CONTENTS P O R T S TA F F
executive director
deputy director
c h i e f
Paul Aucoin Roy Quezaire
o p e r at i n g o f f i c e r
airport director
Dale Hymel, Jr.
Vickie Lewis-Clark
director of a d m i n i s t r at i o n
Lisa Braud
director of business development
director of finance
Julia Fisher Grant Faucheux Tamara Kennedy
director of human resources
director of m a r i n e o p e r at i o n s
Brian Cox
special projects officer
Joel T. Chaisson
port of south louisiana 171 Belle Terre Blvd., P.O. Box 909 LaPlace, LA 70069-0909 www.portsl.com Phone: (985) 652-9278 | Fax: (504) 568-6270 globalplex intermodal terminal Phone: (985) 652-9278
Cover and Final Frame photos by Alexandra Hernandez for the Port of South Louisiana
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director ’ s log
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overview
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around the port Improving the quality of life in the River Region.
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what ' s new A look inside the Port's expanding rail and multimodal capabilities.
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airport The Classic Jet Aircraft Association blasts off at Executive Regional Airport.
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20
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what ' s new Ingram Marine welcomes two new vessels to its fleet. what ' s new Reviewing local leaders' efforts from this year's legislative session.
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port briefs
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port raits
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port owned facilities
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port map
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final frame
News highlights from the Port and beyond.
SUMMER 2021 | PORT OF SOUTH LOUISIANA
port of south louisiana executive regional airport Phone: (985) 652-9278 ext 8512 a s s o c i at e d t e r m i n a l s Phone: (985) 233-8545 The Port of South Louisiana is a member of the Ports Association of Louisiana. To become an associate member of PAL and to help further the maritime industry in Louisiana, please visit PAL’s website at www.portsoflouisiana.org or call the PAL office at (225) 334-9040.
PUBLISHED BY RENAISSANCE PUBLISHING LLC
editor art director
Topher Balfer
Ali Sullivan
production designers Rosa Balaguer, Meghan Rooney
contributors
William Kalec Misty Milioto
To advertise call Meghan Sumrall at (504) 830-7246 or email Meghan@myneworleans.com. 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Ste. 123, Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 828-1380 • www.myneworleans.com Copyright 2021 The Port Log, Port of South Louisiana, and Renaissance Publishing LLC. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Port of South Louisiana, Post Office Box 909, LaPlace, LA 700690909. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the owner or Publisher. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the magazine’s managers, owners or publisher. The Port Log is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos and artwork even if accompanied by a self addressed stamped envelope.
DIRECTOR’S LOG
In direct response to increased throughput and the demand for efficient cargo handling, the Port of South Louisiana has continued to work on bringing current infrastructure to working standards while improving the linked transportation network, increasing capacity and addressing any bottlenecks. Water, road, rail, air, and pipeline access round out the resources for which we have gained national recognition. Over the last 20 years, the Port of South Louisiana has been making continuous improvements to port infrastructure that have allowed an increase in cargo. We know that multi-modal projects will pave the way for business growth and vitality, increasing the efficiency, productivity and reliability of cargo transport, leading to more affordable goods for U.S. and global consumers. Improvements at Globalplex Intermodal Terminal, 335acre maritime industrial park located in the heart of the Port of South Louisiana district, revolve primarily around the terminal’s general cargo dock. Currently, the dock is undergoing reinforcements, which are slated to be complete no later than the first quarter of 2022. Concurrently, the Manitowoc 2250 rail-mounted cranes that once decked and traversed the general cargo dock and adjacent finger pier since the turn of the century (circa 1999) have been removed and the rails are being adjusted and readied for the delivery of two Konecranes Gottwald Model 6 Portal Harbor Cranes, which will take place around September 2021. Last spring the Port of South Louisiana received a
d. paul robichaux
judy b. songy
p. joey murray, iii
stanley bazile
chairman
vice chairwoman
treasurer
s e c r e ta r y
whitney hickerson vice president
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$13.4 million grant approved through the new U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration Port Infrastructure Development program for a Multi-Modal Connections project at Globalplex. This project, which will also receive funding from Louisiana’s Capital Outlay program, includes a new heavy capacity general cargo dock accessbridge, an access road, a rail spur, and a dry storage area with conveyors to move bulk material. Construction of Port of South Louisiana’s Business Development Center at Globalplex is also currently underway. When complete, all Port of South Louisiana personnel will be under one roof, apart from security, operations and maintenance staff. Outside of Globalplex, a six-track railyard is now in operation at SoLaPort, a port-owned property on St. Charles Parish’s west bank of the Mississippi River. It is configured to accommodate between 250 and 350 rail cars exclusively for Dow Chemical that is accessible via a rail spur designed and installed by Dow on the south side of the its facility. Dow has entered into a 20-year lease agreement with the Port of South Louisiana, with an option to renew for an additional ten years, to provide efficient, reliable, and cost-advantageous services for its customers with opportunities for growth over time. The Port of South Louisiana has lead the way for years in many industries, primarily due to the well-rounded logistics and key words, location, location, location. We have built a strong foundation over the last 60 years in the River Parishes and our team is ready to bring the Port to the next level. •
patrick c. sellars vice president
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ryan burks vice president
robbie leblanc
louis joseph
vice president
vice president
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OVERVIEW
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T R A N S P O R TAT I O N C E N T E R OF THE AMERICAS The state legislature established the Port of South Louisiana in 1960 to promote commerce and industrial development along
(IN MILLION SHORT TONS)
12.1
21.3
20.21
12.0
14.72
15.64 13.16
TOTAL TONNAGE: 65,024,248
16.81
18.62
PORT OF SOUTH LOUISIANA FIRST QUARTER 2021
17.17
20.08
CHEMICALS / FERTILIZERS 5.2 (8%)
20.61
21.27
MAIZE 16.4 (25%)
13.94
EDIBLE OILS / SUGAR / MOLASSES / OTHER 0.56 (1%)
COAL / LIGNITE / COKE 2.3 (4%)
ORES / PHOSPHATE ROCK 4.0 (6%)
63.08
25.0
STEEL PRODUCTS 1.2 (2%)
65.74
the St. Charles, St. John and St. James tri-parish regions.
65.0
72.03
the 54-mile stretch of the Mississippi River that runs through
19.6
2021
14.2
2020
16.32
2019
16.78
2018
2017
NUMBER OF BARGE MOVEMENTS: 15,286
PETROCHEMICALS 8.7 (13%)
20.45
NUMBER OF VESSEL CALLS: 960
PORT OF SOUTH LOUISIANA TOTAL TONNAGE FIRST QUARTER COMPARISON (IN MILLIONS OF SHORT TONS) SOYBEAN 12.7 (20%)
EXPORTS
DOMESTIC SHIPPED
IMPORTS
DOMESTIC RECEIVED
ANIMAL FEED 2.1 (3%) CRUDE OIL 11.2 (17%) WHEAT 0.4 (<1%) SORGHUM (MILO) + RICE 0.1 (<1%)
PHILOSOPHY
FACILITIES
MISSION
The Port’s philosophy of development is to entice companies to set up regional operations within its boundaries. The Port serves primarily as a “landlord” port to more than 30 grain, petroleum and chemical companies. The exception to this is the port-owned world-class intermodal Globalplex facility SoLaPort, and the St. James Westbank property.
Within the Port’s jurisdiction, there are seven grain elevators, multiple midstreaming operations, more than 40 liquid and dry-bulk terminals, the Globalplex Intermodal Terminal and the Port’s Executive Regional Airport.
The Port is charged with a mission to promote maritime commerce, trade and development, and to establish public and private partnerships for the creation of intermodal terminals and industrial facilities.
WORLD’S LARGEST PORT DISTRICT
The ports of South Louisiana, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, St. Bernard and Plaquemines make up the world’s largest continuous port district. They are responsible for moving one-fifth of all U.S. foreign waterborne commerce.
PORT AREA
The Port covers a 54-mile stretch of the lower Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The Port begins at river mile 114.9AHP near the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and winds through St. Charles, St. John the Baptist and St. James parishes. It continues north to river mile 168.5AHP just north of the Sunshine Bridge.
GOVERNANCE
The Port is under the jurisdiction of the state of Louisiana and authorized by the state constitution. A nine-member board of commissioners directs the Port; all of them are unsalaried. •
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AROUND THE PORT
LOCAL INITIATIVES IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE RIVER PARISHES. BY MISTY MILIOTO
As the premier sea gateway for U.S. import and export traffic—and with a goal of attracting foreign and domestic investment within the River Parishes region—the Port of South Louisiana isn’t just invested in the day-to-day operations of the maritime industry.
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art of creating a thriving and vibrant Port is ensuring an excellent quality of life in the River Region as a whole, and luckily, local leaders in St. Charles, St. James and St. John the Baptist parishes are constantly looking for ways to enhance their respective communities through partnerships and innovation. Here, we take a look at initiatives within each of the River Parishes that are improving overall quality of life for residents—and, by effect, for business, commerce and the Port of South Louisiana. ST. CHARLES PARISH stcharlesparish-la.gov
Nestled along the Mississippi River and only 25 miles from New Orleans, St. Charles Parish is home to more than 52,000 residents, nearly 50 parks, baseball fields, 17 miles of walking paths along each side of the Mississippi River and a state-of-the-art community center. The parish is also close to the airport, has a great public school system and is home to the Catfish Capital of the World, Des Allemands. Soon, St. Charles Parish also will be home to a new boat launch thanks to a land donation from Chevron Corp. that has been years in the making. “We hope the 110-acre tract on Bayou Des Allemands will become a
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premier coastal park, boat launch and ecotourism attraction in Southeast Louisiana,” says Matthew Jewell, St. Charles Parish President. “The first stage will be to use a $1.88 million grant to construct a road, parking lot and boat launch. In the future, we hope to expand the area for additional recreational uses.” Other recreational initiatives in St. Charles Parish are also underway to meet the needs of all residents. This summer, the parish will cut the ribbon on Ed Reed Park, which will be home to the first turfed field in the parish. Meanwhile, groundbreaking
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has begun on a Veteran’s Memorial Plaza next to the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center to honor all of those who have served in the military. Additionally, the parish soon will cut the ribbon on the Westbank levee trailhead, which will provide a safe place for residents to use the Westbank Bridge Park without having to cross a busy road. The trailhead also will include additional parking, a gazebo and ADA-compliant bathrooms. “IMTT also donated $90,000 toward a playground in St. Rose and a walking path in Killona; we have also expanded our recreational offerings to include
AROUND THE PORT
Opposing page: St. Charles Parish officials break ground on a new boat launch. This Page: River sunset and ferris wheel in St. John the Baptist Parish
the parish’s first ever fishing rodeo, beanbag baseball and corn hole,” Jewell says. “Lastly, we are working to finish the walking and bike path in Killona that will connect the levee in St. Charles Parish and St. John the Baptist Parish.” The parish is currently completing a master drainage study, which hasn’t been done in 25 years, as well as the first ever parish-wide master sewerage plan. “We believe this study will produce projects that will improve quality of life in our parish by helping residents protect their largest investments—their homes,” Jewell says. “We are also working on a litter abatement program. Litter is not only unsightly and unsanitary, but, when it enters into our drainage system, it can cause flooding issues.”
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH sjbparish.gov
Known as the “Heart of the River Parishes,” St. John the Baptist Parish was established in 1807. As one of the original 19 parishes of the Territory of Orleans, which later became the state of Louisiana, the parish includes the third permanent settlement in Louisiana, after Natchitoches (1714) and New Orleans (1718). Today, St. John the Baptist Parish is home to approximately 46,000 residents. “St. John the Baptist Parish is a wonderful and unique place to live,” says Stanley Bienemy, economic development director for the parish. “St. John is small and close-knit, exemplifying the word community. The parish is also conveniently located between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, allowing residents to
utilize the advantages of two distinctly different metropolitan areas.” Currently, St. John the Baptist Parish is working on the Airline and Main Complete Streets Project to address flood risk and economic development. “Once completed, the project will transform Airline Highway and Main Street with sidewalks, bike lanes and native planting/bio-swales for improved drainage,” Bienemy says. “The project also includes demolition of the former Parish Service Center into a stormwater lot with a public plaza for community
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AROUND THE PORT
Left: St. James Parish
events. The improvements will serve as a model for future infrastructure projects, which can address flood risk, transportation improvement and economic development under one project. Further, the investment will serve as a catalyst to jumpstart new business growth along two major commercial corridors, including Main Street, which serves as the future site of a rail station on the proposed New Orleans-to-Baton Rouge rail line.” St. John the Baptist Parish is also working with Louisiana Development Ready Community (LDRC), which is a state program facilitated by Louisiana Economic Development (LED). “LDRC helps Louisiana communities develop economic development goals and strategies that foster growth based on community engagement,” Bienemy says. “The strategies developed in this program will assist us in moving the parish forward and spur future sustainable growth.” ST. JAMES PARISH stjamesla.com
Home to Oak Alley Plantation and the annual Bonfires on the Levee Christmas tradition, St. James Parish is currently home to more than 21,000
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residents, 312 businesses, a park in each district and more than 50,000 acres of farmland that produces sugarcane, soybeans and perique tobacco (a crop unique to St. James Parish). “This tight-knit community cares for one another and has a special bond to its heritage and each other,” says Meredith Conger, public information officer at St. James Parish. “Families in St. James are able to raise their children in a wonderful school system that prepares them for college, and future fruitful careers and livelihoods. It is often said that St. James Parish is the best-kept secret between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, and the residents can attest to that. It is a quiet and peaceful community with ample opportunity for recreation, enjoying the beauty South Louisiana offers, and career opportunities.” Early last year, the parish launched a custom work-order system that allows for streamlined processing of residents’ service requests. “Residents can place a work order for tree-limb pickup, new water or gas services, reporting a water or gas leak, drainage maintenance, culvert cleaning and more,” Conger says. “Residents can then track that work order through its life cycle to
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completion, while being provided with updates along the way.” Conger adds that a new mobile app launched last April will soon be updated with additional features like utility bill payment and more. Since early 2020, St. James Parish has completed a number of major drainage projects, clearing out more than 250 linear miles of drainage channels and improving drainage in poorly drained areas on both the East and West banks. The parish has also worked to replace aging utilities infrastructure with improved industry-standard gas lines, resulting in increased gas pressure to residents. “Parish President Pete Dufresne also signed a CEA in 2020 with the ARC to help improve funding and resources so desperately needed to care for and support the most vulnerable and deserving residents in our community,” Conger says. “By renewing the millage in December of last year, the resources needed to care for ARC clients has been secured through 2032.” Over the last year, St. James Parish has also improved many of its recreational facilities, some of which now include splash parks, covered basketball courts and improved baseball fields. THE BIG PICTURE While leaders in each parish work independently to address the specific needs of their respective communities, their efforts contribute to the same overall mission. The success and prosperity of one parish inspires positive change in its neighbors, and with so many proactive improvements and innovations, the River Region is more impressive than ever. St. James, St. John the Baptist and St. Charles parishes work in tandem to create a community-at-large where people can live, work and play for generations to come, knowing that behind the scenes, their regional leaders are working hard to ensure that even better times are never far away. •
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The newly completed SoLaPort railyard, configured in exclusive partnership with Dow Chemical
ON THE RIGHT TR ACK BY WILLIAM KALEC
Thanks to its efficiency and multi-modality capabilities, rail has become an increasingly popular mode of transit for businesses at the Port of South Louisiana
T
hough it’s been around for more than 150 years, rail is experiencing a bit of a renaissance recently, especially when it comes to ground freight transit. According to the Association of
American Railroads, domestic freight rail moves 1.7 billion tons of material annually across roughly 140,000 miles of privately-owned lines that run through every state but Hawaii. Average rail rates are
44 percent lower today than they were in 1981 – affordability that saves U.S. industries (and by proxy, consumers) billions of dollars each year and keeps American entities competitive in the global marketplace. Beyond economic efficiency, rail offers environmental benefits, as well. Even though rail accounts for 40 percent of domestic long-distance freight volume, it’s only responsible for 1.9 percent of U.S. transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. As Robynn Tysver, the communications manager for Union Pacific Railroad, points out, “We can move one ton of freight 454 miles on a single
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gallon of diesel fuel, and our trains are three to four times more fuel efficient than trucks. In fact, a single Union Pacific train can carry as much freight as 300 trucks.” “Freight railroads in the United States, quite frankly, are the best in the world and they are a critical economic resource,” says Trish Haver, Senior Consultant at Strategic Rail Industrial. “Rail serves every industrial, wholesale, retail and resource-based sector of our economy – there’s no sector of our national economy that rail doesn’t touch. It’s the backbone that’s always been there. “But the pivot that’s happening – and why people are starting to think more about rail – is that rail is incredibly environmentally friendly. It does reduce truck traffic on the highway. It does reduce our carbon footprint, as a whole.” Clients within the Port of South Louisiana can import/ export materials and goods via three railroads: Union Pacific, Canadian National and Kansas City Southern – all of which are equipped with multi-modal capabilities such as rail-to-barge or truck-to-rail, for example. “At the Port of South Louisiana, the service that (Union Pacific) provides complements other modes of transportation, allowing our customers to connect to an integrated network of transportation options that includes trucks, vessels, barges and pipelines,” Tysver says. “They can then utilize Union Pacific’s more than 32,000 miles of track to reach the 23 states that we serve directly. “There are examples up and down this section of the Mississippi River where you can see how Union Pacific complements our customers’
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use of other transportation modes to meet their individual transportation needs.” Both the Kansas City Southern and Canadian National lines are situated on the east bank of the Mississippi River and service resident clients looking to move product to the Midwest, Mexico and Canada. Thanks to a railroad spur that was constructed less than a decade ago, the KCS and CN rail lines are linked, which allows companies to transfer tracks without leaving the port jurisdiction. The spur gives logistics coordinators the chance to reach different markets more efficiently. In July 2020, Canadian National announced plans to immediately invest $60 million into its Louisiana operations to support growing demand and enable supply chains. The strategic investment will fund the replacement of rails and ties, plus other infrastructure maintenance. “First, I think it’s important to highlight how unique it is for the Port of South Louisiana to have three railroads operating within its port jurisdiction,” Haver says. “Most ports around the country have maybe two, at best. It’s a special and unique position at the Port of South Louisiana because of the tonnage and how much of that tonnage is attached to rail. It’s a powerful combination. “And having that rail foundation allows businesses to tap into different parts of the country that may not be accessible by barge or truck,” Haver continues. “You’re looking at products coming down from Canada. You’re looking at products from the east and west banks of the Mississippi River, all the way through the Midwest – all of that comes via rail to
the Port of South Louisiana.” Conversely, Union Pacific is situated on the west bank of the Mississippi River and services the western United States. Within Louisiana, Union Pacific operates on more than 1,000 miles of track carrying products like industrial chemicals, plastics, petroleum products and grain. From 2016 to 2020, Union Pacific spent close to $500 million on Louisiana tracks, structures and facilities. “The marketplace is always changing,” Tysver says, “and Union Pacific adapts to meet our customers’ needs.” Within the Port District, one of Union Pacific’s largest customers is the DOW chemical facility in Hahnville – a customer that saw a 40 percent increase in rail cargo from 2013 to 2018. To meet DOW’s needs (and in turn, the needs of Union Pacific) the Port constructed a multi-million dollar rail yard at its SoLaPort site right next to DOW. The Port has signed a 20-year lease with DOW for use of the rail yard – a just-completed project that will increase DOW’s railcar capacity by more than 25 percent. “This project is exemplary of the multi-modal opportunities along our 54 mile port jurisdiction,” says Port of South Louisiana Executive Director Paul Aucoin. “Although the Mississippi River is our anchor resource, the rail systems, roads and air facilities we have complement the extraordinary work done at the Port. We are pleased to partner with Dow in order to enhance their operations.” The new rail yard will be a storage area (no loading will take place) and house 250 railcars – about half of which will be empty while the other half hold plastic materials ready to be
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Pictured top left & bottom right: Sections of railroad at the SoLaPort. Pictured top right: Port of South Louisiana Executive Director Paul Aucoin and Port Commissioners. Pictured middle: Port officials and representatives from Dow Chemical at the SoLaPort railyard Ribbon Cutting
sent to customers via Union Pacific. “Not only did (the Port) provide a custom solution to an existing shipper that allowed them to grow and create more revenue and more impact on the community, it actually created
more jobs,” Haver says. “One rail yard produced 5-6 permanent jobs within the Dow facility. That’s a powerful concept: Not only does rail provide more commerce, it provides more work and employment opportunities, too.” •
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AIRPORT NEWS
BL A S T OFF, BL A S T ON BY WILLIAM KALEC
‘Cajun Jet Blast’ Finally Took to the Skies at Executive Regional Airport
F
lying in precise formation, more than a dozen historic jets raced across the River Parish skies this past April at the Classic Jet Aircraft Association’s (CJAA) first-ever “Cajun Jet Blast” hosted at the Port of South Louisiana’s Executive Regional Airport. While CJAA Jet Blasts have been held all over the country since 2000, this particular event was handled by Sonny Schilleci, local aviator and CEO of Auric Avionics. Schilleci welcomed pilots from around the country to sharpen up their skills so that they are permitted to fly at events with waivered FAA airspace, like airshows and other demonstrations or exhibitions. At this particular Jet Blast (which was originally scheduled for October
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2020, until Hurricane Delta halted plans) the entire fleet was composed of L-39 jets – a Cold War-era model used in many Eastern European arsenals that’s now often featured in domestic civilian aerial performances. In the past, Schilleci says, CJAA Jet Blasts have also included L-29s, T-33s, S-211s, MiG-15s and MiG 17s – the latter two jets Soviet-designed planes used in combat during the 1950s. “These aircraft are a very integral part of Cold War Era history,” Schilleci says. “And to highlight (these historic jets) to the public provides awareness of our military and continued sacrifices made to keep our country free.” Though the Jet Blasts are technically a private event, formation patterns
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were visible to many River Region residents who took in all the action from the comforts of their own property or public spaces like parks. When the Jet Blast pilot finally landed, Schilleci showed off the deep traditions and attractions of the area to the outside pilots who made the trek to South Louisiana. “As you know, Louisiana has a very unique culture. I titled the event ‘Cajun Jet Blast’ which was exactly what it was,” Schilleci says. “We cooked dishes for everyone such as gumbo, jambalaya with white beans and pastalaya. We also hosted a crawfish boil, which was the first time most of the guests ever saw or tried crawfish. Needless to say, our culture sent everyone home
AIRPORT NEWS
All images courtesy of CJAA
happy. Folks also were able to do some alligator spotting and fishing.” The rescheduled Cajun Jet Blast was a proud and important moment to those at the Port of South Louisiana, as well. When the Port acquired control of the airport a decade ago, its main mission was to provide clients within the Port District, and customers of those clients, easier access to drop-in on operations or hold meetings on site, rather than flying into Jefferson Parish and driving 30 minutes west to get to their facilities. Undoubtedly, that mission has been accomplished, as the entire airport has undergone numerous upgrades and improvements over the years – from lengthening the runway to accommodate larger aircraft, to modernizing the main terminal, to constructing multiple state-of-the-art hangars.
While supporting the industries located along the Mississippi River with more convenient business-related travel options continues to be of the utmost importance, the Port of South Louisiana Executive Regional Airport has also developed into a showcase stage for public events, philanthropic causes and wholesome aviation entertainment. Prior to the March 2020 lockdown, the airport hosted a wide variety of events. Finally being able to host gatherings like the CJAA Cajun Jet Blast was a reminder that that calendar will once again be filled as 2021 continues. “Although this airport did not close for the pandemic, our monthly events had to,” says Airport Director Lisa Braud. “We have had two already this year, and it’s nice to see people coming out and enjoying the food and enjoying the camaraderie. They are happy to
get out and fly to events, again. “There are still residents in the area after decades of this airport being in existence, first as Parish-run and for the last 10 years Port-run, that do not know there is an airport here,” Braud continues. “What better way to spread the word than to open it up for public events where kids can come in and ride in an airplane or just see an airplane, the scouts can come in and learn things to get a merit badge, residents can come out and just enjoy the day watching planes take off and land. We invite car clubs for ‘Wings and Wheels’ events, and other groups, all to invite the community in, all to get more people visiting us and all to get maybe just that one child (or even adult) who may become interested in learning to fly and getting their own pilot’s license.” •
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A GROWING FLEE T Leading carrier Ingram Marine introduces newly-completed vessels
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wo new vessels will soon be traveling the Mighty Mississippi and America’s inland waterways, as Ingram Marine Group has completed and christened the
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latest additions to their fleet. On June 2, Ingram Marine christened the M/V Adrienne M. Moore and honored the M/V Tom Cornwell, both of which were constructed
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by locally operated companies Cenac Marine and Main Iron. The christening ceremony also served as a milestone for Ingram’s partnership with Cenac and Main Iron, which will see the three entities collaborating on eight additional vessels for a total of 10 to round out a major expansion of Ingram’s capabilities. These versatile new vessels are Ingram’s first builds in 40 years and will operate in South Louisiana, Texas and inland U.S., as needed. Both the M/V Adrienne M. Moore and M/V Tom Cornwell are named after Ingram Marine Group associates who President & CEO Dave O’Loughlin says are exemplary of the company’s values and mission. “Both Adrienne and Tom exemplify The Ingram Way, our culture of being honorable, empowered, accountable and driven, each and every day,” says O’Loughlin. “Naming a vessel after someone is the highest honor we can bestow, and we can’t think of two associates more deserving.” Adrienne Moore currently serves as Ingram Marine Group’s AVP of Logistics and Customer Service and has been with the company for approximately 30 years. O’Loughlin says Moore is a “top-notch customer service provider and a valuable mentor to her direct reports and the broader logistics team.” Tom Cornwell joined Ingram Marine in 1977 and has served in a number of roles. Today, he is Ingram Marine’s Engineering Projects Manager and oversees the construction of new vessels. Their namesake vessels are just as impressive: both the M/V Adrienne M. Moore and M/V Tom Cornwell are twin-screw vessels spanning more than 78 feet, with Caterpillar C32 Tier 3 main engines, John Deere 99kw generators, and propellers furnished by Houma Machine and Propeller. O’Loughlin says that as the eight additional vessels are completed, Ingram will continue to recog-
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Pictured: Adrienne Moore and Tom Cornwell at the Ingram Tug Christening
nize notable team members and associates. “We take the naming of each vessel very seriously, and there is a great deal of thought put into the process,” he says. “The names placed on these vessels will undoubtedly be people that exemplify The Ingram Way.” Not only does the completion of the new vessels bode well for Ingram and the maritime industry, but O’Loughlin says South Louisiana will also see additional economic development through job creation. Currently, the company is accepting online applications for deckhands, cooks and Pilots. O’Loughlin looks forward to generating even more opportunities as the remaining vessels are completed and says community partnerships with entities like the Port of South Louisiana will continue to play a valuable role in increasing Ingram’s growth and capabilities. “Ingram is proud to have a great relationship with the Port of South Louisiana and with the other Ports in which we operate,” he says. “These Ports play such an important role for us and our customers. Our daily work and safety depends on these relationships and strong communication. We look forward to a continued partnership and even growing these relationships for many years to come.” •
All images courtesy of Ingram Marine
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LEGISL ATIVE SESSIONS REC AP Senators and House Representatives who advocate for the Por t of South Louisiana’s tri- parish dis tric t had an ac tive and produc tive 2021 legislative ses sion. Get to k now your legislator s and learn about some of their main priorities and achievement s.
SENATOR EDDIE J. LAMBERT - DISTRICT 18 Senator Eddie J. Lambert represents District 18, which comprises parts of Ascension, St. James, and Livingston Parishes. He’s been serving the people of Louisiana since he was elected to the House of Representatives in 2003. Since 2016, he’s represented the 18th district in the State Senate. In this year’s legislative session, he focused on securing additional funding for the Port through the Capital Outlay process, which is a system where proposed state construction projects are submitted to the legislature. With additional state funding, Senator Lambert helped to advance the Port’s new and ongoing construction projects. “I enjoy helping the Port expand,” Senator Lambert said. “The expansion brings more economic activity to the area thereby providing more jobs and opportunities for our citizens.” Senator Lambert also authored SB46 which was signed by the governor as Act 161 and “Increases the amount of compensation excluded from tax table income for certain active duty members of the armed forces.” SENATOR GARY L. SMITH - DISTRICT 19 Senator Gary Smith loves serving the people of the 19th district, which includes Jefferson, Lafourche, St. Charles and St. John the Baptist Parishes. A practicing attorney and a native of Norco in St. Charles Parish, Senator Smith has been representing his district as a senator for almost 10 years. He’s worked tirelessly to support the Port of South Louisiana. “The Port represents a solid backbone of industry and employment, and it supports businesses and taxes for our region and the state,” says Senator Smith. “It is the most important natural infrastructure for commerce and agriculture in the nation.” In this year’s sessions, Senator Smith had a clear focus. “I can sum it up in two words: Capital Outlay,” he says, referring to the comprehensive budget that would provide additional funding for the Port. Through his support, the bill was passed and is on its way to the governor’s desk for approval. Smith’s other successful initiatives included SB186, signed by the governor as Act 104, which provides postconviction relief with regard to successful “actual innocence” claims.
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SENATOR EDWARD J. “ED” PRICE - DISTRICT 2 Senator Ed Price represents District 2,which encompasses parts of Ascension, Assumption, Iberville, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist and West Baton Rouge Parishes. During this year’s legislative session, Senator Price targeted his efforts on securing capital for the Port’s multimodal hub. “My focus was getting Capital Outlay dollars for the Globalplex Dock Access Bridge and Equipment, and dollars to complete the terminal building,” he says. That amounts to $10.2 million in additional funding to advance the Port’s construction projects. With his support, the budget passed, and the money will benefit the Port in both direct and indirect ways, such as funding the deepening of the Mississippi River. “This project will allow larger ships to come up the river as well as more tonnage to be loaded onto barges and ships,” he says. Senator Price was also the author of SB24, signed by the governor as Act 37, which provides a minimum benefit increase for certain retirees, beneficiaries and survivors of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana, Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System, Louisiana School Employees’ Retirement System and State Police Retirement System. REPRESENTATIVE TROY CARTER - DISTRICT 2, FORMER SENATOR - DISTRICT 7 In this year’s legislative session, then-Senator Troy Carter represented the people of District 7, which includes Jefferson, Orleans and Plaquemines parishes. Though he was recently elected as the U.S. Representative for Louisiana’s 2nd congressional district, Carter served as a Senator at this year’s state legislature. He authored SB49, an act currently pending in the Senate Finance Committee, which would establish a state minimum wage of $15 per hour and, starting in 2023, would see minimum wage increases proportional to the percentage increase of the Consumer Price Index. Carter also introduced SB35, a motion to prohibit student growth being used as a factor in determining a teacher’s performance or effectiveness within the 2020-2021 school year. The bill is currently in review by the Committee on Education. REPRESENTATIVE CLAY SCHEXNAYDER - DISTRICT 81 Representative Clay Schexnayder represents Louisiana’s 81st district, which includes parts of Ascension, Livingston, St. James and St. John the Baptist Parishes. He owns Car Craft Collision Centers and has been serving the people of District 81 since he was first elected in 2011. Rep. Schexnayder also serves as the Speaker of the House and presided over every session, put to a vote any questions or measures that required ruling, and explained or clarified any procedural rules. That included HB2, the proposed Capital Outlay budget that would provide additional funding to the Port of South Louisiana. Rep. Schexnayder authored more than a dozen instruments during the 2021 legislative session, concerning various issues such as taxes, agricultural commodities, property and expropriation, funding grants and more. HB642, a legislative instrument seeking to establish the Louisiana Rescue Plan Fund in order to administer money from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, is awaiting the governor’s signature.
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REPRESENTATIVE RANDAL L GAINES - DISTRICT 57 Representative Gaines serves the people of St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes. A veteran who served in the United States Army for 25 years, including during Operation Desert Storm and Hurricane Katrina, Rep. Gaines knows how to fight for and support his constituents and has been doing so since he was first elected in 2011. With the Mississippi River running through his district, the Port of South Louisiana is one of his main concerns. He loves supporting efforts to expand and revitalize the Port’s infrastructure. He was part of the Tiger Grant Application, which sought federal funding for the Port’s Globalplex complex. In this year’s session, Rep. Gaines voted in favor of HB2 and authored HB415, signed by the governor as Act 319, which allows tourist commissions to establish improvement districts as part of their recovery efforts. Commissions will be able to collect supplementary funds to further market their districts as attractive areas for tourism, recreation and business. REPRESENTATIVE GREGORY A MILLER - DISTRICT 56 Representative Miller serves the 56th district, which comprises a large part of St. Charles Parish as well as a section of St. John the Baptist Parish. Raised in Norco, Miller graduated from De La Salle High School in New Orleans, earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, and completed his legal education at LSU. In this year’s legislative sessions, Rep. Miller authored several legislative items including HB260, an act signed by the governor that allows for “technical corrections and revision of provisions of Title 36 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.” Among other instruments that relate to public contracts and boards/commissions, Rep. Miller also authored and passed HB152, a civil procedure act that provides for the continuous revisions of the Code of Civil Procedure. REPRESENTATIVE KENDRICKS “KEN” BRASS - DISTRICT 58 Representative Ken Brass represents a district that includes parts of the parishes of Ascension, Iberville and St. James. He’s been hard at work helping citizens in his community for a long time, serving on various boards and commissions including the Relay for Life, 4-H Advisory, and the Dryades YMCA. He even finds time to coach Biddy Basketball and T-Ball. “My goal as a public servant is to always try my best in making a difference in the community and in the lives of the people in which I have been elected to serve,” Brass said. For the folks of the 58th district, that means supporting efforts to help expand the Port of South Louisiana and bring more jobs and economic benefits to the region. Several of his proposals this year were signed by the governor, including a bill to create retirement funds for retired sheriffs and deputy sheriffs; a bill that establishes higher penalties for unlawful use of unmanned aircraft systems; and a bill that will pre-qualify a pool of design-builders to work with the Department of Transportation and Development. REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH A. STAGNI - DISTRICT 92 Representative Joe Stagni serves the 92nd district of Louisiana, which includes the parishes of Jefferson and St. Charles. A relative newcomer to the state legislature, Stagni was elected in 2017. Rep. Stagni has been involved in public service for decades and previously served on the Kenner City Council, where he developed a reputation for being one of the hardest working members. Before that, he served on two zoning boards and on former Mayor Phil Capitano’s transition team. He was even awarded the Monte M. Lemann Award from the Louisiana Civil Service League for his work in the community. Stagni brought his tireless work ethic and experience to help support funding efforts for the Port. In this year’s session, he worked to have HB2 approved and authored several bills that have now been approved by the governor. Among them are HB141, which requires exit pollers to register with the Secretary of State; HB477, allowing the La. State Board of Examiners of Psychologists to implement fees for certain services; and HB33, which changes the applicability of the running of time limitations for certain offenses against juveniles.
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PORT BRIEFS
PORT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HONORED WITH ANNUAL AWARD Paul Aucoin, Executive Director of the Port of South Louisiana, was named the 2021 recipient of the C. Alvin Bertel Award, which is given by the World Trade Center New Orleans each year to “an individual who has made significant contributions to the Louisiana port and maritime community.” Aucoin has headed the Port for eight years, and in that time has led massive investments in infrastructure and industrial development, which have in turn yielded thousands of jobs in the region. “I am very honored to have been selected for the 2021 C. Alvin Bertel” said Aucoin in a press release. “My relationship with the maritime industry and its members has been very special. Both have provided me with a lifetime of friendships, experiences and the chance to make a difference for the home that we call Louisiana. A sincere thanks to the Port of South Louisiana Commissioners, my industry colleagues, and to our wonderful port team members that make the Port of South Louisiana great.”
SMARTPORT INITIATIVE RECEIVES NATIONAL FUNDING On June 6, 2021, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Association would be awarded to the state’s SmartPort initiative, which is designed to transmit data between ports in real time in order to improve efficiency. The award will be matched with an additional $1.4 million contributed by state and port partners. The Port of South Louisiana, the Port of New Orleans and the Port of Greater Baton Rouge are the three main ports working with Louisiana Economic Development on the SmartPort project, along with other port entities along the Lower Mississippi River. The project is slated for an early 2022 launch.
VALERO PARTNERS WITH RPCC International manufacturer Valero, which operates a St. Charles Parish refinery in Norco, has committed $1 million to River Parishes Community College (RPCC) for use at the newly-opened United Way of St. Charles campus. Construction of the campus cost an estimated $3.3 million and spans a 3.9 acre site. The United Way campus offers students the opportunity to work toward an associate’s degree in process technology or instrumentation, skills that directly feed into leading industries in the region, without the need for long-distance commutes. Valero’s donation will enable RPCC and United Way to expand the campus’ offerings for both existing and future students. The Valero logo has been added to the St. Charles campus building to honor the college’s new partner.
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ABOVE: Rickey Jackson and
Mike Spears visit KAPS
LEFT: River Region
Economic Development Breakfast
ABOVE: The Port of South Louisiana hosts the LA Legislative Delegation annually during legislative session.
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P O R Tr a i t s
PORT OF SOUTH LOUISIANA EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION EVENT
Monica Pierre - 20 years
Vickie Lewis-Clark - 20 years
Michael Anderson - 20 years
Dennis Millet - 20 years
Lisa Adams - 15 years
Patti Crockett - 15 years
Joseph Mamou - 10 years
Danielle Taylor - 10 years
Andrew Semere - 5 years
Alexandra Hernandez receives the Spark Award for Oustanding Partnership
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Cindy Martin - Retired 33 years of service
P O R Tr a i t s
Charles Graffeo - 5 years
Louise Grimes - 5 years
Rachel Swords - 5 years
Commissioner Judy Songy - 5 years
NOT PICTURED:
Commissioner Pat Sellars - 5 years Commissioner Whitney Hickerson - 5 years Lydasha Augusta - 5 years Tanya Becnel - 5 years
Brad Kubelka - 10 years Jody Stein - 10 years Joel Chaisson - 15 years Shawn Hidalgo - 15 years
Lester Millet, III - 15 years Catherine Becnel - 20 years Cleo Wainwright - 25 years Janeen Benn - 25 years
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P O R T O W N E D FA C I L I T I E S
GLO BALPLEX INT ERMO DAL T ERMINA L 155 West 10th Street, Reserve, La. 70084 P.O. Box 909, LaPlace, La. 70069 phone : 985-652-9278 fax : 985-653-0798 e - mail : info@portsl.com web : www.portsl.com contact ( s ): Paul Aucoin, Executive Director; Roy Quezaire, Deputy Director location : River mile 138.5 equipment : Two Manitowoc 2250 rail-mounted gantry cranes; 100,000-pound capacity weighing scale for trucks; 100,000 square foot warehouse; 72,000-sq. foot, and 40,000-sq. foot transit shed; and a 177,000 sq. foot paved open storage pad dock : 204 ft. x 660 ft. with upstream and downstream mooring dolphins. allow for dockage of panamax size vessels; 700 ft x 65 ft finger pier general cargo operators associated terminals ph : 985-536-4520 address :
mailing address :
GLO BALPLEX BULK DO CK P.O. Box 909, LaPlace, La. 70069 985-652-9278 fax : 985-653-0798 e - mail : info@portsl.com web : www.portsl.com contact ( s ): Paul Aucoin, Executive Director; Roy Quezaire, Deputy Director location : River mile 138.5 function : Transfer and store bulk, primarily cement fluorspar limestone and wood chips equipment : An 800 tons-per-hour continuous Carlsen ship unloader, a 1,800 tons-per-hour ship-loading system, 100,000 tons of cement storage in two storage domes, 70,000 tons of storage for flourspar in an A-frame building and approximately nine acres of paved open storage for wood chips and other products. dock : 507’ x 44’ with upstream and downstream mooring buoys to allow for panamax-size vessels mailing address : phone :
ADM RES ERVE 2032 La. Highway 44, Reserve, La. 70084 985-536-1151 fax : 985-536-1152 web : ADMWorld.com contact ( s ): Mike Landry, generale manager of commercial operations location : River mile 139.2 function : Grain export elevator. other : Fully automated address : phone :
PO RT O F S O UT H LO UIS IANA EXECUT IVE REGIO NAL AIRPO RT mailing address : physical
P.O. Box 909, La Place, La. 70069-0909
A ddress : 355 Airport Road, Reserve, La. 70084
985-652-9278 portsl.com/airport-services email : psl-era@portsl.com contact : Lisa Braud, Airport Director location : N30° 05.25’, W30°34.97 phone : web :
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P O R T O W N E D FA C I L I T I E S
PLAINS MARKET ING L .P. 6410 Plains Terminal Road, St. James, La. 70086 Craig Ellinwood phone : 225-265-2353 fax : 225-265-3171 web : PAALP.com location : Mile marker 158.6 function : Storage of petroleum products. address :
terminal manager :
S O LAPO RT West Bank industrial site acquired for development into an industrial park located adjacent to Dow in St. Charles Parish. Paul Aucoin (985) 652-9278
contact : phone :
MPLX L.P. (PIN O AK T ERMINAL S) 4006 Highway 44, Mt. Airy, La. 70076 Gregg Qualls phone : 504-533-8783 web : PinOakTerminals.com location : Mile marker 144.1 function : Storage of petroleum products. address :
contact :
PS L WES T BANK S T. J A M E S Paul Aucoin (985) 652-9278
contact : phone :
Property acquired for development.
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INDUSTRY MAP
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FINAL FRAME
The newly completed SoLaPort railyard, configured in exclusive partnership with Dow Chemical PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA HERNANDEZ
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