The project includes the procurement, delivery, and assembly of cargo transloading equipment to include a minimal 200 ton capacity crane and a minimal 25 ton capacity forklift and related cargo…

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) awarded Morgan City Harbor & Terminal District a $3.32 million Project Grant on June 30, 2025, under the United States Marine Highway Grants program (CFDA 20.816) to procure, deliver, and assemble cargo transloading equipment at the Port of Morgan City. The award funds three primary components: (1) procurement and assembly of a minimum 200-ton capacity crane; (2) procurement and assembly of a minimum 25-ton capacity forklift; and (3) procurement and assembly of related cargo handling attachments. These equipment acquisitions are designed to expand the port's freight handling capacity, enable the recruitment of additional tenants, and facilitate safe and efficient cargo operations.

The project, with an ultimate completion date of September 30, 2028, supports the Marine Highway program's core objective of mitigating landside congestion and expanding water-based transportation alternatives. Performance metrics will track economic competitiveness outcomes through quarterly measurement of unitized freight movements (in TEUs, metric tons, or cubic board meters), highway vehicle miles traveled (VMT) avoided through use of the designated marine highway route, and total cargo lifts performed using the newly acquired equipment. No sub-recipient activities are identified under this award.

The project includes the procurement, delivery, and assembly of cargo transloading equipment to include a minimal 200 ton capacity crane and a minimal 25 ton capacity forklift and related cargo handling attachments. Procuring modern and efficient cargo transloading equipment will provide the port with the capacity to bring in additional tenants to unload cargo safely and efficiently. Activities to be performed the project includes the following three components component 1 procurement delivery and assembly of a minimal 200 ton crane. Component 2 procurement delivery and assembly of a minimal 25 ton forklift. Component 3 procurement delivery and assembly of related cargo handling attachments. Deliverables expected outcomes from page 9 schedule G of the grant agreement measure freight movements. Category and description economic competitiveness calculate the amount of unitized freight by tonnage/volume that will be transported on the marine highway service on the designated marine highway route teus metric tons or cubic board meter CBM movements. Quarterly. Measure highway vehicle miles traveled VMT avoided. Category and description economic competitiveness calculate the VMT by obtaining the alternative road miles avoided by using the designated marine highway route. Measurement frequency. Measure quarterly. Frequency category and description cargo lifts measurement economic competitiveness calculate the count of unitized freight lifts using cargo handling equipment in the project study area. Frequency quarterly. Intended beneficiary morgan city harbor and terminal district. Subrecipient activities none.