Page 50: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Q4 2015)

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REGIONAL FOCUS: U.S. GULF COAST

Mad Dog, Na Kika and Thunder Horse platforms, along with combined, total employment in 30 other parishes in the state. ten drilling rigs. What’s more, for each new job at the port, another 5.2 jobs

Dug in for the long term in Louisiana, deepwater operators were created elsewhere in the state to support it. Scott’s study need staff on their platforms. But Scott said instead of work- calls that an “unusually high multiplier effect.” His ? rm found ing 28 days on and 14 off, employees might now spend 14 that one in every thirteen jobs in Lafourche and Terrebonne days offshore and 14 days at home. Reinforcing that reality, Parishes was directly tied to Port Fourchon’s existence. Busi- the U.S. active rig count for oil and natural gas, compiled by ness sales revenue generated by the port swelled from 2008 to

Baker Hughes, dropped to a ? ve-year low in October. 2013, the researchers found. The group’s latest study can be

From its Houston headquarters, Baker Hughes by Octo- seen at www.portfourchon.com.

ber had announced 16,000 company-wide job cuts this year, including many in Louisiana. Cuts by Texas-based Schlum- Fourchon: berger have been even larger. Meanwhile, Baker Hughes is in Critical Link for Emergencies and the Environment the process of merging with Halliburton – which is based in Underscoring the importance of Louisiana’s offshore oil

Houston and Dubai and has by itself shed thousands of work- and gas industry, the sector pays over $5 billion in royalty ers this year. Adding to the misery, mergers and acquisitions payments and fees annually to the feds, and that’s the most of typically create economies of scale that can eliminate dupli- any state. Port Fourchon, nonetheless, vies for grant money cate back of? ce functions and headcount. Many industry ana- from Washington with other ports. Last year, the $3.4 million lyst expect this marriage to do the same. Fourchon Emergency Operations Center opened, funded with nearly $1.4 million in federal port-security grants. GLPC paid

Bad Times – and Good for the rest. The center’s communications and data-sharing

With its extensive facilities, Fourchon serves 90 percent of abilities will support of? cials and companies responding to

Louisiana’s deepwater structures and 50 percent of those in oil-and-gas emergencies. Over time, it is also true that Port the Gulf of Mexico. Before oil prices sank in 2014, unem- Fourchon has endured a string of hurricanes, including An- ployment in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes was among drew, Katrina and Gustav, and has been impacted by Gulf oil the nation’s lowest, at around 3 percent, thanks mainly to the spills. And if there’s one thing that everyone agrees on, it’s offshore industry. that safety can’t take a back seat to economic conditions.

In good times, Port Fourchon plays a lead role in the state’s Using public-private funds, GLPC has worked with federal, economy. Industry at the port provided over $2.8 billion in state and local partners to implement coastal restoration proj- sales revenue in 2013 and over $650 million in Louisiana’s ects in and around Port Fourchon. New techniques were tried household earnings, according to Loren C. Scott & Associ- in some of these projects, making Port Fourchon a scienti? c ates, Inc., in a study released in 2014. “The Economic Impact proving ground. Last year, the Coalition to Restore Coastal of Port Fourchon: An Update,” sponsored by the Greater La- Louisiana recognized GLPC with a Coastal Stewardship fourche Port Commission, follows up on a 2008 analysis by award for its efforts to defend the shoreline.

Scott’s group. Hence, there is more to Louisiana – and Port Fourchon –

In the ? rm’s latest study, Louisiana jobs directly related to than just oil. The Gulf Coast state sets out to prove that reality

Port Fourchon totaled 10,804 in 2013. That was greater than every day.

Ongoing cargo operations in support of offshore oil & gas industry at Port Fourchon.

Credit: Greater Lafourche Port Commission 50 Maritime Professional 4Q 2015| | 50-63 Q4 MP2015.indd 50 11/18/2015 9:11:13 AM