Jason Dunham (DDG 109) - Bath Iron Works

From the HelmJeff Geiger, President, Bath Iron WorksIended last month’s From the Helm message by encouragingall of you to join in the christening celebration for JasonDunham (DDG 109). By all measures, it was an outstandingevent. It was my first ship christening as your president,and I will never forget how proud I felt to be part of the BIWTeam that is building the ship that will honor of one ofAmerica’s contemporary heroes, his family and his fellowMarines for decades to come.In my remarks that day, I spoke about the connectionbetween shipfitter Chris Henry and DDG 109 as an exampleof the bond between those of us at BIW and the ships that webuild. Like many of our reservists, Chris was called to activeduty after 9/11 and served for over a year in the Army’s 94 thMilitary Police Unit in Al Anbar Province. He was there in2004 when Corporal Jason Dunham, serving with the FirstMarine Division in the same province, received the fatalwounds which led to his death. Although they never met,Chris described the close connection that he felt to CorporalDunham when he returned to work as a member of theshipfitting crew on DDG 109. He said that every day onthe job he was conscious that his work honored a fellowsoldier with whom he had shared the broad field of battle.I believe that all of us feel a part of that connection thatChris described. When a ship leaves Bath, we know that thosewho sail on her entrust their lives to the quality of the shipand the skill and the care with which we have built it.All of us at BIW are fortunate because we can actually seethat what we do here each day has a direct and meaningfulimpact on our country. When we see one of our ships engagedin anti-piracy operations or providing humanitarianrelief to those in need, we know that what we do makes adifference. Our work is truly important which also meanswe have to accept the responsibility that is shouldered bythose who do important things. A lot of people are countingon us to do just that.There were over 80 men and women from the crew of DDG109 at the christening who marched in to a standing ovation.Those crew members along with their families and friends aredepending on us to provide them with a strong and capableship that will enable them to carry out their responsibilities.In Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus’ remarks at the christening,he noted that DDG 109 “will build partnerships, itwill deliver aid, it will reassure friends, deter adversaries and,when it is necessary, it will fight and win.” He was followedby former Commandant of the Marine Corps, GEN MichaelHagee, USMC (Retired), who inspired all who were presentwith his remarks about the importance of naval power andcaliber of those who wear our country’s uniform. He told of atime during his career when the mere presence of a ship verysimilar to DDG 109 that was brought into a South East Asianport was sufficient to curtail significant fighting in that coun-Angel Fisette (D50).try. He then proceeded to “thank all the men and women whowork here at Bath Iron Works for what you do in building thesetremendous ships for the greatest Navy in the world.”On August 24, 2009, I released a Bulletin stating that wewould soon begin to recall many of those employees who werelaid off earlier this summer because of the timing of the transitionfrom production of DDG 51 to DDG 1000. Perhaps youhave already seen some of these individuals back in the shipyard.As our design team continues to release high quality DDG1000 design to production, we can move forward knowing thatour work load will remain relatively stable for several years.We are in this position because we have demonstrated tothose who depend on us that we are ready and willing to fulfillour responsibilities. In doing so, we help to ensure that we willhave future opportunities.I’d like to close with a word about safety. The safety statisticsshown on page 3 indicate that our overall company trend islooking good. However, until we reach the point where noone is injured on the job, the trends will not be good enough.The vast majority of our recordable and lost time injuriesthrough July continue to be event-driven. That means theinjury occurred because of some action (or inaction) in thecourse of performing work. We can help to eliminate thesekinds of injuries by ensuring proper job setup, using PPE,following established rules and regulations, understanding thepotential risks associated with any task and accepting personalresponsibility for your own safety and those around you.“TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE”2 | August 2009 | BIW NEWS

Performance July 2009RECORDABLE INJURIESCumulative Through July 20092015105012.8Environmental13.6Improvement ActualTargetNote: Safety statistics are reported as rates.Year to date (YTD) progress toward achievingour environmental performance goals underthe Maine DEP STEP UP and other environmentalprograms is displayed as follows:Equal to or better than YTD goalAbove YTD goal, improvedfrom prior yearAbove YTD goal, not improvedfrom prior yearWhile BIW employees are not prohibitedfrom moonlighting orworking at a second job, thereare many factors to consider before acceptingoutside employment, including thefollowing:• Employees may not accept a secondjob (including consulting) with aBIW competitor, supplier and/orvendor. A situation such as this createsa conflict of interest with yourwork at BIW and may negativelyimpact your ability to meet yourBIW job requirements.• Employees are prohibited from usingcompany assets/resources for personaluse, especially when related toLOST-TIME INJURIESCumulative Through July 200910Cumulative Through July 2009Solid WasteHazardous WasteEnergy CostsThe Ethics Corner—Moonlighting864204.1ImprovementTarget3.6Actualan outside business or employment.Assets include but are not limited to:telephones, electronic mail, Internetaccess, voice mail, faxes, computers,software, office equipment and/ormachinery and vehicles. Conductingnon-BIW business on company timeis likewise prohibited.• Intellectual property is also an assetand includes copyrights, patents,trade secrets, trademarks, ideas,inventions, and processes. All inventions,discoveries, ideas, and tradesecrets created by employees on thejob or produced using companyresources are owned by GeneralDynamics.BIW NEWSBIW NEWS is published monthly by theCommunications Department (D94) ofBath Iron Works and is produced internallyin the BIW Print Shop. Photos byMike Nutter unless otherwise noted.The primary objectives of BIW NEWSare to recognize the service, accomplishments,innovation and contributionsof our employees and to provide informationon matters that are of interest toour workforce.Comments and suggestions arewelcome and should be forwarded toDixie Stedman at Mail Stop 1210 orby e-mail at dixie.stedman@biw.com.Facility/ShiftInformation Call LineToll free information on facility status,work shift delays, and cancellations1-866-630-BATH(1-866-630-2284)• Further, release of any sensitive, confidential,classified, or proprietarycompany and/or customer informationis strictly prohibited.If you are considering a second job—remember it can be tricky. If you have anydoubt as to whether it is appropriate, pleaseseek guidance from your supervisor or manageror call the Ethics Office for advice.REMEMBER, WHEN IN DOUBT,ASK…BIW NEWS | August 2009 | 3

Karate KidKatie Baker of Gardiner is thedaughter of Matt and TammyBaker (D4505). She just turned11-years-old, but was still 10 in Junewhen she won a national karate championshipin her age group at her firstcompetition. She had five years oftraining before that but she’s still arelatively small person at 4-feet,8-inches, and she had to set asidecompetition jitters to prove her worth.Tammy explained that her daughtershowed an early interest in karatewhich she and her husband encouragedbecause they thought it would helpher develop self-esteem. Tammy said,“She was, and in many ways still is, ashy person, but in the world of karate,she is confident and poised. She reallylikes her instructor and has madefriends at her club, so karate hasdefinitely helped her.”Katie trains at a dojo, or karate club,in Randolph. The recent competitionwas the Isshinryu Karate WorldChampionships held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvaniawhere she placed first in Kumite, orfighting, in the 10- to 11-year-old divisionwhere both boys and girls compete. Thatdidn’t present problems for Katie as thereare few girls at her club, so she is used totraining with boys.She plans to attend another competitionin a couple of years where she will competeat a different level. In the meantime, herprimary afterschool activity is karate, whereshe goes at least four times a week.She has a younger brother who has, sofar, not shown an interest in following inhis sister’s footsteps. Perhaps that’s just aswell, as the cost of keeping Katie in the sportis noticeable. Even that is okay for Katie’sparents who feel that, “If we are luckyenough that our child wants to do somethingthat appears to be good for her onmany levels, we are happy to be able tosupport that interest.”Katie Baker and trophy after her firstcompetition.5 StarComplianceThe 5-Star Compliance Programincludes compliance training,correction, and ongoing oversightdesigned to improve our regulatorycompliance and ensure everyone’s safetyon the job.The goal for each work area, notedon the left side of the chart, is to earnand maintain certification in all fivecategories shown at the top.Status is reported by colored symbolsas explained in the legend. An area maybe in compliance (green), involved in theassessment process (yellow), preparingfor assessment (gray), or it may havefailed to maintain its certification (red).JULY 31, 2009LLTF/Hyde SouthABC PlatH 503 (DDG 108)H 504 (DDG 109)Rigging/Carpenter/South Hyde ShopsP0II/Ultra hallEBMFHardingsACE/CWBath WarehousesBlast I, II, IIIAluminum ShopAssembly BuildingPanel Line5-SkidsMachine/Intake-Uptake/Strut shopsFacilitiesElectricalMachineGuardingFallProtectionFire,Health,SafetyHousekeepingCompliantEngaged in AssessmentPreparing for AssessmentLost Star4 | August 2009 | BIW NEWS

Wellness and BenefitsYour Ticket to Better HealthIf you are looking for help in gettinghealthy and would like to be rewardedfor the positive steps you take along theway, BIW’s new Health Passport Programmay prove to be your ticket to better health—one that will take you on a journey toimproved well-being.The Health Passport Program will beofficially introduced in the early fall. Hereis a preview of how participating in the programcan help you make healthy decisionsby directing you to specific resources andhealth activities.As part of the Health Passport Program,you and your spouse will each receive anactual passport to complete various activitiesand receive different rewards along theway. As you complete these differenthealth-related activities and progressthrough the pages of your passport, thebenefits get better and you will be on yourway to improved health.The Health Passport Program is straightforward and simple to use. Here are thebasics:• Receive your health passport.The “health passport” is a bookletwhich can help you accomplishspecific health goals for which youreceive stamps that make you eligiblefor rewards. You and your spousewill each receive a passport to trackprogress toward these goals.• Complete specific health goals.Each page of the passport will askyou to complete a set of related healthactivities that you can tailor to yourown needs. For example, when youstart the program, you are asked toidentify your health factors and completea quick health risk assessment tobuild awareness of your health.• Get passport stamps for the activitiesyou successfully complete. Each timeyou complete a goal, you will receivea “passport stamp” which makes youeligible for individual and grouprewards like discounts at local stores.• Work your way through the goals.As you complete goals, you move onto the next level of goals and rewards.Goals will become more specific withbigger rewards as you progress.• Take advantage of the rewards. Somerewards will come straight from BIWwhile others will come from communitybusinesses through discounts at localvenues.Stay tuned for more information. TheHealth Passport Program will help you takehealthy steps and track your progress onyour way to a healthier you. Stop by theHealth Passport tent at Family Day onSeptember 13, 2009 to learn more.BUILDING HEALTHY WAYSRemindsYouKEEP MOVIN’ ACTIVITY CARDDEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 8Remember to return your Keep Movin’activity card by September 8, 2009 andreceive a Building Healthy Ways waterbottle and be entered into drawings forten $50-valued prizes. There are alsotwo $250 grand prizes drawings foremployees.Return your activity card to:• Main Yard, EBMF, Hardings,CW, Bisson – Benefits Help Desk,MS 2110• BIP – Gerry Pepin• CROF – Nancy Larsen, JessicaMcMillan, Linda Wood• James – Phil Coyne, Hazel Meserve,Bill SchumakerConsumer Product RecallsThe U.S. Consumer Product SafetyCommission (CPSC) has asked forthe assistance of companies throughoutthe United States to help it promote theavailability of their electronic product-recallalert system. The CPSC points out thatthousands of Americans die and millionsare injured annually while using consumerproducts in and around the home. Just asworking safely on the job is a major factorin determining that we all go home thesame way that we arrive, the safety of theconsumer products that we encounter awayfrom work can affect our ability to be atwork and to correctly and safely performthe jobs that we are assigned to do.To promote public safety, CPSC isasking people to sign up for email alertsregarding defective and recalled products.Note that you should do this using yourhome computer.The following message is from KathleenReilly, Public Affairs Specialist at CPSCwho can be contacted at kreilly@cpsc.gov.Dear Consumer:Each year, tens of thousands of Americansdie or are injured while using consumerproducts in and around the home. The U.S.Consumer Product Safety Commission, afederal regulatory agency, has a criticallyimportant mission: to keep all consumerssafe from harm from dangerous products.Each week we send Recall Alertswith news about product recalls to consumers.It is easy to join our listservand SIGN UP FOR RECALLS HERE athttps://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.You can customize your online subscriptionand receive information aboutinfant/child products, sports and recreationproducts, household productsand more. Or just sign up to receivethem all.Sign up now. It’s free, fast and couldsave your life. (from the) U.S. ConsumerProduct Safety CommissionBIW NEWS | August 2009 | 5

The United Way Corner—Born Learning TrailOur contributions throughthe Bath Iron Works UnitedWay campaign work yearroundto provide help where it isneeded. The United Way of MidCoast Maine (UWMCM) supportsboth immediate needs and preventionprograms in our area. TheBorn Learning Trail is an exampleof a program which is helping midcoastMaine children get the bestpossible start.Born Learning is an innovativeprogram conceived by United Wayin partnership with others to helpparents, caregivers and communitiescreate quality early learning opportunitiesfor young children. Locally,UWMCM learned through surveysdone by their Success By 6 programthat a third of this area’s children wereexperiencing difficulties when enteringkindergarten due to their level of readinessand preparation for learning.In response, Success By 6 partneredwith the City of Bath, Bath Trails, BathArea Family YMCA and volunteers tocreate the first Born Learning Trail inMaine. The trail project was coordinatedby Success By 6 AmeriCorps VISTAvolunteer, Carlie Geiger with help fromSteve Balboni from the City of BathCharlie Ault of Border Trust (left) and Geoff Gattis of BathSavings Institution hold the ribbon for Carlie Geiger to cut,signaling the opening of the Bath Born Learning Trail.and sponsorships from Bath SavingsInstitution and Border Trust. Carlie said,“Over the past two years, a number of BornLearning Trails have been built in otherparts of the U.S, but most are in cities.We believe that ours is one of the mostrural ones created to date and we knowthat it is the first in the state.”The Born Learning Trail weaves througha beautiful wooded area on City of Bathproperty near the Bath YMCA, providing aseries of learning activities to help parents,grandparents, and caregivers turn an outdoorexcursion into fun learning momentsand help children boost language andliteracy development.Nine signs on the Born LearningTrail suggest activities such as:“Pretend to move like an animal.Walk like a duck or jump like a frog”and “Is your child staring or pointingat something? Ask what do you see?”The trail’s theme of Watch! Stop!Learn! Play! encourages parents andcaregivers to follow the child’s lead,building the child’s curiosity and confidenceand reinforcing the learningalready underway.A small wooden bridge leads fromthe YMCA or playground parkingareas to the trail which is maintainedby the City of Bath. In addition to itsproximity to the YMCA, the trail is at thebeginning of the Whiskeag Trail systemwhich is being developed by the Bath Trailsgroup. At the trail’s dedication ceremonyon July 17, 2009, children from the BathArea YMCA’s summer program gave thetrail a resounding thumbs up!Parents interested in learning morefrom Born Learning materials or whoseek information and resources aboutearly learning are encouraged to visitwww.bornlearning.org.PerformanceIncentiveThree data points per hull are shownin the Performance Incentive chart:Cumulative Performance to Date(solid column); Future PerformanceRequired to Achieve Level 1 Goal (blue bar);and Future Performance Required toAchieve Level 2 Goal (black bar).Performance Required values changemonth to month to reflect performanceduring the period.Performance incentives are paid to alleligible employees at sailaway. Theseplanned dates are shown to the right.Payout amounts for all hulls can be foundin BIW Bulletin 09-07A, available on theBIW Intranet. Contact your supervisor formore information.AUGUST 9, 2009Cost Performance Index150.0%125.0%100.0%75.0%* *50.0% Wayne E. Meyer Jason Dunham Spruance Michael MurphyHull 503Hull 504Hull 505Hull 506SAILAWAY—Aug ’09May ’10Dec ’10Feb ’11Cumulative Performance—Lev 1 Future Perf Req’d—Lev 2 Future Perf Req’dPerformance Required value exceeds the scale of the chart.*6 | August 2009 | BIW NEWS

The Christening of Jason Dunham (DDG 109)Jason Dunham (DDG 109) is named forCorporal Jason Dunham, USMC whogave his life in Iraq to save those of hisfellow Marines and posthumously receivedthe Medal of Honor. The christening ceremonyon August 1, 2009 was marked bymany tributes to Corporal Dunham butnone were more moving than the largenumber of Marines in attendance, includingmembers of Kilo Company (shown onthe cover) who served with Cpl Dunham.The ship was christened by his mother,Debra Dunham. His father, Dan, and sisterKatelyn, also the Maid of Honor, joined thesponsor on the platform for the bottlebreak. Brothers Justin and Kyle and Jason’sgrandparents were nearby.Speakers included Secretary of the Navy,The Honorable Ray Mabus and GeneralMichael W. Hagee, USMC (Ret.), MarineCorps Commandant at the time ofCorporal Dunham’s death.Immediately following the ceremony,DDG 109 began transitioninginto the drydock which moved theship further into the Kennebec Riverwhere it was floated and returnedpierside within 24 hours.BIW NEWS | August 2009 | 7

From the FleetUSS Stockdale Says “Thanks, Carl”Carl Hein-Hansen (D38) left BIW onboard Stockdale (DDG106) in February 2009 as its first onboard rider. He stayedwith the ship until relieved by Mike Dana (D38) in June.In July, at the completion of a very successful Final Contract Trial,Carl received an Honorary Plank Owner Certificate from the ChiefEngineer, John Hamilton, on behalf of the entire ship.Hamilton said, “Speaking for the crews and command of DDG106, USS Stockdale, we wanted to express our sincere thanks for ajob well done. The crew and ship could not have made the nearlyseamless transition from Maine to California and beyond withoutthe excellent guidance, advice and support you have provided us.”Left: Chief Engineer John Hamilton with Carl Hein-Hansen. Photo courtesyof Mike Dana.Lil Joe, Big DDGMike Lewis’s (D86) first project asa boatbuilder is a winner. Hismini-tugboat was built with his6-year old son, Joseph,or J.T., in mind.He said, “I saw a picture of a boat like thison the Internet and it really struck me assomething that I wanted to do. It alsoseemed that the time was right in termsof my son’s age and interest in such a project.And I think I also saw it as practicefor when I have the space and the moneyto build a bigger boat.”With a long winter ahead of him, a sonwho likes boats and inspired by thoughts ofthe fun to be had on the water, Mike beganbuilding in October 2008. He worked weekendsin his garage on Pleasant Pond inRichmond and on July 5, 2009, he and J.T.launched Lil Joe from their yard.Their jaunty little tugboat is 11-feet stemto stern and 5-feet across. It is constructedprimarily of epoxy/fiberglass encapsulatedplywood and powered by an outboardmotor. When asked if the project revealedany hidden surprises as a lot of constructionprojects do, Mike said, “Some things didn’twork the way I expected and I had to dosome redesign along the way. I certainly hadto pay attention to the measure twice, cutonce guideline, but overall, it could havebeen a lot worse.” Mike estimates hismaterial costs at about $1,800 and hislabor—that’s probably priceless.For the present, the favorite jobof Lil Joe’s namesake is operating themotor. His dad said, “The boat isgetting a lot of time on the water.Every night when I get home, myson asks to take it out and we havetaken it all over Pleasant Pond withno problems. I initially tested itsstability by trying very hard to tip itover and it remained afloat, so weare proceeding safely and enjoyingourselves.”On a Saturday in August, Mikeand J.T. brought their boat to Bathand put it into the water at the cityboat launch in the South End. Fromthere they traveled up the river toBIW for a prearranged photo opwith DDG 109 in the background—it was a contrast thing, as you cansee here.Mike said that his son was inhigh heaven but sufficiently aware ofhis responsibilities that when BIWphotographer Mike Nutter (D10)referred to him as the First Mate,J.T. corrected him by saying, ‘No,I’m the captain.” His dad said, “Myson talked about the destroyers allthe way home. You made a littleboy’s dream come true—thanks fora wonderful Saturday.”Mike and J.T. Lewis aboard Lil Joe, above, and sizing upthe big boats, below.8 | August 2009 | BIW NEWS

BIW Hockey Redux for HabitatThe BIW Ironclad Hockey Team wasorganized in January 2009 to play anexhibition game which benefitedHabitat for Humanity 7 Rivers Maine,specifically the volunteer BIW Habitat forHumanity projects under the local Habitatwingspan.With that success, both in terms ofmoney raised and game won, the organizersof this fall’s ambitious Habitat benefitare hosting and playing the MontrealCanadiens Alumni Team at the CumberlandCounty Civic Center on Sunday, October11, 2009. “It’s a leap of faith,” explainedPaul Rossignol (D40) who along withJohn Grant (D0140), Sally Leblanc (D90)and Bill Philippon (D57) are planningthe benefit.Paul continued, “The January gameshowed that we have an appetite for thiskind of event, so we decided to go after ateam with some name recognition. Whodoesn’t know something about the greatMontreal Canadiens?” Their alumni team isdrawn from the ranks of their former playersand they travel across Canada, into theU.S. and to Europe solely to help peopleraise money for good causes. In addition,they are selective about what they lend theirname and time to. Paul added, “This eventwill help a lot of folks, including Habitatfamilies, Project Grad students and YouthHockey players, and bring joy to manymore. To be in a position to do this is aprivilege and I am happy to be a part of it.”See a related photo on the back cover.Does playing a team comprised of formerNHL super stars, Stanley Cup winnersand NHL Hall of Famers concern the BIWIronclad Hockey team? “Oh, yeah,” saidPaul Rossiginol. John McCarthy (D10),a return coach, said, “Fear is a good motivator”and fellow coach Chris Waaler (D87)said, “We are nothing if not optimistic.”Jeff Geiger had this to say to his fellowteam members at a recent practice, “Weneed to get to work.”Why would this group take on the considerableorganization and logistics of thisevent only to face off against arguably oneof the best non-professional hockey teamsin the world? They are doing it for thesame reason that the BIW house buildersshow up weekend after weekend to hammer,insulate and put a roof on a Habitathouse—Habitat is a great organization andthe families that they serve are great people.The BIW-sponsored program which drawspeople from all parts of the company havebuilt three homes to date. A fourth Habitathome is in the planning stages and a buildingsite is expected to be finalized in thevery near future.The Stacey Alvarez and Valerie Herrickfamilies from Bath who are living inBIW/Habitat-built homes will be sitting inVIP seating at the game and JonathanHerrick, Valerie’s 13-year old son, will dropthe ceremonial puck to start the game.About those Canadiens. The NHL teamis celebrating its 100th year and the AlumniTeam is celebrating along with themthroughout 2009. Their youngest player is38 and their oldest is 58—the legendaryGuy LaFleur. Combined, this group holds31 Stanley cups and 4 are National HockeyLeague Hall of Famers. Some of the playerswill present a demonstration of pro skillsduring half time entertainment in case anyonein the audience has not noticed by thattime. The confirmed players to date for theMontreal Canadiens Alumni Team areshown below.Montreal Canadiens Alumni PlayersName SCC* Hall of Fame**Serge Boisvert 1Donald AudettePatrice Brisebois 1Lucien Delbois 1Gilbert DelormeGilbert Dionne 1Normand DupontKarl DykhuisGaston Gingras 1Guy Lafleur 5 YesYvon Lambert 4Guy LaPointe, Coach 6 YesSergio MomessoLarry Robinson 6 YesRichard SevignySteve Shutt 5 Yes* Stanley Cup Champion (number indicates multiple awards)** National Hockey League Hall of FameAnd how about that BIW IroncladHockey Team that’s willing to go maskto mask, puck to puck with them? Theplayers include BIW employees from theranks of Generations X and Y and lots ofBaby Boomers. They all love playinghockey. Goalie Steve Bernier (D10) saidthat if they win, he will shave his head.Laura Mathisen (D52) also a goalie, saidthat she’s thinking of bringing a walkeronto the ice.Your purchase of tickets is a straightdonation to Habitat. Sponsors havesigned on to cover the major expensesand a large number of volunteers will beon hand to support the event and provideservices.Tickets to the 2:00 PM, October 11,2009 game may be purchased at theEmployee Store and paid for by payrolldiscount. You can also purchase ticketsthrough Ticketmaster.com where additionalfees apply. Refer to the list onthe back cover for a complete listing ofticket sources.Logon to www.ironcladhockey.orgfor periodic updates.BIW Ironclad PlayersNameDept.Rene Beliveau 10Greg Bernard 87Steve Bernier 10Ron Berube 40Josh Blackwood 87John Bureau 17Paul Rossignol 24Jeff Geiger 0110John Grant 0140Mark Haines 40Gene Lagomarsino 24Josh LePage 40Kirk Lussier 10Laura Mathisen 52John McCarthy 10Sean McLeod 40Darren Pearce 40Don Pelletier 50Bill Philippon 57Jim Snipe 95BIW NEWS | August 2009 | 9

Steve’s House on the KennebecEver wonder who has the bestview at BIW? If creating ashort list of well-situated BIWjobs, Steve House (D20)’s job as captainof the BIW tugboat Kennebecwould certainly be a contender. Hisdesk chair is a hard bench and thesquare footage inside the tug’s wheelhouseis tiny, but his outlook of theriver Kennebec and its shores inall seasons and times of day ismagnificent.Steve joined BIW in 1973 as asafety inspector and brought withhim a 100-ton master’s license fromhis time in the Coast Guard. Hebegan stewardship of the Kennebecin 1984 and has operated and maintainedit ever since. When asked whathe enjoys most about his somewhatunusual job, he paused and said, “Iguess it’s the independence. I’m partof BIW, which I like, but I’m on thewater all the time and that’s justperfect for me.”The Kennebec was built in 1954 byEquitable Equipment in New Orleansand delivered to BIW, its first andonly owner. It gets pulled out everytwo years for a maintenance overhaul.The rest of the time it is a work horse,taking divers to and from jobs, maintainingsecurity buoys in the river,taking soundings in the Kennebec,breaking up ice along the banks,assisting the larger Winslow tugswhen they are called to service at thewaterfront, and chasing BIW destroyersas they head to sea to pick up theriver pilot for the return trip to Bath.Steve often performs his jobs solo,while other times, one or more peoplejump onboard to get a lift to a worksite or to observe. For example, MarkKlopp, a Portland river pilot whobacks up Captain Earl Walker onKennebec River transits, often stopsby when river soundings are taken.The strong currents in the riverdeposit silt at a steady rate and bothBIW and the Navy require regularmonitoring to prevent impact toship movements.The footprint of the small wheelhousebelies the amount of spacebelow deck. The engine room, acces-10 | August 2009 | BIW NEWSSteve House on the tug Kennebec.sible through a trap door, has about 7 feetto stand up in and there are two tight bunksavailable if needed—on occasion the tughas tied up in Portland or Boothbayovernight rather than navigate the riverin poor conditions.In summer, the wheelhouse is cooledby a small air conditioner on the hottestdays, otherwise an open door takes careof ventilation. In winter, Steve maintainsequilibrium in his maritime office withheat from the engine below and two spaceheaters which take away the worst of thechill, offset by heat loss from windows onall sides of the wheelhouse.Some of Steve’s most memorable jobshave involved sea trials and the drama andpageantry of accompanying a BIW-builtdestroyer to sea for the first time. On acouple of occasions, a sea trial participantfell ill and the trials doctor ordered thepatient to shore for treatment. Once, thepatient was the captain of a commercialship who was struck by appendicitis beforeleaving the Gulf of Maine.Other times, the most routine jobsyield surprises and more than once,Steve has found himself in the role ofmarine salvager. In July when pullingsecurity buoys for maintenance, he andthe crew, which included Karl Blood(D68), Chris Miller (D27) and JimMcLean (D10), pulled up an anchor ofconsiderable size and weight. Initially, itlooked like a rusty survivor of a long agowreck that the river held onto, but onclose inspection, it was determined to beof late-nineteenth century vintage, morelikely abandoned or scrapped ratherthan associated with a catastrophic loss.BIW contacted both the MaineMaritime Museum and the Maine StateMuseum, which holds title on behalf ofthe state to historical artifacts foundbeneath the surface of all navigablewaters of Maine. Both advised that theanchor was interesting but not historicallysignificant, leaving it to BIW todetermine its disposition.Steve’s version of the daily grindmay not be well known to many, butthere is one up-and-comer he mightwant to be aware of. After a quick photooutboard of DDG 109 (see story on pg.8), young J.T. Lewis and his dad, Mike,continued along the BIW waterfront intheir mini-tug Lil Joe for a look at theWinslow tugs and the BIW Kennebec.Sizewise, J.T. is thinking that he mighttake on the Kennebec in a few years.A photo of the old anchor thatcame up with some security buoys.

July 2009Service AnniversariesWelcomeThe following employees joined BIW during July 2009.Please welcome them.NameDept.Dept. Name40 Years24 Decourcy, Peter Thomas40 Delano, Dana Roland40 Gilliam, Burton Albert35 Years01 Brown, Thomas A09 Lee, Timothy Parker10 Kelley, Donald Elliott19 Hartmann, Bruce Michael19 Smith, Robert Paul20 Harlow, Garry Henry20 Lane, Craig Allen30 Portela, John Pinheiro43 Closson, Richard Olin52 James, Walter Frank30 Years10 Chase, Timothy Alton19 Raymond, Paul Roger20 Walker III, Richard Dexter25 Fitch, Douglas Lawrence26 Prior, Dale Charles40 Baker, William Albert40 Colby, Mark Stephen40 Forrest, David Lee81 Douglas, Stephan Lynn90 Leblanc, Sally Ann25 Years01 Geiger, Jeffrey Scott40 Shaffer, Dennis Lee87 Bacak, Dale Jeffery87 Beauregard, Paul Andre90 Beauregard, Donna LeaDept. Name20 Years10 MacDonald Jr, Kenneth Robert17 Bois, Antoine Donald17 Lee, Patrick Alan19 Dorval, Brian Laforest19 Traugh II, Paul Orr19 Utecht, Arthur Edward20 Bosse, Marc Normand20 Mullen, Daniel George24 Hawkins, Kenneth Bradley27 Brousseau, Garry Alan57 Smart, David William86 Dobson, Mark Christophe86 Saunders, Patrick Ray87 Ebner, Peter James87 McMullen, Michael Gerard87 Pye, Gordon Frederick90 Ruhlin, Timothy Edward91 Harvey, Bruce Malhon15 Years43 Fraser, Brian Paul50 Antworth, Dana Howard87 Amirault, Neal Edward87 Garneau, Suzanne Marie10 Years02 McGlauflin, Dale Steven40 Lyndaker, Luke Arron40 Stafford III, William Chapman52 Pelletier Jr, Clarence Joseph86 Pierce, Gregory Clinton86 Warren, Jeffrey Deane5 Years40 Botting, Joshua Keith40 Harrison, Celina Sienko40 Labbe Jr, Raymond MarkJuly 2009 Dept. Name26-01 Joseph E. MillerRetirees32 Years, 2 MonthsCorporal27-00 Robert H. Nickerson41 Years, 10 MonthsPreservation Tech IIIBeaulieu, Paul Kevin* 8100Benner, Levi Michael* 5000Blake, Lester Allen* 0605Brown, Chris Allen 0600Brown, Hugh Belmont* 2700Brunelle, Douglas James* 2700Bryan, Peter Arnold* 2700Butler, John Lou* 5000Coffin, Shaun Timothy* 5000Connolly, Terry Lee* 5000Coombs, Karl David* 5000Cushman Jr, William Lee* 2700Dorr, Charles Frank* 2700Elcik, Mark Richard* 2700Goldmann, Mercedes Elena* 5000Grenier, Gerard Roland* 8100Hallowell, Jason Aaron* 5000Hart, Troy Philip* 2700Hatch, Richard Elroy* 5000Hatch, Richard Lloyd* 2700Hendrickson, Alan Howard* 5000Hickey, Peter Michael* 2700Hisler, Galen Forest* 2700Kostos, David Wayne 8600Lafond, Daniel Joseph 8600LaRue-Hanson, Tracy Theresa 2400Laverdiere, Andre George* 2700Lenfestey, Jeffrey Scott* 5000Marcotte, Patricia Ann* 2700Mathieson, Allen Lee 8400Miller, Christopher Michael* 2700Norton, David Lannes* 1500Pulk, Randall Jason* 5000Reed, Charles Franklin 8600Rhine, Eric Lauris 1000Shaw, Bruce Lee* 4300Smith, Daniel David* 8100Sonier, Robert Joseph 8600Soucy, Peter Paul* 2700Spear, James Albert* 2700Spencer Jr, William Charles* 2700Stillwell, Troy Lee* 2700Sullivan, Michael Joseph* 5000Timberlake, Travis Andrew* 8000Yelverton, James Clayton 8600* Returning Employee87-00 David J. Probert32 Years, 6 MonthsDesigner, 1st ClassBIW NEWS | August 2009 | 11

700 Washington StreetBath, ME 04530PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE PAIDBATH, MAINE04530PERMIT NO. 31More Hockey for Habitat InformationWhen the BIW Ironclad organizersof an October benefit forHabitat for Humanity (see storyon pg. 9) finalized the deal to host theMontreal Canadiens Alumni Hockey Teamin Maine for this event, Paul Rossignolwent to Montreal to confirm the arrangementsand to thank the organization fortheir participation. Shown here is Paulon the right giving Réjean Houle apicture of a BIW-built DDG. Mr. Houleis currently the President of the MontrealCanadiens Alumni Team and the formerGeneral Manager of the MontrealCanadiens, as well as 5-time StanleyCup Winner and a member of the NHLHockey Hall of Fame. The photo wastaken in the retired Canadiens’ privatelounge, a room that is not normallyopen to the public or press. “It wasquite a privilege.” said Paul.Now it’s back to the business of sellingtickets in order to accomplish the greatthings planned for Habitat this fall.Tickets can be obtained at the sourcesshown below, including the BIWEmployee Store where the payrolldeduction option is available.Réjean Houle of the Montreal Canadiens Alumni Team and Paul Rossignol.TICKET SOURCESNameLaurie Murphy, x2211Sue Garneau, x1771Hazel Meserve, x1893Brenda Merrill, x3032Nancy Campbell, x3879BIW Employee StoreMichaud’s MarketPlay It Again SportsYosaku’s RestaurantCumberland Cty Civic CtrTicketmasterLocationBIW, North StoresBIW, CROFBIW, JamesBIW, MSCBIW, MSCMain ShipyardTopshamBrunswickPortlandPortlandwww.ticketmaster.com