b'4American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comLouisiana ports letting good times roll with deeper river, enhanced terminalsBy Paul Scott Abbott, AJOTLaissez les bons temps rouler. standard to controlling draft along the TruetothatCajunexpression,lower river in early 2022. By 2024, ports of Louisiana are letting the goodthe draft is to reach 50 feet along the times rolland, even when it meansentire 256-mile stretch from the Gulf overcoming obstacles, are advancingof Mexico to Baton Rouge.efforts to keep the supply chain effi- Heading up the Mississippi River ciently rolling along through the Peli- and generally proceeding from east to can State for many years to come. west, heres the lowdown on key ports Not only are multiple endeavorsof Louisiana:movingforwardtoenhancemarineDevelopment proceeds for the $8 billion Venture Global LNG facility on a 600-acre Plaquemines terminal infrastructure, but the $238P lAqueminesP ort Port, Harbor & Terminal District tract.million initiative to deepen the lowerOfficials of the Plaquemines Port,Venture Global LNG has started siteand NOLA Terminals building an oil MississippiRivershipchannelisHarbor & Terminal District have plentypreparation and preconstruction workexportfacilityonitspropertynear forgingaheadaswell.Thechan- reason to be excited about advance- on the largest industrial project to beMyrtle Grove.nel projectcooperatively launchedmentofdevelopmentofliquefiedbuilt in Plaquemines Parish in more in 2020 by the U.S. Army Corps ofnaturalgasfacilitiesonport-ownedthanhalfacentury.The$8billions t . B ernArdP ortEngineers, State of Louisiana and Portproperty. dollar, 600-acre LNG facility is antic- A bit farther up the lower Mis-of New Orleansbrought a 48-footArlington, Virginia-headquarteredipated to annually produce as many assissippi River toward New Orleans, 20 million metric tons of clean LNGthe St. Bernard Port, Harbor & Ter-for worldwide export while doublingminalDistrictisseeingitsown yearly revenues at the port. With LNGadvancementonmultiplefronts in such high demand, Venture Globalwhile progress continues on Port of hasplanstoaugmenttheinitialNew Orleans plans for development installation by constructing a similarof a $1.5 billion containership termi-20-million-ton-annual-output facility onnal on 1,100 acres recently acquired anadditional600acresleasedfromfrom the district.the harbor district. Moving toward early 2023 com-Growthintheportjurisdictionpletion is a $32 million upgrade of the also is happening at private operationsmore-than-century-olddocksatthe along the Mississippi River, with St.districts Chalmette Slip, with federal Paul,Minnesota-basedagribusinessandstatefundscoveringthelions cooperativeCHSInc.announcingashareofcost.Also,ageographic $73 million renovation and expansioninformation system project is digitally atitsMyrtleGrovegrainterminal;graphingalloftheportsfacilities; A bulk vessel is offloaded at the St. Bernard Port, Harbor & Terminal Districts Chalmette SlipPhillips66convertinganoutdatedthe ports sewage treatment plant has as dock rehabilitation advances.oilrefineryintoanexportterminal;(ROLLcontinued on page 12)THEWe put theBIG EASY go in cargo. New Orleans Terminals modern technology, equipment, and infrastructure make it easy to deliverconsistent, professional and seamless services.New Orleans Terminal knows how important it is to keep your cargo moving smoothly. When your cargo enters the facility via vessel, truck, barge or rail, we make it easy for it to be transported quickly and cost-e\x1fectively. The facility provides stevedoring and terminal operations, container marshalling, a container freight station, equipment, warehousing and an intermodal on-dock rail. We provide each and every customer the consistent, professional and seamless service that they expect from a world-class marine terminal facility.New Orleans Terminal, LLC50 Napoleon Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70115 504-648-6211www.notml.com ALports.comContainersBreakbulkGeneral CargoesStevedoringTerminal Operations'