Florida Attorneys Give Legal Guidance to Vessels of Opportunity Volunteers After the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

Volunteers who aided in the cleanup have been denied assistance

At the height of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill crisis, British Petroleum agreed to pay boat owners who could not fish or otherwise use large portions of the Gulf. The program was referred to as Vessels of Opportunity (VOO). Boat owners needed to be on call to scout for oil slicks and assist in the cleanup of crude oil from water in the Gulf of Mexico. Thousands of boat owners bravely volunteered, enduring long hours and dangerous conditions without proper safety warnings or equipment.

Many boat owners have found that the payments, reimbursements and cleaning fees that they were promised never materialized. Others developed significant health conditions following the recovery effort. The Downs Law Group represents those captains and crew members who courageously worked to restore the Gulf of Mexico. If you worked on a Vessel of Opportunity during the oil spill crisis, one of our lawyers can advise you about your rights.

Vessels of Opportunity volunteers were promised compensation

Those boat captains and crew members who worked for BP during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill crisis were made a number of promises by the company:

• Compensation — Owners were promised $1,000 per day. Some crews were promised $200 per day on the water for each person and that they would be paid for time spent on standby. Crews were required to be on standby for 24 hours per day at times.
• Repair costs — Crews worked at peak speed to resolve the crisis, and wear on the vessels could be considerable.
• Decontaminating boats — Vessels were required to sail through oil slicks and were at risk for exposure to highly toxic dispersants. BP promised to provide decontamination in a timely manner.

Captains and crew members who have found that BP’s performance did not meet its promises have a right to pursue a legal claim. Our attorneys can provide information about the details of filing a claim for reimbursement and help simplify the process for you.

Boat crews have suffered terrible health problems

Crews on VOO boats were directly exposed to high levels of crude oil and chemicals without proper safety precautions. Many VOO crews and other crew members of fishing vessels have developed horrific medical conditions since the crisis that are consistent with chemical poisoning. These require considerable medical benefits to heal. Conditions include:

Heat stress Rash and lesions Headaches and migraines Nausea, stomach cramps and gastrointestinal problems Vision and eye problems

Head and neurological conditions Sinus problems Chest tightness, difficulty breathing and respiratory problems Psychological and mental health problems Coughing and wheezing

If you have been a volunteer for the Vessels of Opportunity program and have suffered from chronic health defects, our firm can advise you about seeking payment from the BP compensation fund.

Contact us for a free initial consultation about your BP oil spill-related case

Many of those people who bravely volunteered for the Vessels of Opportunity program have found themselves faced with no compensation and mounting health problems. The Downs Law Group works on behalf of Gulf Coast boat operators and residents who have been harmed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Contact us at 305-444-8226 or online for a free initial consultation about your case.