St. Bernard Port Celebrates Completion of Chalmette Slip Rehab Project
The St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District (St. Bernard Port) and Associated Terminals hosted a dedication ceremony May 14 for the Chalmette Slip Rehabilitation Project, marking a major milestone in the restoration of the infrastructure surrounding the only slack-water slip on the Lower Mississippi River.
Chalmette Slip, originally constructed in 1907, is located at Mile 89.5 on the east bank of the Mississippi River. With the rehabilitation project complete, the slip is now fully operational for the first time in some 40 years, with all berths in active use. Most recent work at the slip returned sections A and F to full use.
The project was made possible through the combined efforts of the St. Bernard Port, Volkert Inc., Associated Terminals and Boh Bros. Construction.
As the only slack-water terminal on the lower river, the Chalmette Slip plays a key role in the movement of general cargo, project cargo and bulk commodities in and out of the region, with connections to barge and ship transport, all six Class I railroads and two major interstates.
“This project was a perfect example of the power of long-term vision and strong public-private partnerships,” said Drew Heaphy, executive director of the St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District. “The Chalmette Slip is not only a piece of our history. It’s essential to our region’s economic future and the broader Mississippi River system.”
Heaphy expressed his thanks and appreciation to leaders at both the state and federal levels, including Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) who, in his role as House Majority Whip, helped secure federal funding for the project. Heaphy also thanked Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) for his support. The state of Louisiana also invested $15 million in funding from the Port Priority Program.
Heaphy added that both Chalmette Slip and St. Bernard Port are more than strategic assets for transporting commodities. They’re also a vital part of the community of St. Bernard Parish.
“The port serves as a major point of pride of the people of St. Bernard Parish, and we are committed to ensuring that this infrastructure delivers long-term benefits to our local economy,” he said. “From job creation to tax revenue to career development opportunities, the port’s mission is deeply intertwined with the growth of this community.”
Gary Poirrier, chairman of Association Terminals, which operates the slip for the St. Bernard Port, echoed that sentiment.
“We were honored to work with the St. Bernard Port to bring the Chalmette Slip back to life,” Poirrier said. “Its full restoration enhances not only our operations but also Louisiana’s competitiveness in the global marketplace. We are proud to be the exclusive operator at this exceptional facility and look forward to continued growth alongside the port.”
Besides celebrating completion of the rehabilitation of the slip, Poirrier also marked Associated Terminals’ 35th year in business.
“Since our founding in 1990, we have become the leading terminal operator and stevedore on the Lower Mississippi River and beyond,” he said. “We’ve done that by staying true to the motto we were built on, ‘The Ability and Attitude to Accomplish Anything.’”
Associated Terminals has operated in St. Bernard since 2002. In that time, its cargo-handling in the parish has grown from 700,000 tons in 2002 to an annual average of 9 million tons of cargo today.
Section A, located on the outer, upriver side of the slip, was totally rebuilt and now can accommodate up to 1,000 pounds per square foot of cargo, said Zeljko Franks, chief operating officer of Associated Terminals. Section F, located on the interior side of the slip, was also restored. Franks added that additional enhancements are in the works for a warehouse on site.
“In essence, this entire slip is going to be restored by the Port of St. Bernard to enhance our cargo-handling capabilities,” Franks said.
The Rev. Phillip Vandercook, executive director of Global Maritime Ministries, opened the ceremony with an invocation. Heaphy closed his remarks by honoring his predecessor at the port, Robert J. Scafidel, who served as executive director from 1998 to 2017.
“In those 19 years, he laid the foundation for the port’s modern era—driving expansion, securing funding and developing the infrastructure we continue to build on today,” Heaphy said. “His vision and determination were instrumental to the Chalmette Slip project, and I know he would be incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished today.”
Scafidel’s wife, Phylis Scafidel, cut the ribbon to officially mark the completion of the rehabilitation project.
Featured photo caption: A crane operator lowers a steel coil handler out of a hold aboard the Singapore-flagged cargo ship Asian Summit and onto the dock at the Chalmette Slip. Associated Terminals unloaded the Asian Summit May 15. (Photo by Frank McCormack)
