NEW ORLEANS, La. (NOLA NOW) - Celebrating Maritime Month is an opportunity to an honor dedicated and talented maritime workforce while also focusing on one of the greatest natural resources, the Mississippi River.
Maritime activity on the Mississippi River is responsible for millions in economic impact and thousands of family-supporting jobs in the region and state. As Louisiana’s only international container port, the state’s future economic stability depends on the Port of New Orleans’ ability to meet current and future shipping needs.
In Louisiana, ports are responsible—both directly and indirectly—for supporting one in five jobs statewide. Average annual salaries for Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) tenant employees are $74,000, 51% higher than the local average.
Port NOLA is an economic engine for the state and region and plays a vital role in the global supply chain. Maritime Month highlights and salutes the men and women who keep international commerce moving.
“This is our ninth year celebrating Maritime Month. We do it to shine a light on our employees and staff, not only in Port NOLA, but throughout the state of Louisiana to really bring a light to the people who make the economy drive,” Port NOLA Board Chairman, Michael Thomas said.
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Port NOLA’s new Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) will have a significant economic impact in the region and state. LIT is expected to generate more than 18,500 jobs and more than $1 billion in new local and state tax revenue by 2050.
These are family supporting jobs including:
- Skilled labors
- Welders
- Engineers
- Longshoremen
- Warehouse workers
- Customs brokers
- Freight forwarders
The new container terminal enjoys support from private industry, the federal government and the State of Louisiana as well as from a dozen ports in six states and major trade and agriculture associations throughout the heartland of America.
In the 2024 regular session, Governor Jeff Landry and the Louisiana Legislature committed $230.5 million to Port NOLA infrastructure projects, including LIT. Last year, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $300 million in federal funding to assist in building LIT, the largest federal investment in a new container terminal in the agency’s history. And New Jersey-based Ports America, North America’s largest marine terminal operators, and Switzerland-based Mediterranean Shipping Company, through its terminal development and investment arm Terminal Investment Limited (TiL) have committed $800 million toward the project to date.
Construction of LIT is expected to start this year, as Port NOLA anticipates receiving all necessary permits as early as the Summer. LIT will be the largest public economic development in the State.
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