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Plaquemines Port director outlines hurricane lessons, major grants and diesel‑electric ferry plans
Summary
The port’s executive director reported lessons from Hurricane Francine, generator and communications fixes, expanded camera monitoring, and more than $77 million in recent grants, including roughly $50 million for ferry projects and a DOTD‑awarded diesel‑electric ferry design contract.
The Plaquemines Port’s executive director opened the council meeting with a status report that outlined operational changes after Hurricane Francine and a string of recent grant wins that the port says will support ferry repairs, new vessels and several bridge and rail projects.
The director said the port learned to pre‑stage crews and equipment during storms, will install an emergency bypass switch on the port generator and contract to accept a portable generator if needed, and will standardize radio channels and incident‑command communications. He said the port has installed high‑definition, night‑vision cameras along the river and established an MSOC (monitoring operations center) to coordinate visual monitoring with the U.S. Coast Guard and bar pilots.
The report listed recent funding the port has secured: a port security grant (about $1.6 million), a DOTD drone program payment (approximately $358,000 as reported), an FTA ferry grant (about $4.7 million) for new landing barges, and more than $2 million in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. The director said the port has attracted roughly $77 million in grants over the last 19–20 months, of which about $50 million is designated for ferry work.
On repairs and procurement, the director said emergency work at the Pointe Lehi ferry landings is underway, with bridges removed and a reported $18.6 million replacement grant. DOTD has awarded a design/consulting contract for a new diesel‑electric ferry to Pelican Marine; the director said the vessel’s diesel‑electric design should reduce fuel costs “probably 70%,” and that the port is pursuing additional shore‑power grant funding.
The port also reported a $7.4 million grant for the Walker Road bridge and said it aims for an obligation next month, with a hoped‑for groundbreaking in the third quarter of 2026 and completion in the fourth quarter of 2027. The director described a multi‑party alignment meeting on the Peters Road rail bypass involving Jefferson Parish, HDR, the City of Gretna and Union Pacific; the alignment includes provisions for a vehicle bridge designed to allow a future second span and coordination with a rail bridge alignment.
On staffing and administration, the port has hired a director of projects (starting Monday), is interviewing candidates for executive counsel (four commissioners will interview), has a list of qualified candidates for a port assistant manager and is advertising for a CFO with a CPA requirement. The director said the port will provide financial graphs and fund‑balance materials the day before meetings and will introduce a 2024 budget adjustment but described the budget as largely “on track.”
The director closed by noting regional outreach, including a quarterly port night event with neighboring port leaders, and ongoing participation in a multi‑port deep‑water study being finalized with Martin & Associates later this autumn.
What’s next: the port will verify budget and CEA figures before the next meeting, continue coordination with DOTD and Pelican Marine on ferry design and procurement, and advance repair and grant‑funded work at the Pointe Lehi landings.
