Prepared Remarks of

John Jamian

Acting Maritime Administrator

Ship Safety Trophy Award Presentation

Beaumont, TX

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

8:30 a.m.

Good morning.

I am very pleased to be here to recognize and commend the entire Beaumont Reserve Fleet team for their collective efforts in response to Hurricane Rita and Katrina.

Many of you returned to the Fleet because you wanted to help.

Many of your homes sustained damage during the storm but all of you answered the call of duty.

I hope and wish that your personal lives are returning to some order.

Today, it is my honor to present the Maritime Administrator’s Safety Trophy to the Beaumont Reserve Fleet crew for having the best safety record for 2004.

As all of you know, the National Defense Reserve Fleets from all major regions of the U.S. compete for this trophy, which is awarded in recognition of the proactive, safety-oriented attitudes and safety-conscious efforts of the employees and managers of the winning fleet.  Thanks to your work, the Beaumont Reserve Fleet is reaping the benefits of a safer and healthier workplace, not to mention being the recipient of this award.

The Beaumont Reserve Fleet facilities have always been very conscientious about their safety responsibilities.  Recently, however, they rose above the ordinary and accomplished the extraordinary by implementing a comprehensive approach to improving safety of their fleet. The Beaumont Reserve Fleet has reached a new, higher level in safety standards governing ships’ operations. 

You have minimized the hazards associated with working on and around seagoing vessels by strictly following OSHA guidelines and U.S. Coast Guard marine inspection regulations. You insisted that each fleet augment its Operations Procedures with a Safety Management Plan and an Emergency Response Plan. As a result, you achieved the lowest lost time rate and injury rate during the fiscal year. That is why, today, we applaud and recognize your efforts.

The employees have much to be proud of.  On behalf of President Bush, Secretary of Transportation Norm Mineta, and the entire Maritime Administration—let me extend my heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Fleet Superintendent John Hickey and all the employees of the fleet for their outstanding efforts.

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Presentation of the Safety Award Trophy to Capt Hickey by Mr. Jamian

Presentation of Plaques to six BRF employees for their outstanding efforts in response to RITA/KATRINA.  Citations during presentation of plaques:

Mr. Mike Stasinos – Mike was in Bald Knob, Arkansas, when he was called up. A tornado touched down five miles from where Mike was staying. Carthage, Texas was the last place that gasoline was available. After that, there was no electricity to pump gasoline, if it was available. Mike made his way back to Beaumont with his family where he spent the night in the back of his pickup because of the damage sustained to his home. When Mike arrived at the fleet, he worked continuously to get the facility in order.

Mr. Roger Knod – Roger was in DeQueen Arkansas. As he made his way to report for duty, Roger was nearly arrested by a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper; however, the MARAD HQ OPS CENTER was able to assist Roger with getting through the road block. Roger worked diligently to assist with standing up the facility operations center.

Mr. Charles Sandoz – Charles was in Zavalla, Texas. Charles struggled to return to the fleet and when he got there, he worked for the next few days in the heat securing barges, boarding ships, scrounging material and needed equipment. Charles finally took some time to return to his home to retrieve food and water and found that someone had broken into his home yet Charles had the resolve to return to the fleet to continue working with his co-workers to re-establish the fleet operation.

Ms. Madeline Bailey – Madeline rode out the storm at her home in Bridge City, Texas, and was one of the first to return to the Fleet. She assisted with assessing damage in the Fleet, assembled the crew, took up administrative responsibilities–answering phone calls and coordinating with Central Region and Headquarters personnel who were working diligently to acquire funding, and other support functions critical to standing up the operation.

Mr. Scott Harper – Scott was in Village Mills, Texas near Warren. Scott went to extraordinary lengths to return to the fleet immediately following the hurricane. Scott worked diligently to assist with retrieving lash barges while his wife Kelly assisted the Safety Officer with answering the phone and developing a newsletter for the employees covering ongoing community recovery information. Kelly was six months pregnant at the time and we are pleased to announce Scott and Kelly had a healthy baby boy, Jarrick Harper. This was truly a husband and wife team contributing to the needs of the Beaumont Reserve Fleet in a time of crisis.

Lawrence Wolfford – ‘Bubba’ was in Warren, Texas, when he snapped into action to return to the fleet he loves so much. He assessed the damage in the fleet, assembled the crew, and answered many phones calls from MARAD officials, Corps of Engineers, and Moran Towing Company. Bubba spent the next few days in constant motion working to retrieve lash barges from the waterway, coordinating with Central Region and Headquarters representatives who were on site working diligently to acquire funding, and establishing lines of communication. Bubba’s wife Kathy helped with phone calls, and maintaining administrative order. The Wolfford husband and wife team placed the Beaumont Reserve Fleet ahead of personal property losses. Once again this was truly a husband and wife team with only the Beaumont Reserve Fleet in mind.

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