OMSA welcomes offshore drill moratorium lift

OMSA welcomes offshore drill moratorium lift    The Offshore Marine Service Association applauded Tuesday's announcement by the White House to the lift the ban on deepwater drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico, but called for permits to be issued immediately so work can resume.
   “This moratorium has kept U.S. vessels at the dock, canceled orders at shipyards and killed jobs for families throughout the Gulf region. Safe domestic energy production must resume,” said interim President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Adams, in a statement.
   OMSA said the moratorium has idled more than 12,000 American jobs and has forced U.S. offshore vessels to leave the Gulf for oil exploration in other parts of the world.
   'In order to keep additional vessels from leaving and to get U.S. vessels working again, drilling permits need to be issued to promote safe exploration and development immediately,' OMSA said.