Plaquemines Port director says Pointe LeLeash ferry landing near completion; container terminal talks continue

Plaquemines Port Executive Director Charles T. Tillotson told the Plaquemines Parish Council acting as the governing authority for the Plaquemines Port Harbor and Terminal District that the Pointe LeLeash ferry landing inspection is proceeding and the port “will be near completion by Monday,” though he cautioned the opening depends on final Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) sign-off and weather.

The announcement was part of Tillotson’s executive director report, which covered multiple port projects: the anticipated return-to-service of the Plaquemines Pride ferry in May, expected reconvening of the port authorities vessels 1 and 2 by March 31, ongoing design of a new-build ferry, a DOTD request-for-proposals for Peters Road bridge engineering that closes next week, progress on an 11-mile rail extension with Infinity Engineering (including alignment adjustments near Ironton), and continuing land purchases and rezoning applications for a container terminal. Tillotson said the port has sent a letter requesting sizing considerations for the new vessel to match local growth.

Why it matters: the ferry landing restores a local river crossing that port staff and several commissioners told the meeting would ease travel for courthouse jurors, daily commuters and residents near the southern end of the parish. The container-terminal work is tied to longer-term economic development and the port’s existing letter of intent (LOI) with APM Terminals and interest from Maersk, which port officials and attendees referenced after a recent “port night” event.

Details and context: Tillotson said the Westbank barge for the Pointe LeLeash landing is in place and the Eastbank barge was in place the day of the meeting; DOTD has provided “very good feedback” and has been “expediting the process.” He described an active punch list the port is addressing with its director of projects and vessel director. Tillotson outlined a legal acceptance step: port legal staff must file documents in court and secure signatures from the executive director, the engineering firm and the construction firm to record substantial completion and take ownership of the landing.

On scheduling, Tillotson said the port is “hoping for Monday, but it could be Tuesday,” and added that forecasted severe weather could delay opening: “we want to make sure that we’re looking at that tomorrow. We want to keep everybody and everything safe.” He also said DOTD will conduct final checks such as load ratings and that minor post-acceptance punch-list items are expected.

Commissioners and members of the public raised operational questions. Commissioner Newsome urged the port to notify local judges and court staff so jurors from the southern parish can use the ferry rather than travel to Belle Chasse; Reverend Edwards noted he had already been asked by a bailiff about the schedule. Resident Kenneth Brock asked whether a new port being built in Seminole Parish would be competitive; Tillotson acknowledged it is competition and said the port is “working through some of that.”

Container terminal and private interest: Tillotson said the port has an LOI with APM Terminals and that Maersk attended port night; the port has a meeting in Charlotte the week after the meeting to discuss next steps. He said four milestones APM required when the LOI was signed 13 months earlier — Peters Road engineering funding, confidence in the 11-mile rail extension, completion of key land acquisitions, and engineering work for the Peters Road rail bypass — are now sufficiently advanced to continue negotiations. The port is preparing rezoning applications for the container-port parcels and expects required filings to be in by Friday.

Rail and bridge work: Infinity Engineering is working on alignment/realignment for the 11-mile rail extension and addressing access issues near Ironton; the port will present a draft MOU from the Surface Transportation Board and a draft Fries & Nichols contract for review in coming weeks. Tillotson said the DOTD released an RFP for Peters Road bridge engineering and that closing the RFP will position the project to obligate a previously awarded $7,400,000 grant from earlier in 2024.

Other items: the port said the water booster station project is progressing without issues; human-resources interviews have narrowed a selection for a new hire, the assistant port manager position has been defunded, and the port is advertising for a special assistant to the executive director. The port also announced a hard rollout of a rebrand at an upcoming Ports Association of Louisiana annual meeting in Baton Rouge.

Ending: Tillotson closed the report by noting the staff presence at recent events and travel to the American Association of Port Authorities legislative summit in Washington, D.C., and thanking communications staff for leading the rebrand work.