BP’s Vessels of Opportunity Program is seeking additional vessels and will hold an induction and training meeting Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for boat owners not already registered in the program.
The training session will be in the Fine Arts Auditorium of the Jefferson Davis campus of Gulf Coast Community College, at the north end of DeBuys Road.
Interested individuals must register before attending the session by calling 1-866-279-7983.
To qualify, each applicant must meet the following criteria:
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Vessel 50 feet in length or larger
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Commercial Vessels ONLY
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Steel Hull Shrimper-style Vessel with Outriggers, Doors and Nets
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Endurance for up to 7 days offshore
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Willing to work 20-plus miles offshore
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Registered in Alabama, Mississippi, or Florida
Participants in the program will assist in the Deepwater Horizon response by manning boats in a variety of activities, including transporting supplies, assisting with wildlife rescue, as well as towing and deploying absorbent booms. The training covers such areas as oil spill response safety, boom towing and handling, and vessel coordination. Eligible vessels will be compensated for their assistance.
Individuals who are already registered in the Vessel of Opportunity program and contracted with BP should not attend. This meeting is for new applicants only. There is room for only 120 attendees at each training session, and a vessel’s entire crew must be trained. Anyone who has not called and registered will not be allowed to attend.
Additional training sessions in other states:
— Mobile, Ala: Holiday Inn Mobile I-10 West, (Exit Tillman’s Corner, 15B from I-10), 5465 Highway 90 West (Government Boulevard), Saturday 1-7 p.m.
— Pensacola, Fla.: Hilton Pensacola Beach, 12 Via De Luna Drive, Sunday, 1-7 p.m.
