Federal Permit Issued on August 17
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has authorized construction of the Louisiana International Terminal (LIT). The decision was officially announced by the Port of New Orleans on August 17, 2026.
The approval completes one of the central stages of the federal review process, which followed the submission of the permit application in December 2021. Federal authorization was required because the proposed terminal site overlaps with the Mississippi River, its levee system and nearby wetlands.
The permit allows Port NOLA and its private partners to advance the project into its next phase, including final design and preparations for construction.
The Project Is Valued at $1.8 Billion
The terminal will be constructed near Violet in St. Bernard Parish, downstream from New Orleans on the Mississippi River. The public-private investment is valued at approximately $1.8 billion, according to The Maritime Executive.
The development partners are Port NOLA, MSC’s terminal operating arm Terminal Investment Limited and Ports America. LIT is described as the first new container terminal on the Gulf Coast in nearly 20 years and the only greenfield container port currently under development in the United States.
MSC’s participation reflects the carrier’s broader strategy of investing in port infrastructure. K2Cargo.News previously reported that MSC acquired a controlling stake in Ukraine’s TIS container terminal.
Terminal Designed for Ships Exceeding 16,000 TEU
Port NOLA’s existing container facilities are located farther upriver. Access is restricted by the Crescent City Connection Bridge, which prevents the largest modern container ships from reaching the terminals.
LIT will be built downstream from the bridge, removing the air-draft restriction. Its berths are expected to accommodate vessels with drafts of up to 50 feet, or approximately 15.2 meters. The proposed facility is also designed to handle two ultra-large container ships simultaneously.
Port NOLA notes that modern vessels regularly exceed 16,000 TEU. The new terminal will allow Louisiana to serve this segment and compete more effectively with other major Gulf Coast gateways, particularly Houston.
Rail Connections Will Provide Access to More Than 30 States
The development will combine maritime, road, rail and inland waterway infrastructure. Connections through the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad will provide access to six Class I railroads.
The Mississippi River and approximately 14,500 miles of inland waterways will connect the terminal with 31 states. Port NOLA identifies Dallas, Memphis and Chicago, as well as Canadian destinations, among the principal inland markets.
This multimodal position will allow containers to move into the central United States by rail, truck or barge. The terminal is also expected to expand export options for agricultural and industrial producers across the South and Midwest.
First Vessel Call Targeted for 2028
The first phase of the terminal is currently targeted to begin operations in 2028. Construction and expansion would continue after the initial berth enters service.
Earlier project materials estimated the terminal’s full annual capacity at approximately 2 million TEU. The operational footprint is expected to cover about 400 acres, while Port NOLA has acquired more than 1,200 acres in Violet for the terminal, supporting infrastructure and buffer areas.
The schedule remains subject to final design, financing and construction procedures. Nevertheless, the federal permit removes the project’s main regulatory obstacle and allows the partners to move toward physical development.
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