The port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) accomplished a first, moving more containers in 2019 than any other time in its history, totalling 648,538 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), up 10% compared to one year ago.
Specifically, port NOLA now features 12 weekly container services from three global alliances, as well as additional independent carriers, having direct connections to 60 ports and more than 450 others through connecting services.
The port, also, saw improvement of alignment with the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad in 2019, a year after the Port’s acquisition of the short line railroad in 2018.
Intermodal development increased by 20%, boosted by the Kansas City Southern (KCS) direct service between New Orleans and Dallas. Intermodal services by CN Railroad into Memphis, Chicago, Detroit and Toronto and KCS’ weekly service into the Dallas-Fort Worth market are critical inland markets that continue to further grow volumes in New Orleans.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
It is reported that 2019 was the sixth year in a row that the port exceeded the half million TEU-mark at its Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal, which is operated by New Orleans Terminal and Ports America.
The container volume of the port is preparing for new infrastructure investments in both the near and long-term. The container-on-barge service between Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Memphis continues to thrive and offers shippers an efficient and environmentally friendly option for moving their cargo.
The port for the time being has secured a $100 million expansion plan that includes the procurement of four new 100-foot-gauge container gantry cranes and other enhancements to the container terminal. This investment will add significant capacity to the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal and allows the Port to work larger ships more efficiently.
Also, the port recently invested in two new cranes which are expected to be operational in mid-2021.
Brandy D. Christian, President and CEO of Port NOLA and CEO of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Corporation stated that
… these record container numbers are balanced by significant loaded import growth, up 12% in 2019.
Moreover, the port keeps on expanding its ocean carrier service network, having gained a new direct service to Asia when it hosted MSC’s Lone Star Express weekly service in 2019.
Christian concluded that
Our future is that of a state-of-the-art integrated gateway, that moves freight efficiently and meets the industry’s changing needs.