The Terrebonne Port Commission’s 400-acre site is located on Industrial Blvd. in Houma, La. The tract is one mile west of LA Highway 57 and the Houma-Terrebonne Airport. The Port of Terrebonne is located on the Houma Navigation Canal within one-half mile of its intersection with the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. This location puts the port in a strategic position to take advantage of significant cargo flows and marine traffic on both waterways.

The Houma Navigation Canal is a direct route to the Gulf of Mexico and also ties the Port of Terrebonne with Port Fourchon, one of the fastest growing ports in the U.S. The Port of Terrebonne is developing a cooperative relationship with Port Fourchon, a relationship that is being fostered by connectivity via the East-West Channel through Terrebonne Bay and Port of Terrebonne’s ready availability of land and building sites.

Each year the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway transports a huge amount of cargo and the most significant segment of this waterway in terms of tonnage is the segment that flows through the City of Houma and passes the Port of Terrebonne. A recent study documented tonnage carried on the various segments of the GIWW along the Gulf Coast and indicated that the most active segment was that between New Orleans and the Sabine River. In fact, the study documented that this segment carries fifty percent (50%) more than the next active segment—the Sabine River to Galveston, Texas, which includes the Port of Houston.

The Port of Terrebonne’s strategic location gives it a competitive advantage vis-à-vis other medium and shallow draft ports in Louisiana not only for capturing a significant share of cargo to be generated by growing Latin American trade flows, but in distributing these cargoes throughout the rest of the U.S. via the GIWW and connecting waterways.

 

"Under the provisions of its creating legislation, the Port Commission’s jurisdiction extends to all of Terrebonne Parish. This gives the Port Commission responsibility for all waterways in Terrebonne in addition to the Port, its primary responsibility. Under this task, of course, the Port Commission is responsible for the continuing development and day-to-day management of the Port. This is a significant responsibility given the Port’s importance to the economic development of Terrebonne and the region.

No less important is the Port Commission’s role in maintaining and improving the waterways of Terrebonne. These are vital for navigation, commerce, and recreation and, next to our people, are our most important natural as well as cultural resource. This task does not duplicate the responsibility held by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in maintaining and improving certain navigable waterways in the Parish since the Port Commission’s jurisdiction does not extend to these waterways. Nevertheless, the Port Commission has enormous responsibilities.