout daily operations. “We’re not just following procedures,” she writes, “we’re embracing a mindset of continuous improvement.”

Inside this Issue:

Risk Management Good Practice – Rigging the Gangway Brow: A refresher on securing gangways and access points safely during ship evolutions.

Lessons Learned – Green Patina Build-Up: A U.S. Coast Guard safety alert on corrosion in high-pressure water mist nozzles, emphasizing the importance of regular inspection and maintenance across all vessel systems.

Psychological Safety – The Power of Mentoring at Sea: How mentorship builds trust, enhances crew performance, and reinforces the principle that “people are the solution.”

Wellness Corner – Easing Back into Life at Home: Guidance for mariners transitioning from life at sea to life ashore, focusing on communication, patience, and mental health.

Safety Refresher – Smoking Safely at Sea: A reminder that designated smoking areas are not just policy—they’re a frontline fire-prevention measure.

Safety Stars: Recognition for exemplary crew actions aboard the Redwood Trader and Shenandoah Trader, where proactive decisions and attention to detail prevented incidents.

July 2025 Safety Metrics: Thirty-four near misses analyzed, with leading causal factors including ship evolutions, situational awareness, and maintenance of deck machinery—reinforcing the BBS message:

“Clear the Deck, Clear the Risk.”

This issue underscores a simple but powerful truth: every mariner has the ability to influence safety outcomes through awareness, mentorship, and disciplined daily habits.

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Vice President of Operations Bob Bowers opens this edition by reaffirming USMMI’s mission to be the premier U.S.-flag operator—where every vessel is a safe, secure, and respectful workplace. Safety, he emphasizes, depends on leadership engagement and every mariner’s willingness to act when something doesn’t look right.

Inside this Issue:

Risk Management Focus – Galley Hoods: Guidance on preventing galley fires through proper cleaning, inspection, and ventilation maintenance.

Regulatory Round-Up: A breakdown of the new Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) Cybersecurity Regulations, outlining USMMI’s roadmap for compliance and the development of a companywide Cybersecurity Plan (CSP).

Behavior-Based Safety (BBS): “See It, Say It, Fix It — Without Fear” – Reinforcing psychological safety and the importance of open communication so every mariner feels confident reporting hazards and stopping unsafe work.

Wellness Corner – Self-Awareness at Sea: Exploring how emotional intelligence, reflection, and feedback improve safety, teamwork, and well-being.

Fire Prevention Refresher: Practical reminders on firefighting readiness, CO₂ safety, and fire-reporting protocols.

Crew Feedback Survey 2025: An update on initiatives driven by crew suggestions—standardized PPE, expanded safety meeting participation, new training content, and enhanced mental health resources.

June 2025 Safety Metrics: Thirty near-misses analyzed, with top causal factors being situational awareness, policy and procedure compliance, and lifeboat operations.

Throughout the issue, USMMI underscores a proactive, learning-based approach to safety: pausing before action, pointing out hazards, and proceeding only when risks are controlled.

As this month’s BBS tip reminds us:

Pause – Point Out – Proceed
“Safety starts with awareness, grows with communication, and endures through teamwork.”

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This issue features:

Updated Diving Operations Policy & Checklist – introducing a risk-based, permit-to-work approach that enhances coordination, communication, and environmental awareness.

Psychological Safety Spotlight – turning mistakes into lessons through openness and reflection, reinforcing that “blame fixes nothing—learning fixes everything.”

Wellness at Sea – hydration and heat-stress prevention tips for mariners in hot climates.

Safety Refresher – best practices for securing onboard equipment and vehicles.

May Safety Metrics & Safety Stars – recognizing outstanding crew performance and analyzing key causal factors such as situational awareness, lifting operations, and procedural compliance.

As Vice President of Labor Relations David Sloane writes, “Together, we can build a safer, smarter future at sea—one step, one policy, and one voyage at a time.”

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We’ve added new resources to our NS and Safety Training Libraries and made important updates to SMS Procedures 3005 & 3005A. We're also focusing on psychological safety at sea and sharing ideas for staying active in our Wellness Corner with total body fitness routines.

Stay sharp with a refresher on heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke, see who’s been recognized in our Safety Stars, catch up on the latest company news, and review our April 2025 Safety Metrics.

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