ALAN PEAT THE MAJOR breaks to the levees at the Port of New Orleans have been fixed, and crews are now starting to pump water out according to information released to FTW by the Houston office of Gulf Africa Line (GAL) – the MACS subsidiary which is the only line directly connecting SA to the Mexican Gulf. “This, however,” we were told, “is a very lengthy process.” “In the wake of Hurricane Katrina,” said New Orleans port president and CEO, Gary LaGrange, “the Mississippi River is now open in one direction to ships with a draught of 35-feet during daylight hours. “Now that a route has been re-established to the Port of New Orleans and other ports on the lower Mississippi River, the port is bringing together all of the pieces that will allow it to be a major force in the reconstruction of New Orleans.” The riverfront terminals survived the hurricane in fairly decent shape, LaGrange added. “Although they are damaged, they are still workable once electrical power and manpower is available.” For the next several weeks, almost all of the port will be dedicated to military relief vessels. In the meantime, acceptance of cargo from or via New Orleans has been stopped until further notice, according to GAL management, and the line is accommodating cargo via either Houston or Charleston/Savannah. “Although no cargo is expected to move from the affected area immediately around New Orleans, we are now able to accept cargo from other locations, such as around Baton Rouge.” Import cargo, meantime, is also now starting to move on alternative routings. Cargo en-route from Europe will be discharged in either Houston or Charleston, while intermodal cargo will be re-directed to the final destination from these ports. For local New Orleans or Mobile cargo consignees are being offered alternative pick-up at discharge port (including Los Angeles for Asia origin cargo) or re-routing to alternative destinations - again with additional cost for account of cargo.
