Some longshore workers at the Port of New Orleans believe that cargo from Central and South America is being routed to other Southeastern ports to avoid the oil spill, but port and company officials deny that's the case.
The sluggish national economy and a shift in the type of ships calling on the Port of New Orleans may be slowing down work for the longshoremen who help load and unload cargo on the wharves. [They] worry that the Gulf of Mexico oil spill is causing vessels that would normally dock in New Orleans to divert to other Gulf Coast ports. But port and shipping officials say the spill has not caused a noticeable effect in the number of ships coming to port.
The longshore workers say they filed claims with British Petroleum, the energy giant that owns the leaking rig, for reimbursement. But because port authorities have maintained that the spill isn’t affecting their business, they are ineligible for reimbursement.