The Port of New Orleans and CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CN) signed a memorandum of understanding that will see the parties develop greater supply chain efficiencies aimed at drawing more container traffic through the Port to North American markets.
“We and our Port of New Orleans gateway partners have a mutual interest in ensuring the competitive and efficient movement of container goods through the gateway and growing its market share,” said JJ Ruest, CN’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “This MOU will help us advance that agenda.”
“We are pleased to build upon our long-standing relationship with CN,” said Gary LaGrange, Port President and CEO. “This MOU reflects a genuine interest in mutually developing better service that will help us capture greater market share and optimize throughput, with the ultimate goal of providing the best service possible to our customers.”
The Port of New Orleans has an intermodal rail terminal adjacent to its Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal providing on-dock access for all rail shipments. The new Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal is currently under construction. The $25.1-million project, when completed in the first quarter of 2016, will result in a modern, more efficient intermodal container transfer terminal located within the container yard. The new terminal will offer on-dock access and improve CN’s link to the terminal.
The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, a switching railroad with the primary mission of serving the Port of New Orleans and local industries, and New Orleans Terminal LLC, an operator of the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal, also signed the CN-Port MOU.
“The New Orleans Public Belt is excited about the efficiency gains the new intermodal terminal will provide,” said New Orleans Public Belt General Manager Jeff Davis. “New Orleans is a natural rail gateway and we look forward to growing business with the CN.”
Ruest concluded: “The expanded Panama Canal is expected to offer greater freight traffic opportunities to the Gulf Coast. The implementation of this service agreement should help the Port of New Orleans take advantage of rising trade between Asia and North America, as well as North and South America.”
