Vicksburg Port Director Wayne Mansfield thinks Cameron International might not have to lay off 222 employees at its Vicksburg facility.

However, repeated attempts to reach Cameron officials to confirm Mansfield’s assertion were unsuccessful.

“I have talked with Cameron in the past couple of weeks and they are not laying off 200 and something people,” Mansfield told Vicksburg Lions Club members Wednesday. However, he said company officials told him some positions at the facility had been eliminated.

Cameron was acquired by energy giant Schlumberger Sept. 2. Five days later, it announced the possible layoff of 222 employees at its facility, which is located at the former LeTourneau site off U.S. 61 South.

“That notice that went out and the paper reported on, and that the supervisors and I received, was that the potential existed for those jobs to be eliminated,” Mansfield said. “However, I’ve talked to the management at Cameron and to their corporate office. In talking to this gentleman at the corporate headquarters, the acquisition of Cameron by Schlumberger really had no bearing on the Vicksburg facility.

“What was affecting the Vicksburg facility is Cameron was changing direction with their business model and Vicksburg did not fit the business model. However, he did inform me that they were bidding on a force of new rigs. I’ve been told — I haven’t been able to verify it — that they did secure those projects, so most of those employees — I think they are right now 230 employees — will stay on at least for the time being.”

Mansfield said the official with whom he spoke at Cameron International in Houston, Texas, was Scott Lamb, vice president of investor relations. Lamb did not return phone calls seeking comment before press time.

In another port matter, Mansfield said the port is working to find money to replace the port’s 40-year-old crane, which is presently inoperable.

“It’s old. It’s like an old car; it’s got to be replaced,” he said. “But in the meantime, we’ve got to get this one fixed. We’re one of the top 10 busiest ports in the country.”

He said at one time the port had the money to replace it, but other more pressing problems, such as repairs to the port’s T dock and other emergencies, forced the money for the crane to be transferred to other accounts.