BR, NOLA ports: $1.75M grant

U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administrator Paul “Chip” Jaenichen visited the Port of Greater Baton Rouge, La.’s container-on-barge operation Dec. 6 and congratulated the state for earning a $1.75 million grant for both the PGBR and Port of New Orleans. The grant is for acquiring specialized container loading equipment to increase efficiencies to the current container-on-barge shuttle service operated by SEACOR AMH between the two Mississippi River cities. The shuttle service fulfills a market need by repositioning empty containers from Memphis to Baton Rouge for the increasing volume of resin exports from the Baton Rouge area. According to a DOT study, there is a savings to Louisiana of $118 per round-trip between New Orleans and Baton Rouge if moved by barge rather than overland. (Source: Marine Logistics Professional 12/07/16) Gulf Coast Note: SEACOR AMH is part of SEACOR Holding’s Inland River Services group, which owns covered and open hopper barges, tank barges, and inland river towboats; and provides ancillary services along U.S. Inland River Waterways. SEACOR AMH’s corporate offices are in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and with offices in Mobile, Ala.