Page 25: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Sep/Oct 2017)

24 26

roads are require ongoing capital investments. Many of the We expect all sectors will beneft from an alignment of most transformative projects are multi-year and extremely ex- NOPB and Port NOLA. With control over a larger portion pensive. Both maritime and rail associations have been mak- of the supply chain, the Port can plan future investments and ing the case about the need for investment at the Federal and operations synergistically and strategically. Cargo, includ- local level – we need to continue that effort. The alignment ing container and breakbulk, is an obvious benefciary of the of the Port of New Orleans and the New Orleans Public Belt NOPB acquisition, though cruise passengers will beneft as railroad allows us to share operational plans and work toward well, with more access to the riverfront along nearly three a shared vision. This will include an emphasis on strategic miles of contiguous open space. infrastructure investments.

The plan also calls for the Port to transfer the Gov-

Royal Caribbean International has announced that it will ernor Nicholls Street and Esplanade Avenue Wharves return to New Orleans in 2018. That’s good news for a along the Mississippi River to the City of New Orleans. tourist destination rich in culture, history and hospitality This move, showing unusual community outreach, en- knowhow. The Port handled 1,070,695 cruise passen- sures that the port and the city’s tourism industries can gers in 2016 (and that number is increasing year-on- operate side by side in prosperity. What else prompted year, and impressively ranks as the sixth-largest cruise the decision?

port in the United States, with direct industry expen-

When the City of New Orleans began exploring options to sell the shortline railroad or outsource its management, the ditures in Louisiana of $406 million). What’s the long- resulting uncertainty had a chilling effect on NOPB’s busi- term goal for those numbers? What are you doing about ness. For nearly 100 years, the railroad has served as a utility, keeping, and attracting even more business?

We are fortunate that New Orleans is such an appealing providing cost effective service without favoring any one rail- location, both as a standalone destination and cruise port, road. During the City’s process, Port NOLA came to a new ap- as well as being easily accessible by air, rail and car. Sixty preciation of the competitive advantage our access to six Class percent of our cruise guests spend an average of two nights I’s has been. We also recognized that having a shared vision in the city either before or after their cruise, so the region for the railroad and port could result in greater effciencies truly benefts economically. Our goal, not surprisingly, is to and growth. The City had long hoped to provide contiguous provide superior service to the cruise lines and passengers, riverfront access in the French Market area for residents and so we can continue to attract newer and larger ocean going visitors and the confguration of the two wharves that inter- ships and grow our river cruise business. We enjoy close and rupted the fow of public access are less than ideal for today’s positive relationships with our longtime cruise line partners, maritime operations. From the Port perspective, an acquisition

Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, of NOPB provided a greater beneft. Together, the City and who will return to Port NOLA next year. A key aspect of the Port realized that a realignment of assets would be more growing cruise opportunities includes optimizing capacity at benefcial and a win-win-win for all involved.

our two state-of-the-art cruise terminals and planning for our

Port NOLA has announced and launched Architectural future needs. We also partner with tourism and economic de- and Engineering Services Roundtables Discussions Pro- velopment groups on initiatives that contribute to the region’s moting Professional Services Opportunities with Port. appeal, such as working to attract more direct domestic and international fights.

Who are these roundtables reaching out to, and what is the ultimate goal of the effort?

The Port of New Orleans, the New Orleans Public Belt

As part of a commitment to ensure greater opportuni-

Railroad and the City of New Orleans have agreed to ties for all who want to work with the Port and a complete overhaul of the procurement process, the Port held a series align the Public Belt Railroads and its assets under the of roundtable discussions to promote professional service

Port of New Orleans. The Public Belt will continue to ef- opportunities to small, local architectural and engineering fectively serve the Port of New Orleans and the move is companies. The goal of the roundtables is to ensure qualifed expected to give the Port greater competitive advantage businesses have the opportunity to work with the Port. In in international trade. What trades do you see benefting return, the Port obtains a larger pool of prospective profes- the most from this move? Break Bulk, containers, bulk, sional service providers. cruise traffc or perhaps all sectors in different ways?

www.maritimelogisticsprofessional.com 25

I