Port Log Fall 2016 by Renaissance Publishing

CONTENT

P O R T S TA F F

executive director

deputy director

c h i e f

Dale Hymel, Jr. Cindy Martin

director of a d m i n i s t r at i o n

Roy Quezaire

o p e r at i n g o f f i c e r

Paul Aucoin

airport director

Vincent Caire

director of business development

executive counsel

director of finance

director of o p e r at i o n s

director of human resources

s p e c i a l

Melissa Folse Grant Faucheux

projects officer

director of trade development

Linda Prudhomme

Mitch Smith Tamara Kennedy

Joel T. Chaisson

Lee “Buddy” Amedee

port of south louisiana 171 Belle Terre Blvd., P.O. Box 909 LaPlace, LA 70069-0909 www.portsl.com Phone: (985) 652-9278 | Fax: (504) 568-6270 globalplex intermodal terminal Phone: (985) 652-9278 a s s o c i at e d t e r m i n a l s

Phone: (985) 233-8545 The Port of South Louisiana is a member of the Ports Association of Louisiana. To become an associate member of PAL and to help further the maritime industry in Louisiana, please visit PAL’s website at www.portsoflouisiana.org or call the PAL office at (225) 334-9040.

published by renaissance publishing llc

4 5 6

director ’ s

L og

overview around the port St. John the Baptist Parish

whats new

Meet the Plant Manager Hugues Bourgogne

Meet the Commissioner Pat Sellars

Blue Angel Restoration

Monsanto’s $975 Million Expansion

Globalplex Terminal Continues to Strengthen

Growing Commerce and Prosperity

Port Receives Recognition

editor art director

Jessica DeBold Antoine Passelac

company profile The Mississippi Valley Trade and Transport Council is immersed by its desire to strengthen business, both up and down the river.

v i c e

president of sales

Colleen Monaghan

account executive

Tess Jones

Alexandra Hernández

William Kalec

Kevin O’Sullivan

Marie Simoneaux

20 22 24

company profile

For more than a century, the International Freight Forwarders & Customs Brokers Association of New Orleans has met the specific needs of its members while doing its part to uplift the trade industry as a whole.

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company profile Zen-Noh Grain Corporation’s General Manager showcases the company’s origins and continued growth within the Port of South Louisiana. port people Rochelle Touchard port raits port map final frame

contributing writers

editorial intern

Frank Etheridge

To advertise call Tess at (504) 830-7239 or email Tess@myneworleans.com. 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Ste. 123, Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 828-1380 • www.myneworleans.com

Copyright 2016 The Port Log, Port of South Louisiana, and Renaissance Publishing LLC. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Port of South Louisiana, Post Office Box 909, LaPlace, LA 70069-0909. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the owner or Publisher. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the magazine’s managers, owners or publisher. The Port Log is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos and artwork even if accompanied by a self addressed stamped envelope.

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DIRECTOR’S LOG

a boom for New Orleans tourism. Furthermore, under Gary’s guidance, the port overcame and superseded the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed one-third of the port’s infrastructure. Five hundred million dollars have been invested thus far into a new container and intermodal, cruise and refrigerated terminals, subsequently doubling the port’s container volumes, registering record revenues, ultimately welcoming over one million cruise passengers and creating 1,500 jobs for the local workforce.

ary LaGrange, a native of Franklin, Louisiana, earned his bachelor’s degree in Geography and Economics from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, later graduating with Masters honors in Urban Planning in 1975. Simultaneously, he served as Assistant Director of the City of Lafayette and Regional Planning Commission from 1971 to 1972, and then as Director of the Acadiana Regional Planning Commission from 1972 to 1975. And so it began, his path to 40 illustrious years as Port Executive Director, an impressive run that will end in April 2017 as Gary retires from his post as President and CEO of the Port of New Orleans. In 1976, Gary was selected as the first executive director of St. Mary Parish’s Port of West St. Mary where he served for 21 years. He spearheaded the construction of that port from the ground up and was successful in developing a profitable, shallowdraft industrial complex that became the economic development catalyst for the parish. The port attracted more than $55 million in direct investment and created 800 new permanent jobs. In 1997, Gary was recruited to the Port of South Louisiana where he played a key role in its history by kicking off the expansion of our public terminal, Globalplex Intermodal Terminal. During his two-year tenure, he was responsible for the installation of a ship loader/unloader, conveyor belt system and construction of storage space at Globalplex’s bulk facility; the expansion of the general cargo dock, including the installation of two Manitowoc gantry cranes; the construction of a 50,000 square-foot transit shed at the foot of the general cargo dock; securing an EDA grant for a rail siding project, and twinning with both Puerto Cortes in Honduras and the Port Authority of Altamira in Mexico. In 1999, Gary accepted the position of executive director at the Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport where he spent two years before he moved to the Port of New Orleans. Certainly, everyone in the maritime industry knows of Gary’s accomplishments as head of the Port of New Orleans. He took over the reins in 2001 enduring the embargo on imported steel after Sept. 11, 2001, right off the bat. From that, however, he diversified the port’s operations by luring the cruise industry into the city, which presently ranks 10th in the world, creating

D. Paul Robichaux president

Pat Sellars vice president

You don’t have to look hard to find Gary’s advocacy for community, business and civil involvement, activism that rivals his professional commitment. He is a part of the Boards and Executive Committees of the Waterways Council, Inc. and National Waterways Council; he is a member of the Board of the Gulf Ports Association of the Americas; he is past chairman and president of the Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association; he serves on the Executive Committee of the Transportation Research Board; he is past chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities; serves on the Committee of 100 Louisiana; serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Advisory Council on Trade and Transportation; and serves within the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration’s Port subcommittee. He was named “Maritime Person of the Year” in 2001 by the Propeller Club of Gulfport; awarded Maritime Person of the Year in 2003 by the Propeller Club of New Orleans; the C. Alvin Bertel Award for outstanding contributions to the advancement of the Greater New Orleans port area; and “Man of Steel” by the American Institute of International Steel (AIIS). He received the Leadership Award by the International Maritime Association at the United Nations in New York, was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the International Maritime Association at the United Nations in New York and the National Rivers Hall of Fame in Dubuque, Iowa. Later this year, he will be the recipient of the World Trade Center of New Orleans’ Eugene J. Schreiber Award given to an individual who demonstrates exceptional knowledge and leadership in promoting international trade policy for the benefit of the State of Louisiana. Congratulations, Gary! I know you will do great things as you take the lead as Executive Director of the Ports Association of Louisiana (PAL). And thank you for your contributions to the Port of South Louisiana.

Joseph Scontrino executive vice president

P. Joey Murray

Stanley Bazile

treasurer

s e c r e ta r y

Robert “Poncho” Roussel

Kelly Buckwalter

Whitney Hickerson

Judy Songy

vice president

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OVERVIEW

T R A N S P O R TAT I O N CENTER OF THE AMERICAS The state legislature established the Port of South Louisiana in 1960 to promote commerce and industrial development along the 54-mile stretch of the Mississippi River that runs through the St. Charles, St. John and St. James tri-parish regions.

s t eel p roduct s

4 .1 (3 % ) m aize 21. 9 ( 16%)

39.62

o t her 0 .6 (< 1 % )

ores / pho s p hat e

41.21

2 .6 (2 % )

32.1

34.68

coal / li g n i t e /cok e

37.82

2 .5 (2 % )

32.25

33.57

1 3 . 6 ( 1 0 %)

31.95

34.44

f ertilizers

32.11

chemic al/

36.94

36.81

32.8

first + second quarter 2016 (in million short tons)

38.61

38.14

soybean 14. 7 ( 11%)

28.7

2016

32.15

2015

34.63

2014

22.73

2013

2. 7 ( 2%) wh eat 1 ( < 1%)

28.63

anim al feed

2012

N U MB E R O F V E SS E L C A L L S : 2 . 1 3 1 N U MB E R O F BA R G E M O V E M E NTS : 2 6 . 6 3 9

Sorgh um + rice 1. 4 ( < 1%)

p e trochemic al

port of south louisiana t o ta l t o n n a g e J a n u a r y - J u n e

2 9 . 4 ( 2 1 %)

( in millions of s h ort tons )

CRUD E OIL

EXPORTS

DOMESTIC SHIPPED

IMPORTS

DOMESTIC RECEIVED

3 9 . 4 ( 29%)

mission

p h ilosop h y

facilities

The Port is charged with a mission to promote maritime commerce, trade and development, and to establish public and private partnerships for the creation of intermodal terminals and industrial facilities.

The Port’s philosophy of development is to entice companies to set up regional operations within its boundaries. The Port serves primarily as a “landlord” port to more than 30 grain, petroleum and chemical companies. The exception to this is the port-owned world-class intermodal Globalplex facility and the new SoLaPort facility.

Within the Port’s jurisdiction, there are seven grain elevators, multiple midstreaming operations, more than 40 liquid and dry-bulk terminals, the Globalplex Intermodal Terminal and the Port’s Executive Regional Airport.

governance The Port is under the jurisdiction of the state of Louisiana and authorized by the state constitution. A seven-member board of commissioners directs the Port; all of them are unsalaried. Four members are appointed by the governor, with one member representing each of the associated parishes and one at-large member; the remaining members are appointed by the presidents of each parish.

world ’ s largest port district The ports of South Louisiana, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, St. Bernard and Plaquemines make up the world’s largest continuous port district. They are responsible for moving onefifth of all U.S. foreign waterborne commerce.

port area The Port covers a 54-mile stretch of the lower Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The Port begins at river mile 114.9AHP near the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and winds through St. Charles, St. John the Baptist and St. James parishes. It continues north to river mile 168.5AHP just north of the Sunshine Bridge.

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A R O U N D TH E P O R T

CELEBRATING THE PAST AND BUILDING A PROMISING FUTURE With its rich history and traditions, St. John the Baptist Parish continues to be a cultural beacon and a multi-faceted economic engine powering South Louisiana. B y W illiam K alec

t’s a bit of an understatement, but St. John the Baptist Parish has changed quite a bit over the years. When originally settled by a group of Germans led by Karl D’Arensbourg in the 1720s, few roads existed. The majority of travel was conducted via boat, mainly on the still lakes and bayous of the area, though a few brave souls did dare to traverse the treacherous Mississippi River. Today, cars and trucks whiz through the Parish on the massive Interstate-10 runs, while Airline Highway serves as a key artery for the industrial and manufacturing empires dotting the Port of South Louisiana. At the time of its founding, early residents relied on the fertile, above-sea-level land of the Parish for survival and also economic prosperity. While St. John the Baptist Parish still has some attachment to its farming legacy, the region today is a capitalistic cornucopia filled with multi-million-dollar factories, advanced

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medical centers and plentiful shopping and entertainment options, not to mention the largest tonnage port in North America. Back in the day, settlers paddled their small boats into the big city, selling wares and surplus crops at the New Orleans French Market. Today, the action and excitement extends to the Parish, as the state-of-the-art soundstage at The St. John Center has attracted projects starring Hollywood royalty such as Oprah Winfrey, Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington. But, for all that’s different nowadays, the foundation of St. John the Baptist Parish remains solid and unshakable three centuries later – namely, the spirit and pride of its people. As the second permanent settlement in Louisiana, St. John was part of “La Cote des Allemands” (The German Coast), athough the area remained under French reign for its initial four decades of existence. Around the time (roughly the late 1760s) that the French transfered con-

trol of Louisiana to the Spanish, the Acadian exiles from Nova Scotia (forced to leave after the British victory in the Seven Years’ War) arrived in St. John Parish and established the first Cajun community in Wallace. The top land grants awarded to settlers by their respective European governments (either French or Spanish) were located along either the east or west banks of the Mississippi River. Over time, those plots became the hub of a booming sugar cane industry, with its sprouting historic and architecturally stunning plantation houses – three of which still stand to this day. Whitney Plantation in Wallace cultivated into a museum chronicling the injustices of slavery in the United States in 2014. Two years earlier, it served as the backdrop for several scenes in the 2012 Quentin Tarantino movie, Django Unchained. Evergreen Plantation, constructed in 1790, operated until the 1930’s Stock Market Crash and Great Depression and was one of

1, 2, 3: The Annual Andouille Festival attracts thousands of festival goers each year. 4: The soothing swamplands adorn St. John the Baptist Parish.

the most expansive operations throughout the South. Of the 37 buildings on the site, all but eight are antebellum. Evergreen is a National Historic Landmark. So too is San Francisco Plantation in Reserve – a “Steamboat Gothic” designed residence and one of the most architecturally unique homes in the country. All three plantations are arguably the biggest tourist attractions in the Parish, but that’s not all there is to see and do. Every year on the third full weekend of October, Highway 51 Park in LaPlace floods with visitors and locals alike (most of them purposely hungry) for The Andouille Festival. For those whose taste buds are in the dark, Andouille is a spicy sausage originally made by German settlers in St. John during the winter months. The links are commonly found in gumbos and jambalaya dishes. The Festival – held in the “Andouille Capital of the World” – is jam-packed with food and craft vendors, a full schedule of bands, and events such as a pageant, fun run, car and motorcycle show, plus a second line parade. Two months after the festival, the spectacle moves from the park to the banks of the Mississippi River to one of the most awe-inspiring sights found anywhere in this eclectic state. Lining both the east and west lips of the river, local builders construct massive, artistic wooden structures that take weeks to complete. On Dec. 24, all that hard work is eventually ignited in flames to light the way for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. Those lucky enough to take in the scene from the sky witness bursts of orange and red, creating a makeshift runway for those traveling via sleigh that evening. St. John Parish continues to prove the magic it creates isn’t pigeonholed to just one evening. Located in LaPlace, the St. John Center Soundstage is outfitted to cater to a wide variety of creative needs for filmmakers and TV producers shooting in “Hollywood South.” Equipped with catering, dressing rooms and green room facilities, along with 26,000 square feet of the soundstage, the St. John Center has evolved into the home base for major motion pictures and both network and cable television series. •

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W H AT ’ S N E W

MEET THE PLANT MANAGER Leading Through the Unexpected B y william kalec

With more than two decades of experience, Motiva Convent General Manager Hugues Bourgogne is a proven leader capable of handling difficult situations thrown his way.

his may be a bit of an understatement, but it’s technically accurate: Hugues Bourgogne’s first month on the job has been eventful. How so? Well, less than two weeks after the experienced executive — who has overseen oil and gas facilities in North America, Europe and Asia — was appointed General Manager of Motiva’s Convent refinery in August, a fire occurred in the plant’s H-Oil processing unit. Thankfully, none of the refinery employees or contractors were injured and there was no harm to the community. The plant remained operational, except for the affected unit. Then, only one day later, torrential rainfall caused historical flooding in many of the neighborhoods Motiva employees call home.

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Bourgogne estimated 15 to 20 percent of his workforce experienced various levels of damage to their dwellings due to the rising waters. “I’m proud to be a part of this team,” Bourgogne says. “We’ve had a very unique month. It says a lot about our Emergency Response Team and our employees to respond to such a challenge… So after the incident [at the plant] the main objective was stabilizing our operations here so we could go and help our employees. “The spirit of people in this area is incredible. I worked in south Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina, so I already knew in the back of my mind that the people are resilient, and they have a sense of community and care. During Katrina, you’d go by a house where you normally saw one car to all of a sudden you’d see 10 cars belonging to people who needed to stay for a while. This is a community that knows how to come together. So for me as the plant manager, I was coming up with initiatives to help, but that was already part of the culture.” While Bourgogne and those who work alongside him in Convent do their part on a personal level, Motiva donated $250,000 to Louisiana relief efforts. A sizeable portion of that donation is earmarked for local schools

near the Convent facility – a massive refinery with a crude capacity of 250,000 barrels daily. Bourgogne believes the diversity of his experience will be substantial benefit as he tackles the challenges presented by his new assignment. Holding a chemical engineering degree from the Universite de Technologie de Compiegne, France, and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from University of Houston, Bourgogne found work at Shell France’s refinery and petrochemical complex – wearing many different hats during an 11year tenure. In 2003, Bourgogne moved to south Louisiana — Geismar, specifically — where he served as Shell’s production unit manager for ethylene oxide/glycols and site utilities. Four years late, Bourgogne returned to the United Kingdom and Germany for corporate assignments with Shell before moving across the Atlantic again in 2011 to be the production manager at Shell’s Deer Park chemical facility in Texas. Finally, Bourgogne spent a year traveling between the U.S. and Singapore as a Business Development Manager for Shell. “Those roles really expanded my professional horizon and taught me to adapt and perform in very different cultural environments,” he says. “I was also blessed to work with great people and leaders. All those experiences really made me the person I am today and prepared me for the job her in Convent.” A self-described team player who believes the best performance comes through collaboration and empowering the workforce, Bourgogne has both short-term and longterm goals for the refinery. Much of this first month has been spent understanding and connecting with the employees on site – a task that’s even more important now, considering what’s transpired in the last few weeks. Beyond that, Bourgogne will play a major role increasing the integration between the Norco and Convent refineries. •

W H AT ’ S N E W

M eet t h e C ommissioner A Hands-On Approach Brought to the Board B y wil L iam K alec

Executive Director Paul Aucoin welcomes Pat Sellars to the Board of Commisioners of the Port.

With the appointment of LaPlace’s Pat Sellars, the Port of South Louisiana Board of Commissioners landed a sharp business mind and someone unafraid to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

at Sellars is the kind of man who paid his way through college sweating in the sun, either on a tugboat or a noisy oil rig. He once traded in a tie so that he could work with tools, and as a guy who sits in a big chair behind a big desk he has never forgotten what it’s like to be “the low man on the totem pole.” The owner of industrial cleaning service A3M Vacuum since 1981, Sellars is an ideal candidate suited to be nominated to the Board of Commissioners, which led him to an eventual appointment by Gov. John Bel Edwards on May 23. He is now serving as a representative of St. John the Baptist Parish. “These opportunities don’t always come along,” Sellars says. “And so far, I’ve seen the importance of the position. I’ve learned that

it’s a position full of big decisions and that those decisions are made with the entire Port in mind. You want to do a good job at anything you do, and to do a good job here, you have to know what’s going on – get as much information as you can, and be sure to ask questions because it’s pretty detailed.” After serving in the military, Sellars returned to Louisiana and attended college. To pay the bills, the young Breaux Bridge native worked as a roughneck in the unforgiving Acadiana oil fields along with finding laborer jobs on grain elevators and tugboats. “Oh, it’s tedious – no ifs, ands or buts,” Sellars says. “You’re low man on the totem pole because you do the stuff that nobody else wants to do. Same thing on an oil rig; you do what the oil man tells you to do. And so that got me to thinking: If I start a company, why not have a company that does the things nobody wants to do? Because there’s a whole lot of things when it comes to industrial cleaning that nobody wants to do. And we’ve been successful because we don’t turn anything down.” Prior to founding A3M, Sellars was a successful insurance salesman. He was the top agent within the company back-to-back years. But, he wasn’t happy. Instead, Sellars longed for that feeling provided by the tough jobs he left behind

long ago – to work with his hands, pile dirt beneath his fingernails and feel like he’s doing something, Sellars explains. That’s certainly fulfilled at A3M. All they do is dirty work. Servicing clients throughout Louisiana, A3M began humbly as a vacuum truck company but has since expanded to provide transportation and disposal of waste material to a variety of industrial companies. Sellars provides clean-up crews for regular plant maintenance and environmental matters along with emergency response equipment. A3M is outfitted with a diverse fleet of vacuum trucks, including those equipped with water jetting systems capable of cleaning pipes and culverts. Quite a few of the companies that solicit A3M’s services are located within the Port District, giving Sellars a deep tie – both economically and emotionally – to the region. “When you live in a community, you want to see it grow,” Sellars says. “You want to see it do better, whether it’s expanding a small airport, or attracting new jobs and work with good pay. How can you live in a community and not care about its well-being? So that’s why I got involved with this. Sometimes it’s not about money, it’s about doing good for the place you live.” •

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W H AT ’ S N E W

THE PERFECT LANDING SPOT Seizing a rare opportunity, the Port of South Louisiana chose to preserve a piece of history and decorate the entrance to its Executive Regional Airport with an original, restored Blue Angels Jet. B y W illiam K alec

he aircraft is undoubtedly majestic, though its soaring days are over. Perched upon a pedestal for all to see and admire, it looks as it did the first day it took flight. Once labeled a “complete loss,” it is now a “front door,” according to Port of South Louisiana officials – a welcome mat with serious wow factor. Passengers and pilots flying out of the Port of South Louisiana’s Executive Regional Airport in Reserve will have reason to turn their heads once they enter the ground, passing a completely (not to mention beautifully) restored Grumman F-11 Tiger Blue Angels fighter jet at the entrance road. In conjunction with the National Museum of Aviation in Pensacola, Florida, the Port sponsored the aircraft and poured in $27,700 toward its restoration. Port of South Louisiana Executive Director

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Paul Aucoin aptly declared the authentic Blue Angels jet, “a landmark within the River Parishes community.” “We’re very proud of the restoration of the airplane and our partnership with the National Naval Aviation Museum,” says Airport Director Vincent Caire. “It’s a very historic aircraft for our nation. It welcomes our guests at the entrance of the airport. “I believe this restoration is also an expression of thanks to all of our veterans,” Caire continues. “It welcomes tenants and customers traveling on Airline Highway to the Port of South Louisiana Globalplex and Marine operations. We have come a very long way, transforming the airport from a general aviation field into a competitive business aviation facility that provides vital economic support to the entire River Parishes region.”

The restored Blue Angel was an original member of the 1967 flight team, and was flown in airshows across the United States and Europe for the U.S. Navy demonstration squadron. Blue Angel #6, as it was known, was one of the team’s solo aircraft that flew in partnership with solo aircraft #5, along with the famous Blue Angels “Diamond Formation” of four jets. Dazzling the audience during an October 1967 air show at the now-named Joint Reserve Base New Orleans in Belle Chasse, the Blue Angel accelerated for take-off, then lost power and came to rest at the end of the runway. Thankfully, the pilot suffered only minor injuries, and the show went on with a backup jet flying in place of the #6. The plane, however, wasn’t as fortunate. Though the damage appeared to be repairable, the U.S. Navy classified the jet as a total loss. Instead of shipping the plane back to Florida, where the other Blue Angel planes were stationed, the NAS New Orleans was offered the aircraft as a display, and the jet remained as a monument beside its entrance gate for more than three decades. From there, a group of airplane enthusiasts acquired the Blue Angel with plans to display it as a centerpiece for a military museum on the St. John Airport, now renamed Port of South Louisiana Executive Regional Airport. Even with best efforts the museum foundation was not able to complete the task. In much the same manner as the Belle Chasse facility, these enthusiasts placed it on an elevated stand near the entrance. When the Port fully acquired the operational rights to the airport a few years ago, restoring the Blue Angel to its original glory was one of many ambitious projects on tap in the “Master Plan” for the facility. In addition to restoring the Blue Angel, the Port also oversaw several other upgrades to the airport. In 2011, the Port received funding to extend the airport runway from 4,000 feet to 5,150 feet, allowing larger corporate aircrafts to land in the River Parishes. Larger Jet-A fuel tanks, an improved lighting system and an Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) were also installed on site. The Port unveiled an updated terminal in 2015, complete with vastly improved lounges for pilots and conference or meeting rooms for passengers wishing to conduct business as soon as they step off the plane. “Blue Angel #6” now greets Port guests upon entrance to the Port region on Airline Highway and symbolizes the much anticipated future development of the Executive Regional Airport. •

W H AT ’ S N E W

ROOM AND REASON TO GROW Already one of the more impressive facilities within the Port District, Monsanto’s Luling plant will undergo a massive expansion over the next three years, creating jobs for locals and products to aid food producers.

B y W illiam K alec

he Monsanto facility near the Port of South Louisiana is set to grow, thus preventing harmful weeds from threatening the bottom line of America’s farmers. Earlier this Spring government leaders and Monsanto executives, among other civic officials, formally announced firm plans to build a $975 million expansion of the company’s existing plant in Luling. The new addition will support Monsanto’s launch of its Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System and “enable the company to deliver a strong dicamba formulation pipeline to growers and further strengthen its integrated solutions platform.” The engineering phase of the project began in the late summer. Dicamba is an herbicide that is designed to manage weeds (especially broadleaf weeds) and help farmers maximize yield potentials in crops like soybeans and cotton. When the Monsanto expansion is complete in 2019 and fully-operational in 2020, the Luling facility is expected to supply 25 to 35 percent of the demand for dicamba-based weed killer. When the Roundup

Ready Xtend Crop System launch is complete, Monsanto predicts it will be used across 250 acres of farmland throughout North America and South America. “With more than 60 years of commitment to the Luling community, we are proud to move forward with this facility expansion and play a role in the economic well-being of Southern Louisiana,” Monsanto president/COO Brett Begemann said when the project was finalized. “Our Luling facility’s unique geographic location within our manufacturing network will help provide our farmer customers across the Americas with better access to a critical weed management tool.” Currently, the Monsanto Luling plant employs close to 700 full-time workers, a number that was boosted back in 2010 when the company last expanded the facility. That add-on – which came with a $196 million price tag – enabled Monsanto to up production of its Roundup brand herbicide by 20 percent. In that expansion, Monsanto replaced old boilers and installed a hydrogen recovery project to lessen the energy consumed and the

pollution emitted from the plant. The Luling site also upped its storage capacity, built a new river dock, and constructed a new rail system. This latest expansion will create roughly 120 new jobs at the Luling site, averaging more than $75,000 in annual salary. Beyond that, the Louisiana Economic Development predicts the larger facility will produce four times as many indirect jobs in the state. And, during the building process — which is expected to commence in January 2017 — more than 1,000 skilled construction workers will be hired to erect the structure and make it operational. Discussions about the expansion began roughly 18 months ago between Monsanto brass and members of the Louisiana Economic Development’s Business Expansion and Retention Group. Since it chose to expand within the state, and because of its investment in rail and electrical infrastructure, Monsanto is eligible for several performance-based incentives, such as the Modernization Tax Credit, the Louisiana Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption and an Economic Development Award Program grant. “Agribusiness and chemistry represent two of the most important business sectors in our state, and this major manufacturing investment by Monsanto strengthens each of these key industries,” says Gov. John Bel Edwards. “We’re encouraged by Monsanto’s vote of confidence in Louisiana as a great place to do business and a vital part of its manufacturing operations. Above all, we’re delighted that hundreds of existing jobs will be secured by this expansion and that we will grow the workforce of Monsanto with new career opportunities for more Louisiana families. “Along the way, we will be supporting farmers across the state and our nation with products made here in St. Charles Parish.” •

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W H AT ’ S N E W

GLOBALPLEX TERMINAL CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN Updates at the Port of South Louisiana’s hub, particularly to its cargo dock, will keep the facility competitive and satisfy the needs of its tenants for years to come.

B y W illiam K alec

ort of South Louisiana Executive Director Paul Aucoin knows that the evolution and regular improvement of Globalplex – essentially the calling card for this 54-mile long economic epicenter – remains paramount to increased trade along the river and the benefits that come with it. That’s why the nearly quarter-century old facility has undergone a massive makeover since Aucoin’s tenure began a few years ago, and why new installations and necessary improvements at Globalplex won’t cease anytime soon. The latest Globalplex project involves strengthening and fortifying the cargo dock, allowing mobile cranes to traverse the entire area while moving a substantial weight. Currently, the dock has two cranes that can operate with limited movement along a rail. The dock is capable of handling the weight of the crane on the rail line, but not the entire surface area. The project will cost a little more than $8 million, while the price of the mobile cranes will land somewhere around $14 million. Aucoin says the Port will soon be requesting construction

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bids for the dock project. Besides being vital for general cargo needs, Aucoin points to the Port’s ability to attract high-dollar “heavy-lift projects” as another reason to strengthen the infrastructure on and around the dock. “Everybody said, ‘When you replace those (two) cranes, you have to go with the mobile cranes,’” Aucoin says. “Well, they’re right. They’re much more efficient and cheaper, but in order to use them, you have to make sure your whole dock can hold up that load, not just where the rail is. These mobile cranes can go anywhere, but to allow them to go anywhere, your dock needs to be strong everywhere.” Globalplex, which is operated by Associated Terminals, looks a lot different than it did five years ago. The $22 million Finger Pier extension inflated the number of new vessel calls by the dozens upon its completion. On the same day the Finger Pier was dedicated, the Port also christened the Maritime Security Operations Center at Globalplex – providing safe haven to manage emergencies within the Port.

“The recent changes at Globalplex have been significant,” Aucoin says. “But there’s still more that can be done. For instance, also in the plans is a rail system at Globalplex that connects the CN railroad with the Kansas City Southern railroad. This will be invaluable because once that cargo gets off the ship, you have to get it to your final destination, and for us, that’s by truck or train. So if we can make it easier to allow the use of either rail line, that just makes us more competitive. “Really, Globalplex improvements will be an on-going process,” Aucoin continues. “It’ll keep changing after I’m gone because you have to keep meeting the needs of the people who use our port.” Speaking of tenant needs, the Port is also addressing those through structural additions and maintenance to buildings it leases to companies. The warehouse at Building 19, currently occupied by Barton Mines, will undergo a 72,000 square foot expansion costing $12.2 million. The Port is also pouring $3 million into an updated warehouse and new conveyor system at Building 71 where LaFarge Concrete operates. “If my math is correct, in total, we have about $55 million worth of projects going on right now, and it’s all important stuff,” Aucoin says. “Whether it’s building something new or reinforcing or repairing an aging infrastructure, you have to do it to remain competitive with the other ports in other states – Georgia, Alabama, for instance. And the plus side is, new construction creates immediate new jobs and future new jobs when the project is complete. “So all of this is important in keeping us as the Largest Tonnage Port and toward strengthening the unbelievable economic impact that the Port has on the entire region.” •

W H AT ’ S N E W

GROWING COMMERCE & PROSPERITY Port of South Louisiana Executive Director appointed to Louisiana board of international commerce by Governor Edwards B y A lexandra Hern á nde z

n Friday Aug. 5, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced the appointment of Port of South Louisiana Executive Director Paul G. Aucoin to the Louisiana Board of International Commerce (LaBIC). LaBIC, whose distinguished members serve in all capacities of trade and business

development, was formed to advance Louisiana’s international commerce initiatives in an effort to enhance the state’s position in international trade by attracting foreign and domestic investment and boosting the state’s trade-based economy. Aucoin, who has successfully served as executive director of the Port of South Louisiana for the past

Port Receives recognition Port of South Louisiana receives awards of merit from American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) B y A lexandra Hern á nde z

n Monday, July 18th, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) announced the recipients of the 2016 AAPA Communication Awards Program. The Port of South Louisiana (PSL) received two Awards of Merit from the organization: one for the quarterly PortLog journal and the other for website re-design. “I am very proud of the staff in our Business Development department for achieving these awards for our PortLog and our website. Being recognized by AAPA is very gratifying and we appreciate it,” said Port of South Louisiana Executive Director Paul G. Aucoin. After much encouragement and deep consideration, the Port of South Louisiana contracted Renaissance Publishing Company to implement quarterly editions of its PortLog, which is distributed to over 3,000 companies

around the U.S. In the past, the Port of South Louisiana seemed to have a lack of name recognition even though it is the largest tonnage port in the Western Hemisphere. PSL’s goal to increase awareness and solidify its identity is paramount, especially within the conscious mind of its target audience [those in the maritime industry (e.g., shipping agents, freight forwarders, barge companies, etc.) and site selectors]. Fortunately, the Port of South Louisiana has seen an increase in PortLog readership since the publication went quarterly and the response received has been positive. Nowadays, technological advances happen in a blink of an eye. And with the times, the Port of South Louisiana’s internet presence needed updating. In March, PSL launched its redesigned website (PortSL.com), which aims at versatility and aesthetics, both crucial

three years, will serve as a representative of international ports. “I’m honored to serve on this important board. I appreciate Governor John Bel Edwards for appointing me to the board and look forward to increasing Louisiana’s international trade,” says Aucion. Aucoin was nominated by the River Region Chamber of Commerce and the Port of South Louisiana. Prior to his engagement as executive director, he was Port of South Louisiana’s legal counsel. Aucoin has served as director and chairman of various organizations including current appointments to the World Trade Center of New Orleans Board of Directors, the River Region Chamber of Commerce and the St. James Parish Economic Development Board. Aucoin, born and raised in St. John the Baptist Parish, has been practicing law since receiving his Juris Doctor from Loyola University Law School in 1970. •

elements when making a first impression to online visitors. The end product delivered by Curran & Connors, who worked closely with PSL’s business development department, was a modern, mobile-friendly site with enhanced features, easy navigation, and improved search capabilities that highlight the Port of South Louisiana and the region, economic development information for potential investors, and resources for site selectors, industry, companies, government officials, and the community. The 2016 AAPA Communications Awards Program, which had a May 1 deadline for entries, utilized 48 professional public relations practitioners from the Washington, D.C. area who cumulatively spent nearly 200 hours over three weeks judging the 15 classifications of entries, ranging from advertisements and periodicals to videos and websites. Based on the number of points awarded each entry by the judges, the Port of South Louisiana received two Awards of Merit. AAPA will recognize 25 seaports for exemplary communications projects and programs at its annual convention and awards luncheon this fall. Winning entrants in AAPA’s 50th annual Communications Awards Program will be recognized at an Oct. 26 awards luncheon in conjunction with AAPA’s 105th Annual Convention and Expo in New Orleans, which runs Oct. 23 - 26. •

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C O M PA N Y P R O F I L E

CUSTOMIZED ADVOCACY FOR CUSTOMS BROKERS For more than a century, the International Freight Forwarders & Customs Brokers Association of New Orleans has met the specific needs of its members while doing its part to uplift the trade industry as a whole. B y W illiam K alec

s she speaks about the issues affecting her members within the trade industry in New Orleans, it becomes instantly obvious that Kristi App might very well be THE authoritative voice on the subject. After all, she is the Vice President of Business Development for global logistics giant J.W. Allen – a deadline-driven business App found comfort in immediately after college. Not to mention she’s the president of the International Freight Forwarders & Customs Brokers Association of New Orleans (IFFCBANO), a title her father, William, once held within an organization that to App feels a lot like family.

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“I mean, my summer vacations as a kid were spent at IFFCBANO conferences, so all of this is second nature,” App says. “I’m a third generation freight forwarder and customs broker, so it’s a personal and professional history with the association, and it’s something I have a lot of passion for.” Comprised of 38 freight forwarder/custom broker members and 80 associate members (businesses and entities indirectly tied to the industry such as trucking lines, warehouses, and ports), the IFFCBANO prides itself as a bannerwaver for the local trade community and a sounding board for the exchange of dialogue and

information in support of the timely movement of goods and aiding the individual growth of member companies. The non-profit develops close, reciprocal working relationships with every U.S. government agency tied to international shipping, thus ensuring the interests of its members – an important piston within the local economy – are tended to and protected. “We position ourselves as an association to be in the middle and cover the entire supply chain,” App says, “because that’s what we’re all striving for – increasing efficiency and safety in making sure cargo gets to and fro.” The IFFCBANO continues to lend a helpful hand to industrial havens like the Port of South Louisiana in attracting massive job creators to the region, answering any and all customs and logistical questions or concerns that potential new or relocating companies might possess. At the same time, it actively promotes the advantages of shipping through the New Orleans area. The IFFCBANO also actively lobbies local and national officials regarding projects/procedures that have a direct impact on customs brokers/freight forwarders, such as deepening the Mississippi River to 50 feet and difficulties with the U.S. Customs’ Automated Commercial Environment system used to electronically facilitate the importing and exporting of goods. App calls the ACE system, which transitions away from a paper process, a “game changer” though not in a positive way. Exactly what the IFFCBANO tackles is determined during regular monthly meetings, at which various committees, such as the Government Affairs Committee, the Transportation Committee and the Customs Committee to name a few — all comprised of IFFCBANO members — present reports on different aspects of the trade industry. “We talk about everything at those meetings, from membership to political awareness and government affairs,” App says. “We all read journals and trade publications about what’s going on, but it’s in those meetings that we address the matters that affect us locally and how we feel about those issues. Are we all on the same page? Some may support it. Some may not. But I’d say for the most part, we have a pretty good synergy within our members in believing what’s good for the individual is good for the whole. “New Orleans and Louisiana is a unique place in that it’s not the Hatfields and the McCoys, per se; it’s everybody kind of works together for a common goal.”

C O M PA N Y P R O F I L E Left to right: Chairman Billy Fitzpatrick after awarding Scholarship recipient, Jordan Duhon and her parents, alongside Executive Director Lisa McGoey and Vice Chairman Mark Czarnecki.

sissippi River. Because of the volatility of the coal industry – a market filled with rapid boom and bust periods – the council diversified to include ALL commodities transported throughout the Mississippi River. Fitzpatrick views the wide range of businesses represented in the MVTTC as a strength rather than a liability, in that the issues the Council tackles must concern the entire roster of its members and therefore bring about the most change. For instance, the MVTTC is a strong proponent of deepening the Mississippi River from 45 to 50 feet to allow more commerce. It’s also addressing

UNITING RIVER BUSINESSES FOR COMMON PROSPERITY

the need to modernize outdated infrastructure

The Mississippi Valley Trade and Transport Council is immersed by its desire to strengthen business, both up and down the river.

enough that they’re on the top of the list for

along the river, specifically the locks and dam system found in parts of the upper Mississippi and the Ohio River, which causes problems for both importers and exporters. On a more micro level, the MVTTC forms alliances with local universities (such as the University of New Orleans) to address workforce development issues. “It’s not hard to keep everybody together,” Fitzpatrick says. “There are issues important

B y W illiam K alec

s the old credit card commercial stated, “Membership has its privileges.” When it comes to the Mississippi Valley Trade and Transport Council (MVTTC), its 75 members are brought together to network with other maritime service professionals and ultimately united to promote commerce within the Mississippi Valley River System. Comprised of companies such as barge lines, port authorities, trading companies, and cargo terminals along with dozens of other commercial genres, the MVTTC provides united leadership and a singular voice when it comes to matters influencing production and distribution of cargo – from grain to iron and seemingly everything in between. “In the broad sense, we think we can help you be successful and help your business

everybody and [those issues] unite us.” Speaking of uniting, the MVTTC hosts the annual World Trade and Transport Conference in New Orleans the week before Mardi Gras – usually the heart of Carnival season. Held at the Omni Royal Orleans in

grow by giving you this network of people that you work with (and sometimes compete with),” says Billy Fitzpatrick of Cooper Consolidated and Chairman of the MVTTC Board. “It’s somewhat unique in that a lot of the member companies, they all compete against each other within their group – the barge lines, for example. Sometimes, they’re fierce competitors. But when it comes to the Council and the work that it does, we all realize what benefits the Mississippi River system will benefit all of us. “Everybody puts their competitiveness aside and works for the common good.” Founded in 1982 and then-named the Mississippi Valley Coal Exporters Council, the MVTTC was originally a trade group

the historic French Quarter, the conference

promoting the movement of coal through

everything going on currently that affects

the inland waterway system and lower Mis-

business.”

is jam-packed with events and festivities. Besides the customary meals and mixers, the conference puts on a golf tournament at Audubon Park. The conference also presents MVTTC scholarship winners, updates members on the latest government developments as well as an economic outlook for the trade industry and puts on a Mardi Gras Fete dinner at the Red Fish Grill on Bourbon Street. “There are a lot of great events, but it’s really all about networking,” says Lisa McGoey, Executive Director for the MVTTC and described “quarterback” player in organizing the conference. “Clients come in from all over and have a chance to discuss business and listen to a group of speakers in tune with

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C O M PA N Y P R O F I L E

Z Global Complex dock with their Phase III expansion project taking place in the background

A GRAIN ABOVE THE REST Zen-Noh Grain Corporation’s General Manager showcases the company’s origins and continued growth with the Port of South Louisiana. B y F rank E t h eridge

s he surveys the bustling Zen-Noh Grain Corporation facility at mile 163.8 on the Mississippi River’s east bank in Convent, Louisiana, General Manager Eric Slater describes it as “the Cadillac” of ZenNoh Group’s vast, global network. Slater derives such praise not only from the photograph of the plant that adorns the boardroom atop the Tokyo, Japan headquarters of Zen-Noh (which translates into English as “National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative

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Associations”; or simply: “Unified Agriculture”), but also from the facility’s crucial, decades-long role in connecting American grain and forage growers to Japanese farmers. Proof positive of the vital part that the Convent plays in the Japanbased co-op, which consists of an estimated 8.5 million members, comes in its current capacity campaign that looks to nearly double Zen-Noh Grain Corp.’s capacity by the winter of 2017-18. “This marks our first major expansion,” Slater explains, noting the massive construc-

tion cranes and pilings now seen at the facility. “Construction was started here in 1979. In October of 1982, we shipped our first vessel. Right now, we consume about 12.5 million metric tons of grain—that’s 500 million bushels, roughly—in a year. When the expansion is completed, we look to consume 16-18-million metric tons annually. Currently, we do 24-26 barges a day, and the goal will be 40 barges a day when it’s done.” Zen-Noh Grain today has 155 employees, with

more than half of that total consisting of residents in St. James, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist and Ascension parishes. After the capacity campaign’s completion, Slater estimates the total number of employees to grow to 200 workers. Slater says that the Japanese company originally looked to invest in the region in the late 1970s following the grain embargo enacted by then-President Jimmy Carter, which resulted in “pretty tough times” for American grain producers and numerous co-ops in the United States going broke falling upon hard times. Preferring to conduct business and trade on a model of coop to co-op, Zen-Noh at this point in time realized the opportunity and demand to invest in a facility on the lower Mississippi River. “Our river system is what makes this country so strong,” says Slater, a native Midwesterner with a degree in agricultural business from Ohio State University who has long called Louisiana

home and resides in Prairieville with his wife and three children. “The Mississippi River connects all the way up to Minneapolis with St. Louis in between. The Illinois [River] connects us to Chicago. The Ohio River reaches Pittsburgh. The Gulf [of Mexico] exports 60 percent of the nation’s grain. The Pacific Northwest exports the other 40 percent. This move to expand our capacity was done in anticipation of growth in the global population. While the population numbers in Japan are in decline, you’re seeing major long-term population growth in places like Indonesia and Nigeria. As the world grows, the world requires more to eat. And the United States remains the breadbasket for the world.” The work of unloading and loading grain onto vessels is done at Zen-Noh 24-hours a day, seven days a week, with occasional multiday breaks taken throughout the course of the year to check and maintain its machinery. To

expand its capacity, Slater says the first step is to enhance efficiency, namely in the form of bottlenecks. Additionally, the plant will add a second CBU (Cargo Barge Unloader) as part of its capacity campaign. Grain exported from Zen-Noh is of guaranteed quality by the United States Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) through the review process of its on-site Federal Grain Inspection Service. “Profitability is important,” Slater says, “but that’s not our number-one goal. Safety is our number-one goal. With big, heavy equipment, there’s a risk of people being hurt. Avoiding that will always be our number-one goal. “The Port of South Louisiana has the benefit of a wide network of other products besides agricultural, such as coal and fertilizer,” Slater explains. “A strong global economy is what works well for the port. Our growth is part of the growth of the Port of South Louisiana.”

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PORT PEOPLE

A LEADING COMMUNITY REFINER Norco Manufacturing Complex’s Rochelle Touchard gives back to the St. Charles community that raised her in the most profound ways. B y K evin O ’ S ullivan

hen a fellow student at Hahnville High School told Rochelle Touchard that women couldn’t hack it in the military she said, “well, let me give it a shot.” Time and again Rochelle “gave it a shot” and unendingly pressed herself forward, growing into the tireless philanthropist and football fanatic that she is today. Touchard enlisted in the military in 1990, just months before the Gulf War, and trained in nuclear-biological-chemical warfare. By a stroke of luck, she wasn’t sent to the front line with the rest of her unit. Instead, she was sent to learn how to drive eighteen-wheelers for a short time before reporting on infantry units in battle. Rochelle sums up her training by stating that by the time she left she was

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“able to nuke you, run over you and sit back and write about it. “You grow up pretty fast in the military,” Touchard continues, “My training gave me a direction and focus, grounding me as a person to believe what I still believe today; we’re not here by ourselves and we have to work together if we want to make substantive change.” After graduating from LSU’s Communications school and marrying her hometown sweetheart, Chris, Touchard packed her bags to go on and work in the St. Charles Parish Public School System as the Director of Public Information. Here, she helped to create the school system brand, “You and I… We are St. Charles Public Schools,” meaning that it’s not just the students and educators,

but the community as a whole that makes up the schools. It’s a village of influence and support, and at the end of the day, “if a community works together to develop a highly productive education system, then a domino effect will lead to an overall better quality of life for everyone. Being surrounded by high functioning industry allows us to create a high-tax base to support our public schools and invest in each student’s future because they are our future. “It’s really just ironic how everything worked out,” says Touchard. After 14 years with the school system, Touchard left to take a position as the External Relations Manager at (Shell/ Motiva) the Norco Manufacturing Complex where she continues to provide support to the

LEFT PAGE: Rochelle Touchard and some of her colleagues at the United Way campaign at Norco Manufacturing Complex. LEFT: The Touchard family enjoying their favorite season: Football Season! BELOW: Touchard training in the Mojave Desert in California after enlisting in the military in 1990.

public school programs. “When I was with the school system I had the role of ensuring that all of our schools were connected to an industry, guaranteeing funds towards every student’s education. Now at Shell/Motiva, I get to work with my predecessors at the school board... The irony is that when I was on the school board, I was the one that asked for Shell/Motiva to consider sponsoring these schools, and now at the facility, I am in the position to fund the programs that I started back then. It kind of came full circle.” St. Charles Parish is symbiotic. When Touchard took a position at Shell/Motiva, she knew it was a way to give back to the community that raised her. “I worked in the school system for 14 years and loved it, and

then I had the ability to move to a global company that provides value to where I’ve grown up, where I live, to where I’m raising my children and my family raises their families. It’s just exponential. It’s been a very unique position for me and one that I don’t take for granted and am humbled by.” Touchard and Shell/Motiva are heavily involved with the community building nonprofit, United Way. “We all have our jobs because the community allows us to operate here,” says Touchard, “so it touches my heart that we can give back to the community and make it whole.” In 2012 she was the co-chair for St. Charles Parish United Way Campaign and she currently sits on the marketing committee and the board of directors.

Touchard has a pretty packed work schedule, but she makes it very clear that especially in the fall, “not a lot gets done on the weekends in the Touchard household.” In addition to the gamut of sports that her children, Grayson, Gabrielle and Gage play, the Touchards are football fanatics, with season tickets to both the Tigers and the Saints. With such a busy schedule, Touchard says she is, “thankful for football and the opportunity to eat and fuss and cheer and support our colors with family. “What I hope, through my experiences, through my passion and energy, is to lead others and empower them to have the same passion and energy that I do to make a difference for the better.”

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P O R Tr a i t s

(L-R) Port Commission Secretary Stanley Bazile and President Paul Robichaux, State Representative Greg Miller, Congressman Charles Boustany; State Senator Gary Smith; Port Executive Director Paul Aucoin; and Sean Duffy, Big River Coalition Executive Director

(L-R) Jim Creaghan, Aux Initiatives; Dale Hymel, Port COO; Ron Anderson, Sr. Policy Advisor Senator Bill Cassidy’s office; Bryan McNabb, State Director, Senator Bill Cassidy’s office; Paul Aucoin, Port Executive Director; John Voorhorst, Economic Development Director, Entergy; Judy Songy, Port Commissioner; Caroline Reed, Entergy; and Joel Chaisson, Special Projects, Port 20

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P O R Tr a i t s

Executive Director Paul Aucoin congratulates Security Guard Lisa Adams for 10 years of service. Also pictured is H.R. Director Tamara Kennedy.

Pictured are Captain Wayne R Arguin, Sector Commander, US Coast Guard; Mitch Smith, Port Operations Director and Paul Aucoin, Port Executive Director. The Port received an award from the Coast Guard for our support and assistance during the recent high water events on the River.

First row (L- R): Nestor Navarro Jr, Navarro Group; Barry Hoth, Associated Terminals; Manuel Sandoval, Remigio Romero, Paul Aucoin, Port of South Louisiana, Marty Graham, Navarro Group

Back Row (L-R): Francisco Navarro, Navarro Group; Patti Crockett, Port of South Louisiana; Everardo Sandoval, Enrique Gonzalez, Enrique Gonzalez, Jr.; and Glenda Sandoval. The Guatemalan group visited and toured the Port to learn more about port operations.

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INDUSTRY MAP

P ort of S out h

E xisting I ndustr y 1 Dupont / Dow 2 LaFarge Corporation 3 Motiva Enterprises – Convent 4 Air Products & Chemicals 5 Yara North America 6 Zen-Noh Grain 7 Nucor Steel Louisiana, LLC 8 Occidental Chemical 9 Convent Marine 10 Mosaic - Uncle Sam 11 ADM – Paulina 12 Louisiana Sugar Refinery 13 Noranda Aluminum 14 Rain CII 15 Pin Oak Terminals 16 Nalco/Ecolab 17 Evonik 18 Marathon Petroleum Corporation

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19 Pinnacle Polymers 20 Cargill Terre Haute Elevator / Bulk Liquid 21 ADM - Reserve 22 Globalplex Intermodal Terminal 23 Dupont Performance Elastomers 24 EI Dupont 25 Arcelor Mittal 26 Entergy / Little Gypsy 27 Momentive 28 Shell Chemical 29 Motiva Enterprises – Norco 30 Valero - St. Charles 31 ADM – Destrehan 32 Bunge North American 33 International Matex Tank Terminals (IMTT) 34 ADM – Ama 35 Monsanto 36 Dow - St. Charles

37 Galata Chemicals 38 Occidental Chemical 39 Mosaic 40 Entergy / Waterford 1, 2, 3 41 Eurochem 42 Petroplex International, LLC 43 Yuhuang Chemical Company 44 Plains All American 45 Locap, Inc. 46 Shell Pipeline 47 NuStar 48 Syngas Energy 49 Ergon / Sun Fuel Midstream 50 South Louisiana Methanol 51 Marubeni Corporation (Gavilon) 52 INCA Refining 53 Americas Styrenics 54 Valero Asphalt

L ouisiana

Heav y I ndustrial S ites 55 Mosaic – Faustina 56 Associated Terminals Sunshine Midstream Buoy 57 Sunshine Anchorage 58 Associated Terminals Midstream Buoy 59 Ryan Walsh Stevedoring Midstream Buoy 60 Grandview Anchorage 61 St. John Fleet Midstream Buoy 62 Reserve Midstream Buoy 63 Reserve Anchorage 64 Capital Marine Tigerville Midstream Buoy 65 Gold Mine Fleet Midstream Buoy 66 CGB Midstream Buoy 67 Bonne Carré Anchorage 68 ADM Midstream Buoy 69 Ama Anchorage 70 Kenner Bend Anchorage

71 Ancient Domain - 225 acres 72 Balot & Whitehall - 240 acres; 980’ rf 73 Shady Grove - 231 acres; 1,690’ rf 74 Welham - 2,300 acres; 2,000’ rf 75 Hope Plantation - 283 acres; 1,500’ rf 76 Guidry Property - 84 acres 77 Airline Industrial Park - 1,100 acres 78 Davis Levert - 100 acres; 2,640’ rf 79 Esperanza Business Park - 650 acres 80 Home Place - 375 acres 81 Pelican-Occidental - 489 acres; 1,373’ rf 82 SoLaPort - 99 acres; 263’ rf 83 St. Charles Riverpark - 1,170+/- acres, 5,800‘ rf 84 Glendale Hymelia - 2,500 acres; 5,808’ rf 85 Whiterose - 300 acres; 854’ rf 86 Willow Bend - 2,200 acres; 6,000’ rf

87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97

Robert Brothers Farm - 1,582 acres; 8,448’ rf Goodwill Plantation - 500 acres; 1,500’ rf Succeed - 100 acres; 384’ rf Rich Bend Plantation - 500 acres; 1,300‘ rf Zeringue / St. Emma - 1,464 acres; 2,254’ rf Savanah - 381 acres; 1,954’ rf Minnie & St. Louis - 900 acres; 2,482’ rf St. Alice - 321 acres; 670‘ rf Winchester / Acadia - 1,490 acres; 2,403’ rf Elina - 406 acres; 520’ rf Dunhill - 51 acres; 1,100’ rf

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FINAL FRAME

The Mighty Mississippi River covers 1.2 million square miles and connects the Port of South Louisiana to tributary rivers from 33 states and two Canadian provinces.

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