NEW ORLEANS —May 3, 2021— The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) recognizes its fifth annual Maritime Month May 1-31 and National Maritime Day on May 22 to pay tribute to the region’s rich maritime history and to honor the hardworking men and women of the local maritime workforce.

The theme of Maritime Month 2021 is “Your Working River, Connecting Louisiana with the World.” July 9, 2021 marks the 125^th anniversary of the founding of the Port of New Orleans, so this Maritime Month Port NOLA is also launching its year-long 125^th anniversary celebration.

“Given the challenges we overcame this past year, we are shining a special light on the unsung heroes of our industry — our frontline maritime and logistics workers who helped keep the gateway strong — no matter what, even when challenged by a global pandemic” said Brandy D. Christian, President and CEO of Port NOLA and CEO of the New Orleans Public Belt (NOPB). “The dedication of our local maritime workforce inspires confidence in our ability to drive economic growth for our region and Louisiana for the next 125 years.”

The 2021 campaign was set into motion at the April Port NOLA Board meeting when the Board of Commissioners approved a resolution officially declaring May 2021 as Maritime Month. The Port and NOPB will celebrate Maritime Month 2021 with a variety of events and promotions throughout the month.

Port NOLA will participate in National Travel and Tourism Week, May 2-8, with social media spotlights highlighting our cruise business. On May 5, NOPB will host a “Beat the Heat” event for employees. Port NOLA will also honor the men and women who serve in the Harbor Police Department during National Police Week May 9-15, with a special appearance on the Great Day Louisiana show on WWL-TV. Later in the month, Global Maritime Ministries will sponsor a Port Worker Appreciation event.

Throughout May, Port NOLA will also hold an ongoing social media contest, encouraging photographers of any skill level to capture images that depict the working river. Participants are encouraged to share their photos with the hashtag #portnolamaritimemonth and tag Port NOLA’s social media pages in their posts. A Port trivia contest will also be held via the Port’s social media channels.

Port NOLA has also partnered with WWL-TV for the fifth consecutive year and will host WWL-TV’s Morning News Show for a live broadcast from the Mississippi River on May 21.

Declared by Congress in 1933, National Maritime Day calls attention to America’s proud maritime heritage and honors the men and women who serve and have served as U.S. merchant mariners. Since 2017, Port NOLA has extended that recognition to a month-long awareness campaign engaging the public about the Port and the maritime industry’s value through a variety of events, promotions and partnerships.

For more information, visit the Port NOLA Maritime Month 2021 webpage at portnola.com/community/engagement/maritime-month