Construction begins on terminal project in Louisiana

NOLA Oil Terminal is a US$930 million project in total. The initial water-side phase of the project includes two deep water berths for these tankers and one barge dock. These two berths will be capable of mooring 170 000 t vessels. The barge dock will serve both inland and oceangoing tank barges. Land-side construction constitutes the second phase of the project.

NOLA Oil Terminal was founded in 2013 by two entrepreneurs: COO, Christian Amedee, and Principal Engineer, Roy M. Carubba, PE. Amedee explains that this project, when completed, will be the newest state-of-the-art facility along the lower Mississippi River and is poised to add further value by offering blending, storing, and transferring needs with a superior geographical location. It is these factors, among others, which make NOLA Oil Terminal an attractive investment.

“Crude oil and clean petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel are significant trade products for Louisiana, but we aren’t able to take advantage of the larger vessels,” says Amedee. “That changes today. This terminal will be the first in the area to be able to accommodate vessels which currently are too large and deep to dock in the Mississippi River or in most Gulf of Mexico and Eastern Seaboard ports. The positive impact on Louisiana’s economy will be immense.”

According to Benny Rouselle, former president of Plaquemines Parish and former chairman of the Port of Plaquemines, “This boost to our economy couldn’t come at a better time, and NOLA Oil Terminal represents the kinds of projects Plaquemines Parish is looking for. Not only will this flagship be an economic driver for the Parish, but it will also put us on the map as the first deep water wharf able to accommodate these massive tankers, signalling a bright economic future for Plaquemines Parish.”

Once completed and operational, Amedee explains that NOLA Oil Terminal will be able to accommodate up to six tankers each week. The completed structure, which is phase two, is expected to have a storage capacity as high as 10 million bbl.

In addition to opening new channels to import and export crude oil and other clean petroleum products, NOLA Oil Terminal expects to create over 1000 construction jobs through completion of phases one and two. Additionally, the completed terminal is expected to sustain from 30 to 40 permanent jobs in Plaquemines Parish. Phase one, the wharves and docks, is projected to be completed in mid-2022. All required permits are in place, and site preparation including site clearing, open channel drainage, construction access roadways, geotechnical investigations and pile load tests, and environmental studies is completed. Phase two, the land-side section, is in the development phase.

¹The general characteristics of New-Panamax, which are the largest vessels able to transit the Panama Canal locks, are 1201 ft length, 160 ft beam, 190 ft height, 50 ft draft, 120 000 DWT (deadweight tonnage), and 14 000 TEU (20 ft equivalent unit).

²The general characteristics of Suezmax, which are the largest vessels to transit the Suez Canal, are maximum 1300 ft length, maximum 254 ft beam, maximum 223 ft height, maximum 66 ft maximum draft, maximum 200 000 DWT, and 12 000 TEU.

Read the article online at: https://www.tanksterminals.com/terminals/09122021/construction-begins-on-terminal-project-in-louisiana/