U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approves Louisiana International Terminal

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted the federal permit required to construct the Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) on the Lower Mississippi River. This project is the only new greenfield container port currently under development in the United States.

Designed to accommodate modern container ships that exceed 16,000 containers, the terminal aims to address infrastructure limitations in existing ports, such as the fixed clearance of the Crescent City Connection Bridge. The facility will provide direct access to the Gulf, connecting over 30 states to global markets via major Class I railroads and the interstate highway system.

The project is a public-private partnership involving Port NOLA, Terminal Investment Limited (the operating arm of MSC), and Ports America. Economic projections suggest the terminal will add thousands of jobs and generate billions in tax revenue. Currently, cargo activity through Port NOLA supports over $101 billion in total economic value and 342,000 American jobs.