Port of New Orleans completes 718-ton project cargo lift

Fracht USA/Germany, a global freight forwarder, completed one of the heaviest project cargo lifts in the Port of New Orleans’ history Jan. 12, successfully discharging a 718-ton, 164-foot-long absorption tower from ship-to-barge.

The SAL Amoenitas arrived at the Port’s Louisiana Avenue Terminal Jan. 10 after a 45-day trip from Shanghai, China. The lift was completed Jan. 12 by SAL Heavy Lift, Fracht, Roll-Lift, McDonough Marine and the terminal’s stevedore - Coastal Cargo Company LLC. “This lift underscores the Port of New Orleans’ ability to handle the largest and most complex cargo in the industry,” said Port President and CEO Gary LaGrange. “Our stevedores have realized a real boost in project cargo in the past year, due to the historic industrial expansions and new construction both on the Lower Mississippi River and along the Gulf Coast.” The absorption tower is destined for a major plant project in Donaldsonville, La. “This is great business for Coastal as well as for the Port of New Orleans,” said Dan Hauser, President and CEO of Coastal Cargo Company LLC. “Project cargo of this type and magnitude has not been traditional in the Port of New Orleans. It’s wonderful to have this type of diversity added to the Port’s cargo mix.” Fracht officials said the successful move took more than a year of careful planning. “When you look at this move, project forwarding isn’t just calling the vessel lines and calling the stevedore,” said Reiner Wiederkehr, Fracht’s Chief Operating Officer. “There are so many things involved with such a huge task. The Port and Coastal Cargo have been very accommodating and helpful, but we picked the Port for a reason – they have the best people to handle this type of cargo.”