Lack of data costing port millions
May 21, 2014
Albert Milton Besson Jr.
May 23, 2014
Port Fourchon’s undeniable growth spurt is continuing, with nearly full capacity in its latest slip and expansion at its airport in Galliano.
“We’re growing as fast as we possibly can,” port executive director Chett Chiasson said. “It’s been the same old story over the last couple of years.
“There’s been no slow down in demand of services,” he said, which is welcome news and proof that the marine and oil-and-gas industries are emerging strong in the wake of the post-2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion.
Less than one year after breaking ground on Slip C, Chiasson said the area is either completely leased or has a first right of refusal.
“We’re actually working with the corps on its permit – hopefully in the next few months – which will pave the way for us to begin the initial dredge process for Slip D,” he said.
In the meantime, the Greater Lafourche Port Commission continues building 3,000 linear feet of bulkhead in Slip C for Schlumberger and Ecoserve.
Bulkhead construction is also underway at a new Bollinger Shipyards facility at Port Fourchon. Chiasson estimates the Bollinger site will be fully operational within the next year.
“The oil-and-gas service, right now, is a really strong industry,” the port director said. “All of the new rigs that are being brought into the Gulf of Mexico is really what is spawning this new expansion in the port. We are poised to be able to continue to serve and keep our share between 90 and 95 percent of all the activity in the Gulf being based out of Port Fourchon.”
Because of its location – “within 30 minutes, you can go from the Gulf to the dock,” Chiasson said – and the tremendous demand for commodities, Port Fourchon has consistently expanded its operations since its start in the 1980s.
“The sheer quantity of commodities needed to service drilling operations in the Gulf are on the rise,” he explained. “Port Fourchon is the only place along the Gulf Coast that is able to meet the demand. We have 75 percent more than all the other Gulf Coast ports combined.”
Chiasson said the port commission is also expanding the airport in Galliano to keep up with demand.
Chevron is building a $30 million facility on 40 acres that, once fully operational, will see approximately 6,000 people monthly passing through. All of Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico logistical operations will be operated out of the site.
Chiasson said the Leonard J. Miller Jr. Airport has a 6,500-linear-foot runway and taxiway and capacity to up to 75,000-pound aircraft.
“We’re about to bid out an apron expansion to create more space for aircraft parking and begin the design phase for a new terminal,” he said.
The port is also working with the parish in seeking funding to create an interport cooridor, which would provide traffic connections to airport road via La. Highways 1 and 308.
