Brandy D. Christian, Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) President and CEO, and New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Corporation (Rail NOLA) CEO, highlighted the successes and challenges of the agency’s diverse business profile in 2018 at the annual State of the Port address Oct. 17, 2018 hosted by the International Freight Forwarders & Customs Brokers Association of New Orleans.

The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) received the Plan Excellence Award from the American Planning Association (APA) Louisiana Chapter Oct. 4, 2018, for Port NOLA’s Strategic Master Plan, Port NOLA Forward, a bold vision to deliver significant, sustained economic benefit throughout the Port’s three-parish jurisdiction – Jefferson, Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes.

New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB) held its second Neighbor Open House the evening of Dec. 6, 2018, at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) in the Bywater neighborhood. The event was attended by dozens of community members who came to learn about rail operations and share their ideas and questions with NOPB staff.

Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) held its annual Truck Driver Appreciation Week Oct. 30 – Nov. 2, 2018, to celebrate those who transport containers and breakbulk cargo on our nation’s roads and highways.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to deepen the Mississippi River Ship Channel will expand the Port of New Orleans’ (Port NOLA) critical role of serving as a gateway that connects inland markets in America’s heartland and Canada to the rest of the world.

Disney Cruise Line announced it will sail from the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) in early 2020. The 2,700-passenger Disney Wonder will embark on a variety of Caribbean and Bahamian cruises from New Orleans – marking the first time Disney Cruise Line will have a homeport in Louisiana.

The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB) is poised to bring its rail operations into the next 100 years with a new corporate logo, marking the most dramatic change in the company’s visual identity since 1908.

The momentum of the cruise sector at the Port of New Orleans has the Crescent City positioned to make riverine cruise history. The sixth-largest cruise port in the U.S. will welcome the first modern riverboat in the U.S. this fall, the American Cruise Lines American Song.

At special meetings on Sept. 25, the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) and the Board of Directors of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Corporation (NOPB) approved separate resolutions authorizing Cooperative Endeavor Agreements between Port NOLA, NOPB, Jefferson Parish and Avondale Marine LLC to facilitate the proposed redevelopment of the former Avondale Shipyard site.

NOPB is in the process of implementing the Urban Railroading Initiative, a companywide program that addresses infrastructure improvements, operations practices and internal and external outreach.

The Port of New Orleans’ annual State of the Port address is slated for Oct. 17, 2018 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Marriott New Orleans Downtown located at 859 Convention Center Blvd. in New Orleans.

The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) celebrated its second annual Maritime Month throughout May and National Maritime Day on May 22 to pay tribute to the region’s rich maritime history and to recognize the hardworking men and women who serve in the industry.