KEY TAKEAWAYS: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorized construction of the Louisiana International Terminal in St. Bernard Parish. The $2 billion to $3 billion terminal is designed to accommodate some of the world’s largest container ships. Port NOLA is developing the project with privat e partners Terminal Investment Limited and Ports America. The terminal would sit about 17 miles downriver from New Orleans and connect more than 30 states to global markets.   The Gulf Coast is preparing for a new generation of container shipping as the Louisiana International Terminal nears construction, with a federal permit now in hand. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has authorized construction of the deepwater container terminal in St. Bernard Parish, clearing a major regulatory hurdle for a project its developers say could reshape Gulf Coast trade and strengthen the nation’s supply chain. The terminal, being developed by the Port of New Orleans with private partners Terminal Investment Limited and Ports America, is designed to accommodate some of the world’s largest container ships — vessels that cannot reach the existing Port of New Orleans facilities due to clearance restrictions imposed by the Crescent City Connection bridge. The Louisiana International Terminal will be located about 17 miles downriver from New Orleans, giving large vessels direct access to the Mississippi River and the Gulf. Modern container ships can carry more than 16,000 containers, making the ability to accommodate larger vessels increasingly important as global shipping companies look for efficient routes into the United States. “This is a defining moment not just for Louisiana, but for the entire country,” Gov. Jeff Landry said. “The Louisiana International Terminal will stimulate economic growth and cement Louisiana’s role as the nation’s gateway to global trade.” Landry said the project will create opportunities for American businesses and workers while strengthening Louisiana’s position in international commerce. Port built for larger ships The proposed terminal is being billed as the nation’s only new greenfield container port currently under development. Its location on the Lower Mississippi River is intended to give shippers access to major transportation networks, including the nation’s interstate highway system and Class I railroads. Project officials say the terminal could connect more than 30 states to global markets. Michael Thomas, chairman of the Port of New Orleans Board of Commissioners, said the federal approval demonstrates what can happen through long-term planning and cooperation among public and private partners. “The Louisiana International Terminal will create lasting opportunities for our communities, strengthen America’s supply chain and ensure Louisiana remains at the forefront of global commerce for generations to come,” Thomas said. Beth Branch, president and CEO of the Port of New Orleans, said the permit represents the culmination of years of engineering and environmental review. “This is not simply a regional port expansion — it is nationally significant infrastructure that will expand American export capacity and position Louisiana to lead the next generation of maritime commerce,” Branch said. The project is a public-private partnership involving Port NOLA, Terminal Investment Limited, the port terminal operating arm of MSC, and Ports America. Ammar Kanaan, CEO of Terminal Investment Limited, said the Mississippi River corridor offers an opportunity to develop deepwater capacity that can compete with ports worldwide. “The Mississippi River corridor gives the United States a chance to build deepwater capacity that rivals any port in the world,” Kanaan said. Ports America Interim CEO and Chairman Scott Anderson said the terminal is intended to meet the needs of the largest vessels calling on the Gulf. Economic impact extends beyond Louisiana The Port of New Orleans already supports more than $101 billion in economic value nationwide and more than 342,000 American jobs, according to an economic analysis provided by the port. More than 122,000 of those jobs are in Louisiana. Project officials expect the new terminal to generate additional jobs and billions of dollars in new tax revenue once it is fully developed. That broader economic impact is one reason officials have described the project as national infrastructure rather than simply a Louisiana port expansion. The permit also represents a significant step for a project estimated to cost between $2 billion and $3 billion for the terminal itself, with another roughly $1 billion needed for surrounding infrastructure. Financing for the full project still must be finalized. With the federal permit secured, Port NOLA and its private partners can move into the next phase of development while continuing to work with the Army Corps of Engineers, the state and Louisiana’s congressional delegation. For Louisiana, the project is about more than adding another terminal. It is an effort to make sure the state can accommodate the ships, cargo and supply chains that will define global trade in the years ahead. Aaron Gonsoulin is the General Assignment/Trending Reporter for The Daily Advertiser. Contact him at [email protected]. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: New Louisiana port aims to reshape Gulf Coast trade Reporting by Aaron Gonsoulin, Lafayette Daily Advertiser / Lafayette Daily Advertiser USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect ...read more read less