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Five-port coalition commissions Martin Associates cargo study to identify growth and imports
Summary
Representatives of the five deepwater ports on the lower Mississippi described a Martin Associates regional cargo study intended to identify new cargo opportunities, scenarios to capture that cargo, and longer-term master-plan inputs; a public presentation was discussed for early January or Feb. 27.
The commission heard an update on a regional cargo study funded and guided by the five deepwater ports on the lower Mississippi: Greater Baton Rouge, Port of South Louisiana, Port of New Orleans, Port of St. Bernard and Port of Plaquemines.
Mister Toomey said Martin Associates has collected data, reviewed it with the five ports and is developing a narrative of findings and recommendations focused on identifying cost-effective competitive opportunities to attract new cargo. Toomey highlighted examples the consultant is examining—such as resins currently trucked to East Coast ports for export—and said a downriver container terminal could capture some of that traffic.
Toomey added that the consultant provided a brief comparative report on how other Gulf Coast states fund ports; commissioners asked Martin Associates to dig deeper on revenue sources and distribution mechanisms. A potential public presentation of the cargo study was discussed for early January, with another referenced release date of Feb. 27 at the NBTT(C?) conference and a request that the commission be offered a briefing opportunity.
Members described the study as an important input to master planning and to the commission's efforts to coordinate marketing and recruitment of distribution centers and manufacturers that could create inbound cargo flows.
