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| Port Fourchon Executive Director Chett Chiasson |
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From what we have seen over the past year and all the signs pointing forward, it is abundantly clear that the Gulf of Mexico is returning full throttle to the business of exploring for, and producing, oil and gas. The activity over the past year, particularly in deep and ultra-deep water, has increased to levels that we reasonably could not have foreseen a couple of years ago.
Drilling activity is increasing steadily, with more deepwater rigs scheduled to join the fleet this year. Shipyards are on overdrive to keep up with the growing demand for the new-generation, 300-plus-ft vessels required to support these deepwater operations. The number of new deepwater and ultra-deepwater projects scheduled this year and beyond, as well as the most recent $1.2-billion Central Gulf lease sale on March 20, certainly bode well for the long-term vitality of the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.
The growing demand for deepwater equipment and support has certainly been evident in Port Fourchon over the past year. To our amazement, over half of our newly created Slip C, which represents the second phase of our ongoing Northern Expansion program, had no more been dredged before it was leased or under rights of first refusal. That, in itself, further reflects the long-term optimism being exhibited in every corner of the Gulf.
Our Northern Expansion, including Slips A, B and newly created Slip C, is a tribute to the partnership and foresight of our excellent tenant companies and the Greater Lafourche Port Commission. This expansion is proceeding ahead of schedule, as we continue to build new bulkheads and develop more waterfront property to provide for the growth needs of our current and future tenants, as they service the oil and gas industry.
All this does not mean that we are not without challenges, which the port, working alongside our stakeholders, is working diligently to address. The steadily deteriorating LA 1 highway remains at the top of the list. As a founding member of the LA 1 Coalition, we remain committed to the enduring effort to acquire the funding necessary to replace this weakest link in our infrastructure chain. LA 1's vulnerability was exposed in August 2012, when Hurricane Isaac closed the not-yet-elevated portion of the road. However, despite that, we were able to get Port Fourchon up and running again, in record time, thanks to proactive storm prep, hardening of structures, and good port and community collaboration.
We also are lending our voice to the Gulf Economic Survival Team (GEST) in its efforts to add clarity to the regulatory process. Most importantly, of course, we continue to devote a great deal of our resources and energy to providing the utmost service to our tenants, both today and tomorrow.
Port Fourchon’s role as "The Gulf’s Energy Connection” will continue to take on an ever-greater magnitude, and we are enormously proud to be doing our part to provide energy to our nation, jobs to our citizens, and strength to our community.
—Chett Chiasson 
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