Growing Maritime Transportation Demand Boosts U.S. Gulf Port Projects

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The Port and Maritime Industry continues to see growth along the U.S. Gulf Coast, prompting more demand for freight and harbor maintenance in Louisiana and Mississippi ports. The ports support one in five jobs in the region, with a backlog of billions of dollars in construction projects as the ports brace themselves for the impact of the Panama Canal Expansion. Industrial info is tracking five projects totaling $1.6 billion dollars in the two states.

In Louisiana, the projects include the $1.3 billion Louisiana International Gulf Transfer Terminal Authority's Terminal being built near Venice, Louisiana. The terminal will include a 75-foot container terminal with 9,000/12,000 TEU (Twenty Foot Equivalent) vessel berths on a 250-acre site to increase marine cargo handling operations. Upon approved funding, construction is anticipated to begin in the fall of 2016. Another project in the Pelican State is the $100 million dollar Galliano Slip D Bulkhead Port Expansion, which will add 300 acres of developed property and create 10,000 linear feet of waterfront as well as expanding the existing bulkhead by adding 4,000 linear feet with two miles of steel and one mile of roadway. Construction began in the summer of 2015 and is anticipated to be completed by the fall of 2016.

In Mississippi, a $55.8 million Gulfport West Pier and Wharf Marine Cargo Handling Container Expansion will include the restoration of 200 acres of open water bottom in the Mississippi Sound. The expansion will upgrade the wharf and building infrastructure for new gantry cranes and provide a firm foundation for the Port of Gulfport. Construction started in early summer of 2013 and is anticipated to be completed by spring of 2016. A $63.3 million Gulfport West Pier Sitework & Infrastructure for a Phase 1 Restoration is also being tracked. Construction started in the fall of 2014 and is anticipated to be completed by the fall of this year. An $80 million Gulfport Ilmenite Ore Handling & Storage Facility Relocation & Expansion is also underway in Mississippi. Construction started in the spring of last year and is anticipated to be completed by the summer of 2016.

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