Below is the estimated timeline for the planning and development of the Louisiana International Terminal in St. Bernard Parish. This schedule is subject to change.
Site Feasibility
Throughout the period of 2018 to 2020, Port NOLA looked at multiple sites, assessing for land and water feasibility. The Violet site was determined to be the most advantageous because of its naturally deep water, proximity to existing rail networks, and location inside the levee system.
Purchase Agreements
In December 2020, Port NOLA purchased portions of the Violet property and signed purchase and sale agreements on the rest of the 1,200-acre site.
Conceptual Design Begins
In 2021, Port NOLA began conceptual design of what will be a roughly 400-acre terminal, releasing a preliminary concept. During this time, the Port also ramped up its community engagement efforts by opening a community office in Violet and engaging two community advisory councils for stakeholder input.
Property Acquisition
After a year of due diligence, surveying, and ongoing community engagement, Port NOLA finalized the purchase of approximately 1,200 acres in Violet for the future site of the proposed Louisiana International Terminal.
Public Permitting Process
We anticipate the permitting process to take two to three years. Led by the Army Corps of Engineers and a third-party contractor, the environmental review and permitting process will include several phases of public involvement to identify and address potential concerns.
Construction Begins
Construction will be a multi-year phased process requiring public-private partnerships and regulatory approvals. Construction may begin in 2025 if the required permits are approved.
Opening
The container terminal is estimated to open in 2028 with one ship berth (wharf). At opening, we anticipate an annual capacity of 180,000 containers, which will grow to 1.2 million in a 25-year span.
Full Capacity
We expect it to take about 25 years for the full capacity of the container terminal to be reached.
