Bayou La Batre And BP Merge Vessels Of Opportunity

New leadership in the Vessels of Opportunity Program. Bayou La Batre announced Friday that it has reached an agreement with BP to be the sole contractor in Mobile County that will hire out of work boaters to help with the oil spill response. BP's "VOO" program has come under heavy criticism for not hiring local commercial fishermen.
Now with the oil company and Bayou La Batre merging their vessel programs, this will give Bayou La Batre oversight over the employment process, the drug screening, and certification.
Mayor Stan Wright says it's not fair that fishermen who were directly affected by the oil spill still have not been put to work.
"We've had doctors, we've had lawyers, we've had people from a good paying job take three months vacations. One month vacations. They go buy numerous vessels put their friends and family on these vessels into the water don't even know where they're going a lot of times. Don't do absolutely nothing but take this money from our people and children's mouths. This has got to stop," said Bayou La Batre Mayor Stan Wright.
It is not known when Bayou La Batre will take control.
mayor Wright and other county officials will finalize the details with BP next week.