After six months of talks, Louisiana’s Plaquemines Port, Harbor and Terminal District (PPHTD) and APM Terminals (APMT) have signed a letter of intent that will make APMT the facility’s operator.
While APMT will be the operator Plaquemines Port and its partners will still manage the finances of the infrastructure development, investment, and ownership of the port.
“We’re excited by the prospect of starting a new economic chapter in US ports by developing America’s newest port here in Louisiana,” Gov of Louisiana John Bel Edwards said. “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.”
The facility is in the early stages of development as a 15.24m deep water depth, container terminal in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. The terminal will be environmentally friendly, powered by a combination of natural gas and electricity.
“We see tremendous opportunity to write a new supply chain playbook for US 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. We look forward to working with the Plaquemines Port Team, their partners and with State and Local leaders to ensure the port operates on world-class levels as a Louisiana success story,” Wim Lagaay, CEO of APM Terminals North America said.
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.
The US Army Corps of Engineers will focus on bolstering levees around the site and connecting infrastructure. A new levee system will bring the existing flood protection from a 1.21m height to a new 4.26m height and will tie back into the Mississippi River levees at a height of 4.57m. The objective is to protect the site in the event of storm surge from a hurricane.
Source: Seatrade Maritime
