Carl Bienvenu v. Texaco, Inc. Director, Office of Worker's Compensation Programs, U.S. Department of Labor Insurance Company of North America

PATRICK E. HIGGINBOTHAM and W. EUGENE DAVIS, Circuit Judges:

Carl Bienvenu seeks benefits under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) for injuries sustained on navigable waters during the course of his employment. His petition requires us to enter the unsettled waters of our LHWCA jurisprudence. In deciding that Bienvenu is entitled to LHWCA benefits, we right our wayward precedent and chart a smoother course for future panels to follow.

I

Bienvenu worked for Texaco, Inc., in the Caillou Island production field as a pumper specialist. By 1987 he had been employed by *903Texaco…