BP will not use out-of-state vessels in Alabama

[heyheybooboo]

I understand the need to support the 'locals' but this reflects the difficulty for everyone in all the efforts to stay on top of the events which unfold in the disaster.

BP will not use out-of-state vessels

State representative Spencer Collier says BP has agreed to stop using out-of-state boats to help clean oil in the waters surrounding Bayou La Batre...

Many boaters in Bayou La Batre are struggling too and yet city officials say most boaters employed by BP are from out of state...

The idea is to keep money in the local area. But one boater said off camera that Alabama doesn't have the manpower or all the proper boats to adequately help in the cleanup efforts. But the mess is still out there and someone has to clean it up.

Instead of out-of-state boats, BP will use Alabama registered boats with an emphasis on commercial fishing and charter vessels.

The locals have the knowledge and expertise of their own waters (and I am not showing any empathy toward BP here), but one has to wonder how we can ever "make this right" in the short-term with all the on-going wackiness.




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[nick1985]

Just clean up the fucking mess, who gives a shit where the boats come from. They could be sent from another galaxy and crewed by an alien life form for all I care.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Now this will add legitimacy to all the gripes against Obama not using foreign aid.

 

[Lanyap]

He was catching heat from his local constituency. They need to work together. I would expect Collier to back off and work with them.

 

[LTC8K6]

Everyone seems to only think of themselves instead of just cleaning up the mess.

 

[her209]

Jones Act! Jones Act! Jones Act!

 

[Lanyap]

Everyone seems to only think of themselves instead of just cleaning up the mess.

That can be hard for an individual. When your livelyhood depends on fishing and you can't fish anymore to feed your family and pay your bills and your alternative is making your money by cleaning up the oil spill mess then yes, you start thinking about outside companies coming in taking your work away thinking they are taking food out of your family's mouth. It changes the way you view things like this. In other words, it's a normal human response.

 

[Lemon law]

Given how many in Alabama have lost their jobs due to the BP oil spill, its understandable that Alabama might take that position and extract that pledge from BP to use only Alabama workers to clean up Alabama coast lines.

But now that there is that 20 billion dollar fund not administered by BP, such agreements may no longer apply.

 

[MovingTarget]

As long as the local boats have the proper equipment, I see no problem with this. If there were a shortage of manpower or ships (which isn't the case in Bayou La Batre), or a shortage of booming equpment (which is probably the case), then I could see using non-state registered ships/crews.

I for one am glad they will get a shot to work cleaning up BP's mess...not only because the need/deserve the chance to, but because they are my friends and neighbors. The Bayou (as the locals call it) was facing enough hardship before the spill occurred, as expressed in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRFux5fTSgA

 

[Kirby]

As long as the local boats have the proper equipment, I see no problem with this. If there were a shortage of manpower or ships (which isn't the case in Bayou La Batre), or a shortage of booming equpment (which is probably the case), then I could see using non-state registered ships/crews.

I for one am glad they will get a shot to work cleaning up BP's mess...not only because the need/deserve the chance to, but because they are my friends and neighbors. The Bayou (as the locals call it) was facing enough hardship before the spill occurred, as expressed in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRFux5fTSgA

Bayou La Batre has (had ) some of the best seafood in the state.