By Treven Pyles on January 21st, 2026 in Jones Act
Louisiana's port system handles approximately 20% of U.S. waterborne commerce, moving over 500 million tons of cargo annually. Port Fourchon alone supports the majority of deepwater offshore oil production, with roughly 400 supply vessels transiting daily and approximately 15,000 workers departing monthly for offshore assignments.
Offshore rotations begin at facilities in Port Fourchon, Grand Isle, Cameron Parish, and Lake Charles, with workers spending extended periods aboard vessels where AFFF handling occurs during routine safety operations and emergency procedures.
Since the 1960s, aqueous film-forming foam has been the standard for fighting liquid fuel fires on ships, offshore platforms, and other maritime vessels. The per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances found in AFFF are a collection of thousands of synthetic chemicals known for lasting indefinitely in the environment and accumulating in living things. PFAS like PFOS and PFOA now contaminate drinking water, farm soil, wildlife, and human blood around the world. These molecules are so stable that natural breakdown processes can't handle them effectively.
Vessels carry AFFF as part of safety systems to fight fuel and oil fires. Crew members involved in maintenance, testing, or activation of AFFF systems are repeatedly exposed through skin contact, breathing foam aerosols, or contact with residual foam. The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, located approximately 18 miles offshore and handling about 13 percent of the U.S. imported oil supply, requires tugboats, support boats, and barges that carry AFFF systems as part of their firefighting equipment.
Research indicates that workers dealing with AFFF and other PFAS sources carry higher concentrations in their blood compared to most people. Occupational exposures include handling the foam directly, inhaling it when airborne, absorption through skin, and residue on work gear. Maritime crews who frequently encounter AFFF kept aboard vessels or utilized in drills show elevated levels from sustained workplace contact.
Because PFAS accumulate in blood and tissues over time, cumulative occupational exposure increases the risk of chronic health outcomes compared with intermittent environmental contact. Port of Lake Charles moved more than 64 million short tons of cargo in recent years, supporting more than 300,000 U.S. jobs through the Calcasieu Ship Channel. Supply vessels departing from Lake Charles carry firefighting foam systems that expose crew members during the weeks they spend aboard vessels transiting to offshore fields.
The Environmental Protection Agency states that PFAS exposure may lead to serious health effects such as adverse reproductive outcomes and certain cancers. The Centers for Disease Control and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health acknowledge that some worker groups, including those using firefighting foams containing PFAS, face higher exposures than the general public, which raises their health risk.
Studies show PFAS is associated with elevated rates of kidney, testicular, and prostate cancers, along with other cancers in heavily exposed populations. PFAS might compromise immune responses and affect how vaccines work. These substances can interfere with hormone balance, potentially causing problems with reproduction or development. Although published research has largely focused on firefighters due to their recognized exposure levels, offshore vessel crews encounter identical hazards when handling AFFF during firefighting operations, equipment work, training exercises, or emergency situations.
Maritime workers diagnosed with cancer linked to AFFF exposure aboard vessels may qualify for compensation under the Jones Act. To potentially qualify, you must have been diagnosed within the past three years. PFAS-related cancers that qualify for compensation include:
Workers must demonstrate they spent at least 30 percent of their work time aboard vessels in navigation performing duties that support the vessel's mission. Louisiana mariners who operate supply boats between Port Fourchon and offshore platforms, serve on tugboats transiting between LOOP and coastal facilities, or work as crew members maintaining vessel systems during extended rotations typically meet this threshold. Port Fourchon's role in staging 400 daily supply vessel movements creates the employment environment where these qualifying conditions exist.
If you developed cancer after AFFF exposure aboard vessels servicing Louisiana offshore platforms, you may be entitled to compensation under the Jones Act. The Environmental Litigation Group has represented toxic exposure victims for over 35 years. Contact us today for more information about filing a Jones Act claim.