Greenfield operator deal

Plaquemines Port, Harbor and Terminal District (PPHTD) and APM Terminals have signed a Letter of Intent which enables APM Terminals to become the operator of the Plaquemines container terminal and intermodal rail facility.

Wim Lagaay, CEO of APM Terminals North America, said: “We see tremendous opportunity to write a new supply chain playbook for U.S. exporters and importers with this location. Exporters are looking for ways to ship their products overseas with a competitive port and importers are looking for more ways to reach major regional consumer markets in the South and Midwest.”

PPHTD executive director, Sandy Sanders, said: “Our vision is to create a new port with an entirely new supply chain network into the United States. We will have multiple routing options to inland markets which give supply chain planners the resiliency and contingency layers essential to manage future supply chains effectively.”

Early development stages

The facility is in the early stages of development as a deepwater depth container terminal in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. Located on the Mississippi River, 50 nautical miles from the Gulf of Mexico, the gateway port will cater to exporters and importers who could tap into the multimodal routing options of rail, truck, inland marine and air. The terminal will be environmentally-friendly, powered by a combination of natural gas and electricity, encompassing up to 1,000 acres and 8,200 feet of Mississippi River frontage.

Storm resistant technology

Special focus will be on utilising modern infrastructure technology and engineering to withstand storm surges and wind damage in the design of the port. The port and connecting infrastructure will be built 16ft above sea level. Phase one of construction is expected to last two years and will deliver the capability to handle 22,000-TEU class vessels with the ability to expand capacity as needed.

To reduce the risk of flooding of the terminal site and surrounding area, the US Army Corps of Engineers is building a new federal levee system.