Patriot Rail's Seaonus Stevedoring granted free-trade zone status at New Orleans port

Seaonus Stevedoring-New Orleans, a division of Patriot Rail Co., has been granted permission to operate the only on-dock foreign trade zone (FTZ) site in New Orleans, which will be at the Port of New Orleans' Alabo Street Wharf location.

The facility will offer covered and noncovered storage for a variety of cargo, including breakbulk commodities such as nonferrous metals and steel, company officials said in a press release.

The facility also will continue to serve its non-FTZ customers for other bulk, breakbulk and project cargo.

Being the only on-dock FTZ in New Orleans will provide "significant savings" to Seaonus Stevedoring customers by avoiding drayage to an inland FTZ, company officials said.

"This marks another fundamental milestone in our vision to integrate our ports and rail services units," said Chief Commercial Officer Alin Campian. "It ideally positions our company to bring to market first class logistics and cargo handling solutions that save our customers time and money and provide full turn-key services with one-stop shop convenience."

The federal FTZ program helps importers manage cash flow and save money and time through streamlined U.S. Customs clearance. It also provides customers to improve compliance, inventory and tracking control.