Port of New Orleans issues RFP for terminal programme management

The $1.5bn- Louisiana International Terminal will be a new container facility capable of handling 2m teu annually and serving the industry’s largest vessels.

The approximately 141.6-hectare container terminal with a 1,066.8m-linear wharf is situated within more than 404.7 hectares of developable green-field property. The site, located within the federal government’s $14bn- flood protection system, also features naturally deep-draught riverfront, a 15.24-metres Mississippi River Channel, documented ability to navigate 23,000 teu-ships, access to six Class I railroads through New Orleans Public Belt Railroad and interstate highways.

“This RFP represents tangible progress toward maintaining our gateway’s continued competitive advantage and building on Port NOLA’s 50-year history as Louisiana’s only international container port,” said Brandy D. Christian, President and CEO of the Port of New Orleans and CEO of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad.

“A second terminal ensures we will be able to meet current and future container volume demand and continue to serve Louisiana as an economic driver, creating new jobs and unmatched opportunities for private sector businesses,” he added.

This is the second RFP that has been issued related to LIT. A contract for assistance with preliminary design and permit support services is expected to be awarded at the Board of Port Commissioners meeting in July 2021. Responses to the RFP are due on 13 July 2021.

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The location also has the ability to grow Port NOLA’s container-on-barge service, a partnership with the Port of Baton Rouge and Seacor Marine.

The new container terminal aims at opening in 2027 and will require public-private partnerships. Current and prospective industry partners, including terminal operators, carriers, and others have expressed serious interest in potential financial participation in the LIT development. Port NOLA is developing a comprehensive Request for Proposals (RFP) for a development partner and expects to begin the procurement process within the next few months.