The Port of New Orleans and CN signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Thursday 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.”
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 US $25.1 million project, when completed in the first quarter of 2016, will result in a modern, efficient intermodal container transfer terminal located within the container yard, offering on-dock access and improving CN’s link to the terminal and helping grow its container volumes.
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.”