Port of New Orleans Back to Half Pre-Katrina Capacity

Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

he Port of New Orleans, ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in late August, is continuing progress in making a comeback, running at about half capacity, the Associated Press reported.

By March or April, the port’s goal is to reach 70% of its pre-Katrina capacity, AP said, citing port officials.

But hurdles remain, including finding enough truck drivers to haul containers, and enough longshoremen to handle bulk loads, AP said.

Katrina destroyed about a third of the port’s operations, AP reported. New Orleans, a major entry point for imported steel, natural rubber and coffee, received its first post-storm ship on Sept. 12, just two weeks after the Aug. 29 hurricane struck.

Prior to Katrina, it was getting 36 to 40 ship calls a week; today, it is getting about 18 to 20, AP reported.

In 2003, New Orleans ranked fifth among U.S. ports in tons of cargo handled, and 12th in total foreign trade, according to the American Association of Port Authorities, AP said.