Port Fourchon, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Port Fourchon, Louisiana
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 Port Fourchon, Louisiana
Location in Louisiana
Port Fourchon, Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Lafourche |
| Elevation | 1 ft (0.3 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 985 |
Port Fourchon is a very important port in Louisiana. It is the southernmost port in the state. You can find it at the southern tip of Lafourche Parish, right on the Gulf of Mexico.
This seaport is a busy place. It handles a lot of traffic from the oil industry. This includes ships and supplies for offshore oil platforms and drilling rigs in the Gulf. It also connects to the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) pipeline. Port Fourchon is key for finding and producing oil and gas deep in the Gulf. It helps with over 90% of the deepwater oil production there. More than 600 oil platforms are close to Port Fourchon. This area provides about 16% to 18% of the oil used in the US. Port Fourchon is also part of the larger Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux area.
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History of Port Fourchon
Port Fourchon was built to be used for many different things. It has always been a main base for services that support offshore oil work. It also serves as a land base for the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP). Besides oil, the port is used for commercial and fun fishing. It also has a terminal for cargo ships from other countries. Plus, it's a spot for recreation and tourism.
Who Manages Port Fourchon?
The Greater Lafourche Port Commission is in charge of Port Fourchon. This group makes sure the port keeps growing and developing. They also manage the South Lafourche Leonard Miller, Jr. Airport. The Commission has nine members. People living in the Tenth Ward of Lafourche Parish vote for these members every six years.
The state of Louisiana created the Greater Lafourche Port Commission in 1960. This group oversees the area south of the Intracoastal Waterway in the Tenth Ward of Lafourche Parish. This includes the port and the airport. The Port Commission helps the local communities grow economically. They do this by making trade and business flow smoothly, mostly through Port Fourchon. Companies like Bristow Helicopters and Petroleum Helicopters International Inc. fly helicopters from Port Fourchon. These helicopters take people and supplies to the offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. An example is the BP Thunderhorse PDQ rig, which is about 150 miles south.
How Hurricanes Affected the Port
Port Fourchon has faced damage from hurricanes over the years. In October 2002, Hurricane Lili caused some damage. On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina did not hit Port Fourchon directly. The port only had minor damage from that storm. However, 16 years after Katrina, a very strong storm hit the port. On August 29, 2021, the center of Hurricane Ida made landfall in Port Fourchon. It was a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 150 miles per hour (240 km/h).
Geography and Location
Port Fourchon is located a short distance off Louisiana Highway 1 (LA 1). This road leads to Grand Isle, by way of Louisiana Highway 3090. It is the southernmost point in Louisiana that you can reach by car.
Why is LA 1 Important?
LA 1 is a very important road for Port Fourchon. It is considered a critical part of the country's infrastructure. This road provides a vital connection to the port. As of 2008, about $350 million was set aside to improve LA 1. This money came from state bonds and federal help. The plan was to replace a 17-mile (27-km) part of LA 1. This section of the highway is outside the levee system that protects inland towns. Because of this, the road often floods from storm surge, even from storms far away.
The plan is to build an elevated highway. This new road will be able to withstand a major storm. It will stay open even if the land around it floods. A seven-mile (11-km) part of the project is already being built. This section goes from Leeville to Port Fourchon. It also includes a taller bridge over Bayou Lafourche. This part was planned to be finished in 2011 and will be paid for by tolls. The new bridge over Bayou Lafourche opened on July 8, 2009. However, money has not yet been found for the section between Golden Meadow and Leeville.
