A small fire broke out on a flotel on Baptiste Collette Bayou in Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana.  The fire broke out in the mess of the flotel, and at least five workers suffered minor injuries.  Most of the injuries were related to smoke inhalation.  It’s not clear yet whether the workers who were injured, were employees of BP, or the contractors in the oil cleanup efforts.

Meanwhile, fishermen who had been brought in to help with cleanup efforts have been protesting their move into the flotels.  According to them, when they signed up for the job, the agreement clearly mentioned that they would be put up in motels.  However, BP has now been moving them into these cramped quarters.  These hotels can house up to 500 workers, and obviously, living conditions are cramped.  Each compartment can house up to 12 workers.  There’s only one bathroom for every four compartments.  There is little provision for recreation or entertainment.  Most of the men gather around a single TV.  One of the men puts it very well when he says that the entire experience is like being in prison.

Some of these fishermen have decided to strike to protest their new accommodations.  According to the agreement, the fishermen were supposed to work for 12-hour shifts.  However, when you are on a flotel, you’re there for 24 hours. The fishermen say that BP has not offered them any extra money to move to these flotels either.  In fact, many of the men have not been paid for their cleanup duties at all.

Maritime lawyer Brian Beckcom is a Board-Certified Trial Lawyer whose primary focus is the representation of Jones Act seamen, including tankermen,  galley hands, deckhands, cruise line crews, fishing vessel crew members, offshore workers and other maritime workers in accidents in Texas, across the country and international waters.

Image Courtesy: Flickr: Marinephotobank