In the News
BERNARD IS NEW PORT COMMISSION PRESIDENT
The Port of Iberia Board of Commissioners recently elected Raymond Bernard, Jr. as their new President. Bernard is one of three Commissioners appointed by the Iberia Parish Council. He is in his fourth year serving on the Board and is Senior Vice-President of Aceunico in New Iberia. Other officers elected include Millie Martinez as Vice-President and Ralph Provost as Secretary-Treasurer. Board members are Ted Kahn, Frank Minvielle, Mark Dore and Michael Resweber.
Bernard is looking forward to the future of the Port of Iberia. “Excitement filled the room when the Acadiana Gulf of Mexico Access Channel (AGMAC) was finally approved through the passing of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) by a veto override of the President of the United States,” stated Bernard.
“Times of growth and expansion keep the outlook at the Port of Iberia on a bright horizon. The passing of WRDA now authorizes funding for the channel deepening providing a positive impact on the entire port, their tenants and partners, and Acadiana as a whole. Prior and current board members have worked diligently with the Executive Director to make this project come to fruition with the guidance and support of local, state and federal delegations expanding over the past six years. Design work and infrastructure plans have never stopped. We needed to keep the project moving forward, knowing that, if passed, it would stall had the preliminary work not been completed.”
“As the current tenant base grows their business we continue to evaluate and upgrade infrastructure where possible to continue to meet their needs.
A new proposed expansion is being reviewed which would extend the barge channel access to an additional 50 acres of developed property. Presently we are working with engineers evaluating the construction feasibility and estimated project costs to complete the expansion.”
FEDERAL COMMITMENT TO PORT OF IBERIA…
Over $100 Million Investment to Deepen Access Channel
“It took almost 30 years and a House and Senate override of a Presidential veto to fulfill the vision,” said Roy Pontiff, Executive Director of the Port of Iberia. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) includes $105 million in federal funding to deepen the Acadiana to the Gulf of Mexico Access Channel (AGMAC) to the Port. An additional $25 million will be the responsibility of the State of Louisiana and the Port.
But the bill does not actually appropriate money for specific projects; that must be accomplished in spending bills. “Now that the WRDA has passed Congress – with wide bipartisan support, including 79-14 Senate override vote – we can begin formal negotiations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to design the channel,” said Pontiff. “Port bulkheads are being redesigned and pipelines are being lowered in anticipation of dredging scheduled to begin in October, 2009.”
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ACADIANA?
“Deepening the access channel from 12 feet to 16 feet keeps the Port of Iberia competitive. Larger barges will be able to deliver larger components of platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. This will bring more business to the Port, create more jobs and have a positive economic effect throughout the region,” said Pontiff. “The Port is already at a record capacity, the deeper channel will fuel our continued growth.”
As seen on the map, the AGMAC will go from the Port along the Commercial Canal (7.5 miles), then along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (21.5 miles), through Freshwater Bayou (20 miles) and into the Gulf for four more miles. The 53-mile access channel does not go through Vermilion Bay because the cost of long term maintenance in open water would be four times as expensive as the inland route that has been selected. Altogether, five alternative channel routes were evaluated, taking into consideration the environmental and economic impacts of the project.
BENEFITS OF THE AGMAC CHANNEL
• Provides essential Gulf of Mexico access to Acadiana Fabrication and Marine Transportation Industries
• Beneficial use of dredge material
• Provides solution for existing saltwater intrusion and bank erosion through construction of rock dikes and barriers
• 25 year benefit to cost ratio is 17 to 1
• Supplies economic benefits for entire Acadian Region
• Approximately $300 million a year in increased business
• Creation of approximately 4,000 jobs
CURRENT PORT ECONOMIC DATA
• 100 Industries
• 5,000 Employees
• $166 Million in Payroll
• $1.4 Billion in Economic Impact
