Intermodal Briefs: Port NOLA, Port of Savannah, Port Everglades

Port NOLA

Port NOLA on Nov. 14, during the 2025 State of the Port Address, announced that it “continues to deliver strong momentum” across its diverse lines of business, including containerized cargo, breakbulk, rail, industrial real estate and cruise.

This year’s program, hosted by the International Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers Association of New Orleans (IFFCBANO), also featured an engaging “Waterside Chat” with Port NOLA President and CEO and New Orleans Public Belt (NOPB) CEO Beth Branch, Norfolk Southern (NS) Executive Vice President and COO John Orr, and Ports America President and CEO Matt Leech. Panelists discussed how Port NOLA’s multimodal connectivity, infrastructure expansion and partnerships are fueling growth.

Port leadership also announced the release of a new Economic Impact Report conducted by Martin Associates and completed in August 2025. It emphasizes the Port’s vital contribution to state and national prosperity.

“The Port of New Orleans is truly an economic engine not just for Louisiana, but for the entire country. With a unique transportation system of rail, barge, and truck connections, Port NOLA links America’s heartland to the world. That reach translates into billions of dollars in economic impact and supports hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs,” said John C. Martin, PhD, Owner of Martin Associates. “Here in Louisiana, the Port is a major driver of our economy and a cornerstone of our workforce. Continued investment in port infrastructure isn’t just smart, it’s essential to keeping this momentum strong for our state and for the nation.”

According to the report (download below), in 2024, marine cargo activity within the New Orleans Port District supported $101.5 billion of total economic value to the U.S. economy, including $31.5 billion in Louisiana which is approximately 8.3% of the state’s GDP. Additionally, cargo activity moving through Port NOLA marine terminals supported 342,150 jobs in the nation. That includes 122,386 total jobs in Louisiana alone. The report is searchable by U.S. and State legislative districts, showing the specific economic impact in each one.

The Port also underscored its bold progress in developing the Louisiana International Terminal (LIT), a transformative infrastructure project that will redefine global trade through Louisiana.

The new container terminal, the Port says, “represents the cornerstone of Port NOLA’s long-term vision to expand capacity, strengthen supply chain resilience, and position Louisiana as a leading Gulf gateway for international commerce.”

Branch spoke of “resilience, innovation, and strategic progress” throughout her address, reflecting on the port’s cargo, rail, and cruise operations.

“New Orleans was born of the river, and our future will rise from it too,” said Branch. “From breakbulk and container cargo to a record 1.2 million cruise passenger movements last year, Port NOLA continues to drive opportunity for Louisiana families, businesses, and communities. The Louisiana International Terminal will ensure that legacy endures connecting our river, rail, and road systems like never before and redefining how global trade flows through our state.”

Branch highlighted $49 million in breakbulk infrastructure investments, as well as strong partnerships with Ports America, and Terminal Investment Limited (MSC). She also commended the Harbor Police Department for its leadership in public safety, especially in preparation for Super Bowl LIX, through enhanced security measures and technology upgrades.

Port of New Orleans Board Chairman Michael Thomas praised the Port’s leadership and collaborative partnerships driving Louisiana’s competitive edge on the global stage.

“The story we are writing together is one of unity, bold investment, and vision,” said Thomas. “Through the LIT, the new St. Bernard Transportation Corridor, and the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement uniting five Lower Mississippi River ports, we are positioning Louisiana as the premier gateway for global trade in the 21st century.”

Thomas said the LIT developed in partnership with Terminal Investment Limited and Ports America will create more than 18,000 jobs, generate more than $1 billion in new state and local tax revenue, “and represents one of the most significant federal investments in U.S. port infrastructure history.”

“Together, we form the largest port complex in the world,” Thomas added. “By speaking with one powerful voice, Louisiana’s ports are not just gateways of trade, they are engines of transformation for our state, our region, and our people.”

Port of Savannah

The Port of Savannah recently announced that it handled 4.8 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in calendar year 2025 through October, up 183,250 TEUs or 4%. Monthly volumes in October totaled 452,934 TEUs, a decrease of 8.4% or 41,325 TEUs compared to October 2024.

Colonels Island Terminal at the Port of Brunswick handled 72,234 units of autos and heavy equipment in October, up 3,700 units or 5.4% compared to the same month last year. For calendar year 2025 through October, the Port of Brunswick handled 689,662 units of autos and heavy equipment, down 67,750 units or 9%.

“We’ve been impacted by the trade downturn, so we look forward to seeing more trade deals come together and we’re hopeful the market bounces back in the new year,” said Georgia Ports President and CEO Griff Lynch.

Northeast Georgia is a high-growth manufacturing and logistics corridor for heavy equipment, forest products, food and poultry/protein exporters with a large amount of international cargo moving. The area is currently served by a five-hour truck route to/from the Port of Savannah.

Located 50 miles from Atlanta, Georgia Ports Authority’s (GPA) $127 million Blue Ridge Connector inland rail facility is nearing completion.  “We’re making strong progress and remain on track for a Spring 2026 opening,” Lynch added.

The facility will be served by rail from the Port of Savannah, creating an improved supply chain into Northeast Georgia’s regional population of more than two million people. The facility will help keep trucks out of Atlanta and decongest all the community roadways affected by this corridor while spurring further economic development.

“Our Blue Ridge Connector service will create new opportunities for Georgia’s commerce to flow smoother and attract more jobs and prosperity to the Peach State. This is an example of how we support Governor Kemp and our State Legislature’s goal to make it easy to do business in Georgia,” said GPA Board Chairman Alec Poitevint.

In the first year of operation, the rail service, GPA says, will eliminate 52,000 truck trips through Atlanta and is expected to grow exponentially as more volume is added. In the future, this volume could rise to 400,000 truck trips based on demand GPA envisions. This shift to rail will also reduce CO2 emissions by 90% or 22,510 metric tons, compared to an all-truck route in the first year of operation, GPA noted.

To reduce the facility’s impact to local residents in Gainesville, Ga., GPA contributed $4.8 million to Hall County road improvement projects eliminating an at-grade rail crossing, rerouting White Sulphur Road and resurfacing Cagle Road. The new White Sulphur Road alignment south of the inland terminal ensures free access for emergency vehicles and avoids traffic disruption from trains that local residents had experienced in the past. The new alignment and resurfacing of Cagle Road also offers an improved alternative for residents. Both projects were completed in late Summer 2025.

Once the facility opens, NS doublestack trains will offer daily service Monday-Friday.

Port Everglades

Port Everglades’ 2024 Master/Vision Plan Update, which was approved Nov. 13 by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, “outlines more than $3 billion in long-term investments to enhance the Port’s capacity, efficiency and sustainability over the next 20 years.”

The update (download below) was developed over two years in concert with Port staff, stakeholders and the public. Updates are conducted to identify global industry trends and capital improvements necessary to support the continued growth of the Port’s diversified business lines of cruise, cargo and energy.

“The Master/Vision Plan focuses on reinforcing our Port’s evolution to meet the needs of our business partners, in collaboration with our community, to maintain our position as a strong economic engine,” said Port Everglades CEO and Port Director Joseph Morris. “On behalf of our Port staff who worked tirelessly on the update, I thank the Broward County Board of County Commissioners for their support of our plan for the next five, 10 and 20 years of growth.”

Among the projects identified in the Master/Vision Plan Update are functional improvements, such as the Bulkhead Replacement Project currently under way, and investments that address market trends like the redevelopment of cruise terminals to accommodate the next generation of cruise guests and larger cruise ships.

AECOM, a global design and engineering company specializing in infrastructure with offices in Fort Lauderdale, led the update effort.

The previous Master/Vision Plan Update was approved by the County Commission in June 2020 and included projects through 2038. One of those infrastructure projects is the Southport Turning Notch Extension, which added five new berths and six Super Post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes. That project is expected to nearly double throughput of containerized cargo through 2038.