Judge to hear suit against deepwater drilling moratorium on June 21

Date set for suit against drilling moratorium

NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge has set a hearing for June 21 on a lawsuit aimed at nullifying the six-month ban on deepwater petroleum drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

The suit, which names the federal government as defendant, was filed earlier this week by Hornbeck Offshore Services Inc., a Louisiana oil service company that says it expects big losses from the moratorium.

Hornbeck’s suit claims the government illegally ordered the moratorium, which many in the industry expect to put a long-term chill on deepwater domestic drilling.

Bollinger Shipyards Inc. and Edison Chouest Offshore Services joined the suit on Wednesday.

The hearing will be before U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman.