US Louisiana's Plaquemines Port and APM Terminals, the terminal operating arm of AP Moller-Maersk, have announced an operating agreement to work towards the development of a new deepwater, multi-modal "Container Terminal and Intermodal Rail Facility" on the Mississippi River that could potentially handle ships up to 22,000 TEU capacity.
The agreement was signed by Plaquemines Port, Harbour and Terminal District (PPHTD) and APM Terminals following a six-month terminal review process.
Each party is now expected to conduct multiple studies prior to making a final investment decision, reports gCaptain, Ventura, California (LA area).
Under a Letter of Intent, APM Terminals would operate the terminal, currently in the early phases of development, to be located on 1,000 acres and 8,200 feet of Mississippi River frontage located 50 nautical miles from the Gulf of Mexico.
With plans for a 50-foot water depth, the first phase will be designed with the capability to handle 22,000 TEU vessels and the "ability to expand capacity as needed."
The terminal is also planned to be environmentally-friendly, powered by a combination of natural gas and electricity. Phase One of construction is expected to take about 2 years.
Governor of Louisiana John Bel Edwards applauded the announcement of the agreement: "Ports are economic engines and APM Terminals - a leader whose expertise is known globally - is ideally qualified to help us develop and operate one of the newest ports in the world."
According to the announcement from APM Terminals, the Army Corps of Engineers "will focus on bolstering levees around the site and connecting infrastructure" to reduce the risk of flooding and build a new federal levee system.
The existing flood protection will be raised from a 4 foot height to a new and more robust 14 foot height, which will also tie back into the Mississippi River levees at a height of 15 feet.
To further mitigate flood risk, the port has adopted a "Multiple Lines of Defense Strategy" to restore coastal wetlands, in the frontline of the storm surge, and provide additional protection to hurricane levees around the facilities.
Plaquemines Port Harbour & Terminal District was officially established in 1954 as a Political Subdivision of the State of Louisiana. It is the 13th largest port by tonnage in the United States and encompasses the first 80 miles of the Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico.
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