Page 34: of Marine News Magazine (March 2019)

33 35

TOWING COMPANY PROFILE “Heidi and Isabella are shrewd and intelligent women with strong business sense … I believe in them and have put my reputation on the line for them. I want this to work. I’m in it to win it.” – John Tomlinson, operations director at P&L Towing ming over the side,” said Isabella. “But we won’t quit, no route mainly due to the fact that cost of hiring a TPO matter what,” said Heidi, in sync with her partner’s thoughts. wasn’t an expense we wanted to incur due to the size of our

In truth, both women were instrumental to Payne’s suc- feet,” said Tomlinson, adding “We also feel confdent that cessful career. Isabella helped him study for his captain’s we can handle the inspection process internally. license, encouraging a young deckhand’s dreams after their frst date on a tugboat. As Payne’s second wife, Heidi in-

Looking Ahead vested capital, helping him establish P&L. Individually te- “We’re here to stay and are not giving up,” said Heidi. nacious and collectively relentless, Heidi and Isabella have “It’s a challenge, breaking through in this industry, if you’re keen legal minds complemented by strong work ethic. not in the boys’ club. It’s who you know. It helped that

Heidi is a former criminal defense attorney with Miami- everyone knew Beau.”

Dade County Public Defender’s Offce.

Is it possible for a couple of middle-aged women in steel-

After taking over P&L, Isabella left her longtime career toed construction boots and helmets to fall off the banana as a paralegal with challenging appellate work for the Flor- boat and make it in a commercial marine network domi- ida Attorney General.

nated by old-salts? “We’ve learned to stay one step ahead

The fact that Isabella is so organized and unafraid of with the paperwork,” said Cathy. “Others want us to fail.” paper bodes well for P&L. In terms of Subchapter M com- “We have what it takes; give us a chance to do it,” said pliance, she insists that she won’t be intimidated by what’s Heidi. “The fact that we’re women in this industry makes become the bane of existence for many towboat operators, us fght even harder to prove ourselves.” but admits initial anxiety pangs. The daunting Subchapter

P&L intends to add another towboat to its feet of four

M process actually provided a benefcial crash course in tug stationed in New York, South Carolina and Florida. The 101 for the ladies.

ladies and Tomlinson have ambitious plans to obtain fed- “When I saw that boat taken out of the water and all the eral contracts. We have a lot of dredge assist jobs,” said parts on it, I was taken aback,” said Isabella. “Subchapter Isabella. “We did a big job for Great Lakes and pulled in

M is all about safety and P&L will have the safest, clean-

Cashman and Weeks. We’ve learned how to bid jobs.” est and prettiest boats. Sub M gives us the opportunity to

And what might Capt. Beau Payne say from his perch train with our crews. The challenge is keeping the boats above, seeing his feuding exes running his company, side running while complying.” by side?

“It is very expensive,” said Heidi. “Just having the fre “He’d be shocked,” said Heidi. “What he couldn’t alarms and extinguishers inspected and certifed was over achieve in his life was achieved in his death. We motivate $7,000 for two boats.” each other. I love this woman. We refuse to sink.”

The Rikki will be P&L’s frst vessel to comply with her

COI sometime prior to July, which is the offcial deadline

Lisa Overing is an award-winning marine journal- for a quarter of our feet to be certifed” said Isabella. “But ist and copywriter. Lisa served on the board of direc- we’re determined to conquer Subchapter M and are on tar- tors of Boating Writers Int’l from 2007 - 2012. She get, so far. We want to be fawless when we get in front of is published in nine languages for some the world’s the Coast Guard.” leading yachting titles. Additionally, she is creative director for

P & L contracted their Sub M audit services to Brian

Megayacht Media, an advertising agency for marine businesses.

Downey (USCG Ret.) of Marine Compliance Solutions.

Email: [email protected] “Based on his advice, we decided to go with the USCG

March 2019

MN 34