NEW ORLEANS — The Port of New Orleans will receive $73.8 million under the federal Mega Grant program for its Louisiana International Terminal project, a planned $1.8 billion container port with the eventual goal of handling some 1.2 million containers annually.
The project in Violet, La., announced in late 2022, is located to eliminate height restrictions that currently limit the size of ships that can serve the Port of New Orleans [see “Port of New Orleans announces plans …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 13, 2022]. It will offer connections to all six Class I railroads and access to four interstate highways.
“The Louisiana International Terminal will become one of the greatest public economic development projects in Louisiana’s history,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a press release announcing the grant. “It is an investment that leverages the economic power of the Mississippi River and will expand opportunities for residents and business across our entire state and beyond.”
The terminal will be built through a public-private partnership involving the port, New Jersey-based terminal operator Ports Amerida, and Swiss-based Mediterranean Shipping Co., through its development and investment arm Terminal Investment Limited. The two private companies have committed $800 million toward the project.
“With Louisiana’s unmatched inland connections and with no bridges in its way, the new Louisiana International Terminal will meet market demands for much-needed supply chain solutions and bring prosperity to our region for generations to come,” said Port NOLA CEO Brandy D. Christian. “This funding award builds on years of careful market analysis, planning, due diligence, and community outreach to ensure the project adequately addresses the market need and provides community benefits.”
More information on the project is available at its website.
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