The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued the federal permit necessary to construct the Louisiana International Terminal, which is a significant step forward for the proposed deepwater container terminal on the Lower Mississippi River.
This approval allows for the building of the greenfield terminal in St. Bernard Parish. The terminal is designed to serve the largest container ships that visit U.S. ports and will enhance the Port of New Orleans' connections to international container trade.
The Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) is being developed through a partnership between the Port of New Orleans, Terminal Investment Limited (TiL)—the investment branch of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)—and Ports America.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry remarked, “This is a pivotal moment not just for Louisiana, but for the entire country. The Louisiana International Terminal will drive economic growth and solidify Louisiana's position as the nation’s entry point for global trade.”
The terminal's site, located downriver from New Orleans, is crucial to its strategy. Currently, the largest container ships cannot access Port NOLA’s existing facilities due to height restrictions imposed by the Crescent City Connection bridges. The LIT will be situated below these bridges, allowing ships with capacities over 16,000 TEUs to reach the terminal without restrictions.
Additionally, the project will utilize the 50-foot Lower Mississippi River Ship Channel and have connections to major railroads and highways, providing the cargo passing through the terminal access to markets in more than 30 states.
Beth Branch, President and CEO of Port NOLA, stated, “Today’s permit transforms years of engineering, environmental assessments, and collaborations into actual progress. This isn't just a regional port expansion — it's vital infrastructure that will enhance American export capabilities and position Louisiana to lead future maritime trade. We are ready to begin construction.”
Initially announced in 2022, the project involves a $1.8 billion container terminal that can handle 2 million TEUs annually once fully completed. Ports America and TiL have invested $800 million towards its development, with further funding expected from Port NOLA and state and federal sources.
In 2020, Port NOLA acquired over 1,200 acres in Violet, Louisiana, for this project, with around 400 acres set aside for the terminal and related infrastructure.
The federal permit marks a crucial milestone for a project that has taken years to navigate engineering and environmental reviews.
Ammar Kanaan, CEO of TiL, commented, “This investment represents one of the most strategically important terminal developments in our global portfolio. The Mississippi River corridor provides the U.S. an opportunity to create deepwater capacity comparable to any port in the world.”
Port NOLA reports that its current cargo operations contribute over $101 billion in economic value nationwide and support more than 342,000 jobs in the U.S., including more than 122,000 in Louisiana. Once fully operational, LIT is expected to create thousands of jobs and generate billions in tax revenue.
With the Army Corps permit now obtained, Port NOLA and its private sector partners will advance the project into the construction phase.
This initiative is one of two major new container terminals planned for the lower Mississippi River. APM Terminals has also committed an initial $500 million to develop a new terminal with Plaquemines Port, which is closer to the river's mouth.