After the first offshore well was drilled off the coast of Louisiana in 1947, oil companies relied strongly on local fishermen well acquainted with the nearby waters to furnish the rigs with the needed supplies. That is how the first generation of Louisiana's offshore marine fleet began. Today's fleet is a far cry from those early pioneering years. Vessels today are sleek, highly maneuverable, ultra-powerful, and equipped with the latest navigational and radio equipment.
Crew boats are fast and used primarily to transport crews and light supplies to and from the rigs.
Supply boats transport heavier and bulkier items, such as drilling water, potable water, diesel fuel, drilling mud and other chemicals, along with pipe and larger equipment. Most supply boats are 300 to 500 gross tons. Utility vessels are between crew boats and supply boats in size and are used to ferry men and equipment between rigs in a known field. They also serve as standby evacuation boats for emergencies. People quit these jobs every day, and new people are hired every day.