Maritime News

The Obama administration sparked an uproar among both parties when it was announced that the President had approved new exploration for oil and gas off the coasts of Virginia, other parts of the mid-and south Atlantic, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and parts of Alaska.

 
It is almost certain that increased exploration and the opening of more of the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas drilling will mean more offshore jobs for seamen in Louisiana. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar came to New Orleans to announce an expedited lease sale of 18 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico. The sale will take place on August 18.  He expects this sale will result in 2,000 jobs a year for 40 years, with up to 4,000 jobs during peak production periods.

 
The new leases are located from 9 miles to about 250 miles offshore in water depths ranging from 16 feet to over two miles. It is estimated that the new leases could result in 423 million barrels of oil and 2.64 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

 
More offshore jobs may also mean more maritime accidents. As demand for workers increases, it is important that workers receive all the appropriate safety training. Offshore oil workers have dangerous jobs and must be able to deal with a variety of hazardous conditions to avoid maritime accidents, serious injury, and loss of life.

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