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Rise of the Cajun Mariners: The Race for Big Oil
The story of four families of Cajun boatmen and their rise from trappers and shrimpers to mega-millionaires.
Rise of the Cajun Mariners documents an untold piece of American history—the beginnings of what is now the global, multibillion-dollar marine oil and gas industry. In addition, it gives an insightful insider account of one of America’s only truly distinctive cultures—the Cajuns.
The book tells the story through the Cajun boatmen who drive the boats that supply and move the men who work the offshore platforms. The book follows four of these French-speaking trailblazers as they scrape to buy and build their first boats and struggle toward success. Their success stories will appeal to any believer in the American dream. But it is also a candid account of a wild time in a rough, vital business.
Most of the characters are as flawed as they are dynamic. While they are master seamen, they lead a lifestyle that, for many of them, is as much about drinking and whoring as it is about seamanship and deal-making. The seedy side of their business adds complexity to their story and makes the tale especially human.
Rise of the Cajun Mariners is a fast-paced tale about the rapid evolution of a worldwide industry, the modernization of a culture, and the deliverance of four fascinating families.
Rise of the Cajun Mariners documents an untold piece of American history—the beginnings of what is now the global, multibillion-dollar marine oil and gas industry. In addition, it gives an insightful insider account of one of America’s only truly distinctive cultures—the Cajuns.
The book tells the story through the Cajun boatmen who drive the boats that supply and move the men who work the offshore platforms. The book follows four of these French-speaking trailblazers as they scrape to buy and build their first boats and struggle toward success. Their success stories will appeal to any believer in the American dream. But it is also a candid account of a wild time in a rough, vital business.
Most of the characters are as flawed as they are dynamic. While they are master seamen, they lead a lifestyle that, for many of them, is as much about drinking and whoring as it is about seamanship and deal-making. The seedy side of their business adds complexity to their story and makes the tale especially human.
Rise of the Cajun Mariners is a fast-paced tale about the rapid evolution of a worldwide industry, the modernization of a culture, and the deliverance of four fascinating families.
- GenresMaritime
384 pages, Hardcover
First published December 31, 2007
29 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Woody Falgoux
5 books2 followersWoody Falgoux grew up in Louisianas bayou country. Some of his earliest memories are of watching workboats glide down Bayou Lafourche. Their tall cabs and regal, graceful motion reminded him of chariots. Their personalized names spoke of an intriguing history. He would pass by the boat owners mansions and hear bits of their improbable stories. Even as a kid, he was always curious about how they achieved their success.
His boyhood curiosity only increased as the years passed. While fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, he would watch these massive boats plow through the waves. Working one summer at a Grand Isle shrimp shed, hed stare in awe at the workboats, larger than clouds, coasting down Bayou Rigaud.
After graduating from high school in 1988, he entered the University of Missouri School of Journalism and worked in Columbia, Missouri as a reporter, videographer and anchor for KOMU-TV, an NBC affiliate, and as a radio producer, reporter and anchor for KBIA-FM, an NPR affiliate. After graduation from Journalism School in December 1991, he returned home to the bayou and covered the outdoors as a freelance writer for Louisiana Sportsman, Louisiana Game & Fish and the Houma Daily Courier.
After graduating from LSU Law School in 1995, he became in-house counsel at Bollinger Shipyards before joining a maritime firm in New Orleans. During most of his two years there he took statements and depositions from oilfield rig hands and workboat captains. He also inspected jack-up rigs, tugs, barges and other vessels.
Woody then began a solo practice in suburban Metairie and in 1999, moved his practice back home to Thibodaux.
In 2000, he wrote his first book, One Dream: The NFL (Sleeping Bear Press, 2001), a narrative nonfiction of 10 long shots attempt to make the New Orleans Saints. After One Dreams release, the author made numerous media appearances and speaking engagements (as listed at www.woodyfalgoux.com). One Dream attracted positive reviews appearing in newspapers from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to the Seattle Times. The author has appeared nationally on ESPN radio and on regional radio from Florida to Iowa to Texas.
He now lives 100 yards from the banks of Bayou Lafourche with his wife Susie and young daughters Gracie and Celeste.
"
His boyhood curiosity only increased as the years passed. While fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, he would watch these massive boats plow through the waves. Working one summer at a Grand Isle shrimp shed, hed stare in awe at the workboats, larger than clouds, coasting down Bayou Rigaud.
After graduating from high school in 1988, he entered the University of Missouri School of Journalism and worked in Columbia, Missouri as a reporter, videographer and anchor for KOMU-TV, an NBC affiliate, and as a radio producer, reporter and anchor for KBIA-FM, an NPR affiliate. After graduation from Journalism School in December 1991, he returned home to the bayou and covered the outdoors as a freelance writer for Louisiana Sportsman, Louisiana Game & Fish and the Houma Daily Courier.
After graduating from LSU Law School in 1995, he became in-house counsel at Bollinger Shipyards before joining a maritime firm in New Orleans. During most of his two years there he took statements and depositions from oilfield rig hands and workboat captains. He also inspected jack-up rigs, tugs, barges and other vessels.
Woody then began a solo practice in suburban Metairie and in 1999, moved his practice back home to Thibodaux.
In 2000, he wrote his first book, One Dream: The NFL (Sleeping Bear Press, 2001), a narrative nonfiction of 10 long shots attempt to make the New Orleans Saints. After One Dreams release, the author made numerous media appearances and speaking engagements (as listed at www.woodyfalgoux.com). One Dream attracted positive reviews appearing in newspapers from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to the Seattle Times. The author has appeared nationally on ESPN radio and on regional radio from Florida to Iowa to Texas.
He now lives 100 yards from the banks of Bayou Lafourche with his wife Susie and young daughters Gracie and Celeste.
"
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 24, 2020
Tells of the seedy underbelly of the early and mid race for big oil in south Louisiana and around the world.
This story was particularly special to me because of the part my grandfather Tommie Vizier played in exporting Cajun improvisational entrepreneurship to the North Sea and ultimately the rest of the world.
This story was particularly special to me because of the part my grandfather Tommie Vizier played in exporting Cajun improvisational entrepreneurship to the North Sea and ultimately the rest of the world.
November 7, 2020
I worked on offshore supply vessels for years. This book helped explain how a few shrimp boat captains became tycoons of mud boats and jackups. I highly recommend this book to anybody interested in the industry or anybody that wants to hear a few good stories of wealth and struggle in 20th century south Louisiana.
April 29, 2019
Amazing stories told in this book.
November 4, 2021
Part of the oil field I never really thought about, enjoyable read.
November 12, 2022
I liked how this was framed through family stories - kept my interest.
April 8, 2021
A very interesting book for anyone interested in the history of Louisiana’s part in America’s oil industry. I can’t speak for all of the families included in this story, but several small details concerning the Cheramie family are incorrect. Small things like the fact that my father and grandfather (Minor J. Cheramie and Minor A. Cheramie, Jr.) both shared the same blue colored eyes.
March 1, 2013
Great book for any South Louisiana local to enjoy.
July 27, 2013
Interesting read on how the Gulf oil business came about.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews