Program Management for a Major Port Capacity Expansion

Over the past decade, the movement of shipping containers in and out of the United States has increased significantly. To meet the industry's rising demand, the Port of New Orleans is investing $1.8 billion into the development of the Louisiana International Terminal. The proposed new facility will accommodate vessels of all sizes, providing a seamless flow of goods to support Louisiana's homes and businesses. The modern maritime gateway aims to create family-supporting jobs, drive economic growth across the state and keep Louisiana competitive in global trade.

HDR was retained in October 2021 to provide program management and program control services for the 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

When fully developed, the new container terminal will span 400 acres and will be capable of berthing the largest ships serving the U.S. Gulf Coast. The facility is designed to handle 1.2 million containers annually and will feature integrated road, rail and barge connections across the central U.S.

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 is also assisting the port with oversight of construction contractors, construction management and testing firms, and coordination with the future terminal operators.

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 have worked closely with the port to share important information and build trust within the community.