CN, Port of New Orleans sign supply-chain MOU

In the second such agreement announced in a week, CN yesterday said it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Port of New Orleans in a pact aimed at drawing more container traffic through the port to North American markets.

The Port of New Orleans has an intermodal terminal next to its Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal providing on-dock access for all rail shipments. Now under construction, the new Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal — a $25-million project — will accommodate modern and efficient transfers within the container yard, and offer on-dock access and an improved CN link to the terminal, CN officials said in a press release. The new terminal is slated for completion in first-quarter 2016.

The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB), a switching railroad that serves the port and local industries, also signed the CN-Port of New Orleans MOU.

"The New Orleans Public Belt is excited about the efficiency gains that the new intermodal yard will provide. New Orleans is a natural intermodal gateway and we look forward to growing business with CN," said Jeff Davis, NOPB's general manager and chief executive officer.

CN's Port of New Orleans MOU follows the recent signing of a similar agreement with the Alabama State Port Authority, which owns the public terminals at the Port of Mobile.