Program Management for a Major Port Capacity Expansion

The Port of New Orleans saw its container volumes double between 2010 and 2020. To meet this sharply rising demand, the port is planning a second international container terminal. The Louisiana International Terminal in Violet, Louisiana, will complement the port’s existing terminal by adding capacity, taking advantage of the natural deep draft at the site and eliminating bridge air-draft clearance constraints.

HDR was retained in October 2021 to provide program management and program control services for the $1.8 billion terminal project. As the program management and project controls lead for the terminal development, HDR’s team is responsible for assisting the Port of New Orleans in the overall management and execution of the project.

Greenfield Terminal on the Lower Mississippi

The new container terminal will occupy 400 acres and include 3,600 feet of berth space. At full buildout it will have a capacity of 1.2 million containers. The first phase, targeted to open in 2028, will have a capacity of approximately 600,000 containers.

Building a new container terminal on the mighty Mississippi in a region known for hurricanes and flooding involves some notable site challenges. But the location was specifically chosen for its resiliency in the face of these challenges. Violet, in St Bernard Parish, has naturally deep water that is easy to navigate and will require minimum dredging. It is also protected from storm surges by recently reinforced federal levees as part of the US Army Corps of Engineers’ $14 billion Hurricane & Storm Damage Risk Reduction System. The HSDRRS project was recently tested by Hurricane Ida and successfully prevented flooding in the St. Bernard Parish area.

Services Across Project Lifecycle

HDR’s experienced program management team is providing a wide range of services to successfully complete this project, including management and oversight of master planning and design, grant application support, risk management, economic studies, strategic communication, permitting, schedule management, engineering studies, wetlands mitigation, quality assurance and more.

HDR will also assist with procurement documents, provide contracting strategy recommendations and support the selection of program consultants and contractors.

Experience and expertise are critical for successful program management, and our team includes key members who delivered the Hugh Leatherman Terminal in North Charleston, South Carolina. Part of our team is co-located within the port’s offices in New Orleans, improving communication and allowing the port to access our assistance quickly and easily.

Community-Changing Investments

The project site in Violet is a semi-rural area downriver from New Orleans in St. Bernard Parish. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused widescale damage to the Parish. The program investment of $1.8 billion is expected to transform the region and bring good paying jobs, both temporary and long term.

The Port of New Orleans is committed to working with the community to produce a win-win outcome. HDR strategic communications staff are working closely with the port and the community to provide a transparent, comprehensive decision-making process.