Sustainability Tech Working Group Update

 

​Blair Pyne serves as the Senior Safety Manager for Kirby Marine, a leader in maritime transportation. He began his career at Kirby as a tankerman, loading and unloading barges, before gaining experience in barge cleaning and wastewater treatment. In 2015, driven by a passion for understanding the offshore sector, he transitioned to a safety role at Kirby Offshore Marine. Since then, Blair has risen to Senior Safety Manager, leveraging his operational expertise to strengthen Kirby’s safety culture. His leadership ensures a safer workplace and supports Kirby’s mission to thrive in the maritime industry.

 

Kirby’s strong safety culture is well known, with both Kirby owned vessels and chartered vessel crews being held to a high standard. In your experience, how does a strong safety culture impact an organization’s success? Can you share some examples of programs that work well to promote safe work?

 

A strong safety culture is the foundation of our operations at Kirby and a critical driver of organizational success. Without it, no company in this industry can thrive. Safety is the heartbeat of our business, and we must nurture it to ensure continued growth. As Theodore Roosevelt once said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” This principle – showing that we care about safety – guides our safety initiatives, particularly in preventing man-overboard incidents, a top priority across the industry. Kirby and our industry are implementing solutions ranging from simple changes, like using safer tag lines to secure gangways and hoses, to major innovations, such as fall restraint systems on barges and flush-mounted hatches. Equally important is recognizing employees who contribute to safety. Kirby hosts two annual events where our chartered fleet, third-party vendors, and internal teams are honored for exercising Stop Work Authority, a program designed to empower employees to halt operations when they identify serious risks. These events celebrate proactive efforts that prevent marine incidents.

 

By fostering a robust safety culture, investing in innovative risk prevention, and recognizing employee contributions, Kirby ensures a safer workplace and a stronger future for our industry.

 

What are some of the safety-related challenges that Kirby is working on this year? What actions can safety managers take to address these challenges?

 

The maritime industry faces universal safety challenges, such as reducing injuries and eliminating man-overboard risks.  At Kirby, these challenges are compounded by a persistent mariner shortage. In 2023, our training center graduated over 300 new deckhands, many of whom had no prior maritime experience and were unfamiliar with inherent risks. Equipping these new mariners with knowledge and tools to work safely is critical. This starts with robust policies, proper personal protective equipment (PPE), and comprehensive training both on and off the water. Looking ahead, we anticipate the industry’s workforce shortages will stabilize, but until then, safety managers must remain vigilant in preparing inexperienced new hires and continue to adhere to industry-standard safety protocols to ensure every mariner returns home safely.

 

Beyond onboard safety, driving safety is an emerging concern, particularly distracted driving due to cell phone use. Whether you conduct 100 or 25,000 crew changes annually, driving-related incident risks are rising. Safety managers must prioritize education and policies to eliminate this risk, including strict no-phone-while-driving policies.

By addressing both traditional risks and new challenges like distracted driving, safety managers can build a culture of safety that protects our workforce and supports the industry’s vital role in the economy.

 

You have been highly successful in your career! Can you share how you came to work in the industry and any advice you have for someone considering maritime transportation as a career?

 

Growing up in Maine, I had little exposure to the tug and barge industry, and it wasn’t an industry I ever considered pursuing—until it was. From a young age, I knew I wanted a career on or near the water, but I was determined not to follow in my father’s footsteps as a commercial fisherman. Throughout high school and college, I found my most rewarding jobs were those on the water. After graduating from college in South Florida, I worked at a marina and enjoyed the blue water, but I realized it was a job – and I wanted a career.

 

In December 2006, a conversation inspired me to look for that career in the maritime industry and in February 2007, I relocated to the brown waters of Galveston Bay, starting my career as a Kirby tankerman, loading and unloading cargo on barges. In 2015, I transitioned into a safety role within Kirby’s offshore division, a move that deepened my appreciation for the industry’s complexity.

 

Maritime transportation is a low-profile career path that many overlook, yet it quietly keeps the nation’s economy running, moving goods like fuel and grain along our waterways. People see tugs, barges, and marine terminals but rarely consider the rewarding careers behind them. Over my 18-year tenure at Kirby, I’ve come to see the maritime industry as vast, dynamic, and full of opportunity. My only regret? Not starting sooner.

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