Grant funding for port efficiency improvements
An American port has received funding which is helping it to make efficiency improvements to both its infrastructure and equipment.
The Port of Louisiana is using its US$13.4 million Port Infrastructure Development Grant largely to make improvements at its Globalplex industrial park, including creating better access roads, a new rail spur and more efficient warehouses.
There will also be conveyor improvements to include dust suppression at Associated Terminals public intermodal terminal, which provides handling and storage for bulk, breakhead and containerised cargoes for both vessels and barges.
Environmentally friendly
“A lot of these changes will make the port more efficient, and in turn, more environmentally friendly,” Paul Aucoin, executive director of the Port of South Louisiana told The Louisiana Weekly.
“The new conveyor system has less dust emissions and paving the access roads that are currently gravel will also reduce dust. The rail spur helps get trucks off the road. We want to have rail access in addition to barge and ship.”
The conveyor improvements will also allow goods to be moved from shore to ship. Currently, cargo can only be moved from ship to shore.
The grant required matching funds, which means that the port will provide an equal amount for a total investment of around US$25 million.
Globalplex, a 353-acre maritime industrial park within the port complex offers storage and warehousing space for manufacturing.
Numerous tenants rent space at the site including Baumer Foods, Barton International, Natco Food Service, Lafarge Concrete and Evonik Industries.
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