New Orleans Port Facilities Spared Serious Damage

Port of New Orleans facilities were spared serious damage in the wake of Hurricane Gustav, and Coast Guard and Port officials are working to expedite the reopening of the Mississippi River to deep-draft vessel traffic. “Our Mississippi River facilities, which constitute more than 80 percent of our cargo operations, received very minimal wind damage,” said Port President and CEO Gary LaGrange. “We’ve been in touch with all of our terminal operators and are working with them to restart cargo operations as soon as possible.”

The U.S. Coast Guard has reopened the Mississippi River to shallow-draft vessels. Overall, the port sustained minimal damage to its Mississippi River facilities from the Henry Clay Avenue Wharf upriver to the Alabo Street Terminal downriver. Minor damage, such as damaged fencing, transformers, doors and signage, was reported. “All of our preparations and plans worked well and we anticipate restarting operations as soon as power is restored and the population is allowed back into the city,” said Jeff Hakala, vice president of New Orleans Terminals, which operates half of the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal. For more information, visit www.portno.com.