Craig Romero,
Executive Director

“The deepening of the Acadiana Gulf of Mexico Access Channel is well underway. The dredging has begun and we are excited to be closer to allowing much larger vessels to access our port, therefore creating more job opportunities for all of Acadiana. Thank you to our entire Acadiana legislative delegation for securing the necessary funding to make this project a reality.”
– Craig Romero, Port of Iberia Executive Director

The Port of Iberia recently completed another step to deepen the Acadiana Gulf of Mexico Access channel (AGMAC). As required by the Corps of Engineers, four pipelines have been lowered to prepare for dredging from the port to the Gulf of Mexico via the Intracoastal Canal. The AGMAC project will create a 16’ depth in the Commercial Canal up to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The Port recently received bids from potential dredging contractors and expect to award the contract soon. Dredging should begin before the end of the year with expected completion by the end of 2022. This $38 million dollar project is funded by the State of Louisiana Capital Outlay funds.

“This has been a long process and we are excited to be closer to dredging,” stated Craig Romero, Port of Iberia Executive Director. “This project will give the Port of Iberia the capability of allowing much larger vessels to access our port, therefore creating more job opportunities for all of Acadiana. I’d like to thank our entire Acadiana legislative delegation for securing the necessary funding to make this project possible.”

AGMAC Ribbon Cutting

Article by: KATC News

Posted at 11:49 AM, Mar 04, 2021
and last updated 7:39 PM, Mar 04, 2021

The Port of Iberia held a ribbon cutting ceremony recently to officially kick off the Acadiana to Gulf of Mexico Access Channel Project.

The ribbon cutting was held at the drill site where the first of three large pipelines are being relocated under the main Port channel. According to the Port of Iberia, the total cost for the project is estimated to be around $34 million. Continue reading →

The Port of Iberia is another step closer in deepening the Acadiana Gulf of Mexico Access channel (AGMAC) to a 16 feet from the port to the Gulf of Mexico via the Intracoastal Canal. Work on lowering the first of three pipelines as required by the Corps of Engineers has begun. To prepare for dredging the pipelines will be lowered at the Commercial Canal between the port and the Intracoastal Waterway. The second and third pipeline lowering is scheduled for early summer. Funds have been appropriated by the state of Louisiana for the estimated cost of $5.4 million per pipeline. The Port Commissioners anticipate advertising for dredging bids by late summer

Phase I of the dredging the Acadiana Gulf of Mexico Access Channel (AGMAC) is ready to begin. The AGMAC would allow dredging of a 16-foot deep channel from the Port of Iberia to the Gulf of Mexico via the Intracoastal Canal.

Contracts have been negotiated for the lowering of three pipelines to depth required by the Corps of Engineers at the Commercial Canal between the port and the Intracoastal Waterway. This portion of the project will take approximately six to eight months to complete at a cost of $6-7 Million dollar per pipeline. These funds have been appropriated by the state of Louisiana. After completion, work will begin on the actual dredging of the Port canal set to begin in 2021.

The Port is also working with landowners along the route for property restoration using dredge materials. “AGMAC is vital to the Port businesses to remain competitive,” stated Romero.

The Port of Iberia is another step further in dredging the Acadiana Gulf of Mexico Access Channel (AGMAC). The AGMAC would allow dredging of a 16-foot deep channel from the Port of Iberia to the Gulf of Mexico via the Intracoastal Canal. Craig Romero, Port Executive Director, stated that $13.5 million has been received from the state to begin Phase I. The first step to prepare for the dredging is to lower five pipelines to required depth at the Commercial Canal between the port and the Intracoastal Waterway. This work is slated to begin in July 2020. Improved bulkheads to 20 feet inside the port have already been completed at a cost of $29 Million dollars over the past 5 years. Romero emphasized the importance of the channel to Port businesses to remain competitive. “Dynamic, Omega, Frank’s…they are all being denied the ability to bid on projects because of navigation charts showing a low depth at the Port of Iberia,” Romero said.

Executive Director Craig Romero recently made a presentation to the Mississippi River Commission at a meeting in Houma, LA. during their annual low-water inspection trip. The Mississippi River Commission develops plans to improve the consideration of the Mississippi River, foster navigation, promote commerce, and prevent destructive floods.  They provide water resources engineering direction and policy advice to the Administration, Congress and the Army.  Romero reported on the status of deepening the channel to the Gulf of Mexico and its importance. Continue reading →

The Port of Iberia continues working toward the Acadiana Gulf of Mexico Access Channel. Craig Romero, Port Executive Director, recently met with the newly elected delegation to brief them on the AGMAC status and emphasis on its importance. “Between the Port and the state of Louisiana there is approximately $30,000 million that has already been spent preparing for the deepening of our channel to the Gulf of Mexico,” Craig Romero stated. “We will continue to pursue the deepening of the channel. The AGMAC will increase the business potential for the Port of Iberia and Acadiana.”

The Port of Iberia recently secured $8.5 million from the State Bond Commission for the Acadiana Gulf of Mexico Access Channel. Craig F. Romero, Executive Director of the Port of Iberia stated, “Our state legislative delegation was very instrumental in securing this Bond Commission approval.” This puts almost $30 million available for this project from the state. “It is a step closer to becoming a reality,” said Romero. “The recent announcements of growth and expansions happening at the Port of Iberia show the increased business potential for the Port and Acadiana with additional water depth.”