Port NOLA awarded $7M grant; GPA signs 20-year terminal pact

The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) has been awarded a $7 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration’s Reducing Truck Emissions at Port Facilities (RTEPF) program.

The grant will be used to fund sustainable transportation and infrastructure to reduce truck congestion and emissions at port terminals, Ports America Louisiana and New Orleans Terminal LLC, Port NOLA officials said in a press release.

Additionally, the grant will provide $200,000 in sub-awards for Port NOLA's partners at Nunez Community College and the Urban League of Louisiana for workforce development and educational opportunities for future technicians to work on the upcoming technologies.

The funding will drive substantial reductions in truck emissions, benefiting the environment and public health, said U.S. Rep. Troy Carter Sr. (D-La.).

Port NOLA is served by the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, which connects with all Class Is.

Meanwhile, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) and Wallenius Wilhelmsen (WW) have signed a 20-year terminal agreement consolidating the company's port and logistics operations at the Port of Brunswick.

"We’re excited to welcome the additional business to Colonel's Island Terminal from WW, where we are developing the nation’s premier gateway for all carriers handling autos and heavy machinery," said GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch in a press release. "This move is an important part of our two-pillar strategy, which calls for all roll-on/roll-off cargo to be located in Brunswick, and all container trade in Savannah."

To increase capacity in Brunswick, GPA has developed an additional 130 acres of ro/ro storage and multiple warehouses to serve processing needs at Colonel's Island. Another 300 acres are available for development.

Colonel's Island is served by CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway.