Page 46: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Q4 2015)

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REGIONAL FOCUS: U.S. GULF COAST

Louisiana and Port Fourchon

Both Look Ahead to

Better Times

Arguably the U.S. Gulf Coast’s leading generator of oil & offshore employment opportunities, Louisiana and its workforce today face real challenges. South Louisiana’s Port Fourchon ? nds itself – like everyone else – weathering the storm that low price oil has wrought.

By Susan Buchanan n the southernmost part of Louisiana, Port Fourchon is upswing that is sure to come; will be a little less bumpy.

weathering the recent drop in oil prices and waiting for The port was born when the GLPC was created by Act 222

Icrude to turn around. At the same time, port of? cials and of the Louisiana legislature in 1960. The act was signed into tenants are hardly sitting on their hands, either. The strategic law by then Governor Jimmie Davis. “But it took awhile to oil and gas hub services most of the state’s offshore rigs and is get the port up and running,” port spokeswoman Leigh Guidry a top employer in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes. Predict- said. The port’s ? rst major tenant was Martin Fuel, which ably, large layoffs have occurred at Fourchon and in nearby opened for business in 1979. It’s owned by Martin Midstream

Houma, where oil companies are clustered, since late last year. in Texas. By 1993, the port’s annual revenue from leases with

But hundreds of vessels continue to enter and exit the port tenants surpassed $2 million. Land for the Northern Expan- daily, and legions of offshore workers pass through Fourchon sion was purchased in 1999, and construction on that site be- weekly en route to their jobs. The trick now is to ? nd a way gan in 2001. And, the rest, as they say, is history.

to retain as much of that talent during down times so that the Downturn or not, Port Fourchon supplies as much as 18 per- 2015 Port Fourchon Aerial

Credit: Greater Lafourche Port Commission

I I 46 Maritime Professional 4Q 2015 34-49 Q4 MP2015.indd 46 11/18/2015 9:46:22 AM