The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) has announced it has received $266 million in federal grants to build the Louisiana International Terminal (LIT). The project is currently in the federal permitting and design stage.
This new terminal will be located in Violet, Louisiana and will strengthen connectivity for inland hubs and waterways. Port NOLA President and CEO Brandy Christian says: “Not only is this the biggest economic development grant in Louisiana history, but also the largest federal investment in a new container terminal in United States Department of Transport (USDOT) history.”
The state-of-the-art terminal will increase Louisiana’s export and import capacity. The terminal will serve vessels of all sizes.
Louisiana International Terminal, a Gulf gateway
Congressman Troy Carter Snr says: “This grant funding is a historic step towards transforming the economic landscape of Louisiana and solidifying our position as the premier international Gulf gateway.”
The connectivity features of this imitative are:
- Six Class I railroads – via the New Orleans Public Belt.
- 23,335 kilometers of waterways that connect 31 states upriver.
- Connection to inland hubs such as Dallas, Memphis, Chicago, and Canada
The container terminal will open in 2028. It is anticipated that container throughput will be 180,000 – 280,000 containers in the first year.
The first part of the terminal will be operational, and the remainder will be opened in phases over time. The terminal will handle about 1.2 million containers about 25 years after its opening.
Lawmakers in Louisiana are providing almost $30 million in early development costs for the new terminal. “The state also committed $50 million for the design of the St. Bernard Transportation Corridor, which has been sought after for years by St. Bernard Parish leaders and residents and will connect the terminal to the interstate system,” Port NOLA says in a statement.
In August 2023, the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB) celebrated an expansion project that will see the throughput for the New Orleans rail gateway.
Biden administration boosts support for US ports
In November 2023, the USDOT announced over $653 million to fund 41 port improvement projects across the US under the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). This investment will speed up the movement of goods through the country’s ports.
Mordor Intelligence reports the US freight and logistics market is expected to grow at an annual compound growth rate of 4% in the next five years.
“In North America, 76% of all trade involves some type of maritime transportation. This percentage rises to 90 percent of global trade. Ships move USD 1.5 trillion in and out of US ports each year,” reads a report on shipping in North America.
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About the author
Sharl is a qualified journalist. He has over 10 years’ experience in the media industry, including positions as an editor of a magazine and Business Editor of a daily newspaper. Sharl also has experience in logistics specifically operations, where he worked with global food aid organisations distributing food into Africa. Sharl enjoys writing business stories and human interest pieces.
