Each year, when the US Army Corps of Engineers closes the navigation locks on the Columbia-Snake River System for annual inspection, preventative maintenance and repairs; Tidewater Terminal Company uses the several weeks long closure as an opportunity to expand on their internal training program. As a member of the Clean Rivers Cooperative, Tidewater participates in regular Member Training offerings, and also utilizes the Cooperative to curate specialized training for Tidewater during the lock closure. Of the Clean Rivers Quarterly Member Trainings, the Annual Boom Rodeo has the most participation. Members enjoy and look forward to the friendly competition mingled with an instructional environment. Because the Boom Rodeo is held in Portland, Oregon each year, Tidewater crew from the Middle Columbia and Snake Rivers Terminals have not been able to participate. During this year’s lock closure training Tidewater held their own Boom Rodeo.
Along with response Contractor Republic Services, Clean Rivers Cooperative Operations Manager Carl Boelter worked with Tidewater Environmental Manager Reuben Greer to plan the special Boom Rodeo that took place on March 13 & 20, 2024 on the Snake River in Pasco, Washington. Much like the All-Member Boom Rodeo, Tidewaters version included 5 stations of competitive learning. The 3 on-water stations included an obstacle course where vessel operators must navigate between buoys, corralling that utilized a vessel and containment boom to coral enclose boom around a buoy, and a collection strategy. Shore-side activities involved a timed set up of a Fast Tank and a knot tying competition. Each day of the competition 5 teams of 3-4 crew from Tidewater participated.
Ruben Greer Tidewater Environmental Manager said “[Tidewater Crew] conduct up to 7 deployments every year and have been doing boom deployment trainings for years. This year we wanted to add something to spice up the training to help them be more invested, show off their skills, and learn some new skills. We needed some ideas to make the training more interesting for our staff and Carl came up with a great plan. The Boom Rodeo was very well received, and staff are already talking about next year.”
Tidewater management is planning to conduct this structure of training again during the 2025 lock closure. Greer says that they will plan to mix up the activities next year by testing a deployment strategy, conducting a shore anchoring test and setting up and priming Tidewaters collapsable tank and pump system.
The top prize for the winners of the Clean Rivers All-Member Boom Rodeo are the belt buckles for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place. Tidewater went all out and created their own winner’s belt (maybe a little more wrestle mania than rodeo) complete with the Tidewater smiley face.
