Media Contact:

Chris Smith, Corn Belt Ports: chris.smith@cornbeltports.com

Angelina Chauvin Vicknair, Plaquemines Port, Harbor, and Terminal District: avicknair@pphtd.com

Jay Hardman, Port of Greater Baton Rouge: hardmanj@portgbr.com

Kimberly Curth, Port of New Orleans: Kimberly.curth@portnola.com

Paul Matthews, Port of South Louisiana: pmatthews@portsl.com

Drew Heaphy, St. Bernard Port, Harbor, and Terminal District: dheaphy@stbernardport.com

Corn Belt Ports and Louisiana Ports Sign Cooperative Endeavor Agreement

The Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) will unify the Upper and Lower Mississippi River ports to support mutual interests.

NEW ORLEANS — In a landmark move to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of the Mississippi River’s vital agricultural and industrial trade routes, the Upper and Lower Mississippi River ports signed their first-ever Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) at the National Waterways Conference’s Annual Meeting. This historic partnership is poised to drive significant advancements in cooperation efforts toward business development, infrastructure investment, and federal support for port operations along America’s Marine Highways 35 and 55.

The signatories, convened by Corn Belt Ports, include Plaquemines Port, Harbor and Terminal District, Port of Greater Baton Rouge, Port of New Orleans, Port of South Louisiana, and St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District.

Key goals of the agreement include:

1. Expanding Global Markets for U.S. Agricultural Products
   In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the ports will address supply chain bottlenecks and enhance the flow of agricultural exports from the Midwest to global markets through Louisiana’s coastal ports. In addition, the group will convene an annual agricultural business development event in New Orleans.
2. Support federal port and waterways infrastructure investment, navigation channel maintenance, and dredging funding priorities.
   The ports will take a unified approach to government relations in natural and man-made infrastructure and construction, operations, and maintenance. Coalitions are more powerful than the simple sum of their parts, and multi-front government relations are more effective than individual, disjointed efforts.
3. Support for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Reforms
   Recognizing the essential role of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in maintaining inland waterways, the ports will actively support ongoing reform initiatives aimed at increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of water resources infrastructure development.
4. Support for MARAD Marine Highway Programs
   The CEA will bolster efforts to create and strengthen federal programs that meet the needs of ports along Marine Highways 35 and 55, ensuring these critical trade routes remain viable and competitive.

This CEA marks a significant step forward in the unified effort to advance the economic and operational capabilities of ports up and down the Mississippi River. By working together, the Upper and Lower Mississippi River ports will ensure that these vital trade routes continue to serve as a major backbone of America’s agricultural and manufacturing industries.

About Corn Belt Ports

Corn Belt Ports is the four federally recognized rural, regional, multi-modal, inland ports within the Corn Belt’s Lock and Dam System on the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway. Through continued investment and innovative organizing, Corn Belt Ports supports the integrity and sustainability of the supply chain. The Corn Belt Ports handle nearly 100 million tons of freight annually, which is expected to increase year after year. Since its inception in 2019, Corn Belt Ports have helped attract over $2 billion of investment in multi-modal and natural infrastructure from multiple sources.

About Plaquemines Port, Harbor, and Terminal District

Plaquemines Port, Harbor, and Terminal District, located at the mouth of the Mississippi River, is a leading maritime hub along the Gulf Coast. With its state-of-the-art infrastructure and strategic location on the Mississippi River, the Port plays a pivotal role in fostering economic growth, supporting local industries, and connecting communities. Equipped with modern terminals and facilities, the Port handles a diverse range of cargo and implements environmentally sustainable practices. The Port owns and operates the ferry system in Plaquemines, an essential connectivity asset. Through its operations, the Port generates employment opportunities, stimulates regional economic diversification, and fuels long-term prosperity.

About the Port of Greater Rouge

The Port of Greater Baton Rouge offers a full range of maritime services and outstanding facilities, from a deep-water complex on the Mississippi River that can accommodate Panamax vessels to our Inland Rivers Marine Terminal on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Their facilities are situated at the convergence of the Mississippi River and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. They are linked to other major ports between Florida and Texas and throughout 15,000 miles of the Mississippi River inland waterway system as well as to the Gulf of Mexico and ocean trade lanes to the world. Their exceptional maritime infrastructure and connectivity provide direct access to ship, barge, truck, and rail.

About the Port of New Orleans

The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) is a modern multimodal gateway for global commerce and an in-demand cruise port — delivering seamless, integrated logistics solutions between river, rail, and road. Port NOLA is a diverse deep-water port uniquely located on the Mississippi River near the Gulf of Mexico -- with access to 30-plus major inland hubs such as Dallas, Memphis, Chicago, and Canada via 14,500 miles of waterways, 6 Class I railroads and interstate roadways. Strategic alignment with the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, a Class III connecting railroad, strengthens Port NOLA’s position as an integrated hub and supports the Port’s mission of driving regional economic prosperity.

About the Port of South Louisiana

Founded in 1960, the Port of South Louisiana [PortSL] is a 54-mile port district on the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, encompassing the parishes of St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, and St. James. The Port of South Louisiana is the largest port in Louisiana and #2 in the Western Hemisphere. It ranks as the #1 U.S. grain exporter and #2 U.S. energy transfer port. Port SL is home to seven grain transfer facilities, four major oil refineries, 11 petrochemical manufacturing facilities and several other facilities, including the Executive Regional Airport.

About the St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District:

The St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District regulates all domestic, coastwise and intercoastal commerce and traffic of the district, and all commerce and traffic which is conducted by or through a facility wholly owned by the Port. The St. Bernard Port’s mission is to create jobs and provide economic development, while maintaining a positive impact on St. Bernard Parish and its citizens. The St. Bernard Port and its tenants, collectively, create the largest employment facility in St. Bernard Parish, employing over 18% of its workforce.