The Port of New Orleans has achieved a new milestone with its container-on-barge service, reaching 20,500 container moves by barge during the 2023 calendar year, the highest since the service’s inception in 2016. This service, developed in partnership with the Port of Greater Baton Rouge and Ingram Marine Group, stands as the largest container-on-barge network in the U.S., offering a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional truck transport by reducing air emissions and connecting the nation’s heartland directly to global trade routes.
The container-on-barge service, which moves an average of 30,000 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) per year between New Orleans, the Port of Greater Baton Rouge, Memphis, and St. Louis, has been lauded for its environmental benefits. In 2023 alone, it resulted in a reduction of more than 1.3 million kg of CO2 emissions and saved over 130,000 gallons of diesel fuel, contributing significantly to sustainability efforts in the transport sector.
Port NOLA’s President & CEO, Brandy D. Christian, emphasized the port’s dedication to expanding this service further in the coming years as a means of providing innovative solutions for global supply chain disruptions while maintaining a commitment to sustainability. The partnership between Port NOLA, the Port of Greater Baton Rouge, and Ingram Marine Group underlines the collective effort to strengthen and make the supply chain more resilient.
Furthermore, the Louisiana International Terminal (LIT), currently in the design and permitting phase, will incorporate the latest green technologies, including shore power and an electrified equipment fleet, to further reduce local emissions impacts. The terminal, backed by significant federal grants and investments, is set to begin construction in 2025 and open its first berth in 2028, marking another step toward establishing Louisiana as the premier international Gulf gateway.
Credits:
- BIC Magazine, “Port of New Orleans container-on-barge service sets new record”, BIC Magazine Article.
