Port of New Orleans continues to see growth

The Gulf Coast port’s Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal transported 99,568 TEUs in March and April combined, which is more than it has transported during any two months in the port’s history.    The Port of New Orleans’ Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal moved more containers in March and April combined than it has transported during any two months in the port’s history.
   During the two-month period, the terminal handled 99,568 TEUs, a 6.1 percent increase from the corresponding period in 2015, the port said.
   “Nearly $40 million in new investments to increase efficiencies and expand container handling capabilities have been made in the last year at our Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal,” Port of New Orleans President and CEO Gary LaGrange said.
   Investments included the $25 million Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal, which commenced operations in March. The 12-acre intermodal transfer terminal facilitates the movement of marine and rail cargo and has the capacity to move 160,000 TEUs per year by rail.
   Meanwhile, New Orleans Terminal LLC and the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans financed the $7.9 million refrigerated container racking system, which can store over 600 refrigerated containers.
   In addition, New Orleans Terminal also assembled two rubber-tire gantry cranes to add to its container marshalling yard. The private investment cost more than $4.5 million.
   Ports America also invested $2.2 million in new technology at the gate and inside the terminal.
   Container throughput growth at the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal follows the port’s growth in overall cargo volumes for the full-year of 2015 compared to the prior year, which was driven by strong chemical exports and higher metals imports. Total port-wide cargo in 2015, including mid-stream operations within the port’s three-parish jurisdiction, reached 33.5 million tons, an 8.1 percent year-over-year increase.