Governor John Bel Edwards recently announced that SmartPort, the initiative to rejuvenate the state’s Mississippi River ports with the latest in maritime technology, received a $1.6 million grant from the United States Economic Development Administration.

State and port partners matched the $1.6 million federal award for a total of $3 million that will directly contribute to the SmartPort Initiative and thus streamline port operations significantly as well as improve safety practices. Supporting the project alongside Louisiana Economic Development (LED) are the Port of New Orleans, the Port of South Louisiana, the Port of Greater Baton Rouge, and a multitude of other ports and warehouses along the lower Mississippi River.

The SmartPort Initiative was originally announced in July 2020, but this latest influx of $3 million in grant and award funds will inject massive momentum into a project that has the potential to revolutionize one of the state’s most valuable resources, the ports along the Mississippi River.

In addition to those ports previously mentioned as leading stakeholders in the SmartPort initiative, the recently announced grant will also be able to support the launch of the program at the Port of Vidalia, Madison Parish Port, St. Bernard Port, Lake Providence Port, and Plaquemine Port.

Justin Ehrenwerth, president and CEO of The Water Institute, an independent, non-profit Baton Rouge research institution that partnered with the state on the initiative, commented that they were “honored to partner with the State of Louisiana, our world-class network of Mississippi River ports and the Economic Development Administration on SmartPort. Together, we will create innovative new tools while leveraging decades of knowledge and investment to manage the Mississippi River for navigation, flood risk reduction, and coastal restoration purposes. We look forward to sharing this knowledge with our state and federal partners as we collectively bring a holistic perspective to the river.”

One essential aim of the initiative is to improve safety measures and practices through the use of real-time data that is shared by port administrators, shippers, tenants, and cargo, ground, and warehouse transportation providers. With the up-to-the-minute data being shared among the most important port stakeholders, productivity will increase significantly, thus ensuring a safer working environment. Further contributing to safety, the program will also support efforts for the proposed river diversion project as well as comprehensively evaluate risk factors along the Mississippi river such as coastal issues, flood risks, and navigation.

One tool that will be added to the Louisiana port arsenal thanks to the SmartPort program will be a decision support tool that is able to forecast waves and shoaling at port facilities along the Mississippi River; this will vastly aid efforts in both port navigation and operations. The tool, known as the Real-Time Shoaling Forecast Tool, will be part of a larger suite of weather, river, and road traffic analytic resources that aim to improve port efficiency and support the ports from threatening natural disasters and/or economic uncertainties. The Shoaling Forecast Tool was originally instituted by the Port of New Orleans, and the SmartPort program’s recent multi-million dollar infusion will only build upon that indispensable work.

Governor Edwards said of the historic initiative, “with the SmartPort initiative, Louisiana is taking a major leading role in bringing technological efficiencies to maritime commerce,” said Gov. Edwards. “Louisianans are keenly aware of the vital role the Mississippi River plays in our history, our economic successes, and our future. This grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration is an affirmation that they, too, understand the role that safe, efficient river-based transportation plays in the broader U.S. economy. With the support of ports along the river, the SmartPort program will help us set a new standard for safety and emergency management.”

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