Port of South Louisiana

The ports of New Orleans, South Louisiana, and Baton Rouge cover 172 miles (277 km) on both banks of the Mississippi River.

The Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Canal (now closed by a rock dike built across the channel at Bayou La Loutre) extends 67 miles (108 km) from New Orleans to the Gulf of Mexico, and the channel up the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Baton Rouge runs at a 48-foot (14.6 m) draft.

After Hurricane Katrina, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Coast Survey used boats with sonar and scanners to assess underwater damage to the ports.

Barges carry these grains from the Mississippi River to the ports for storage and export.

Imports to these ports include steel, rubber, coffee, fruits, and vegetables.

The Port of South Louisiana handles the largest amount of shipping, in tonnage, of all U.S. ports.