New Orleans, Louisiana · Gulf Coast
Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) container demurrage & detention dispute guide
A river port with one container terminal on the Mississippi, six Class I railroads and a new terminal in development, where river conditions and rail drive D&D exposure.
- Authority
- Port of New Orleans (Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans)
- Container terminals
- 2
The port at a glance
Port NOLA's container business runs through the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal on the Mississippi River, operated by Ports America. The port reported 263,961 TEU for the first half of 2025, up from 258,758 in the same period of 2024, crediting improved schedule reliability and new feeder services. New Orleans is served by six Class I railroads, and much of its container volume, including resin, poultry and other exports, connects to the inland network by rail and barge. The port is developing the Louisiana International Terminal downriver in St. Bernard Parish to handle larger vessels.
D&D exposure at a river port has its own causes. Vessel arrivals depend on river conditions: high water, low water and fog can restrict transits on the lower Mississippi and push vessels off schedule. When a vessel arrives late or a sailing is cancelled, exporters' loaded containers wait and detention accrues; importers can see several weeks of cargo arrive together and compete for appointments and chassis.
Shippers often miss the cause of a delay. When river conditions or a carrier's schedule change, not the shipper, stopped a container from moving, the billed days did not serve their incentive purpose. Record the river and pilot restrictions in effect on each disputed day.
Container terminals
Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal
Ports America · Port NOLA's container terminal on the Mississippi River
Louisiana International Terminal (St. Bernard Parish)
Port of New Orleans · Container terminal in development for larger vessels
Appointments & empty returns
- Pickups and returns at the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal follow the procedures published by the terminal operator, Ports America; the port does not publish a separate port-wide appointment platform.
- Earliest return dates and receiving windows are published by the terminal and carriers for each vessel.
Chassis
Port NOLA does not publish a port-operated chassis pool; chassis come from lessors, carriers and drayage providers serving the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal.
Where D&D builds up at New Orleans.
River conditions
High water, low water and fog on the lower Mississippi can restrict vessel transits and delay arrivals and departures. Delays caused by river conditions are outside the shipper's control.
Vessel bunching
After river restrictions lift, several vessels can arrive together, straining yard space, appointments and trucking capacity at a single terminal.
Rail and barge connections
Containers moving inland by rail or barge can wait at the terminal for their connection. Who controlled the inland move matters when demurrage accrues.
Export ERDs and rolls
Resin, poultry and other exporters deliver against ERDs that move with river-delayed vessels. Rolled bookings create detention on loaded boxes ready to ship.
Hurricanes
Tropical storms close the terminal and the river. Billed days during closures should be flagged.
Free time and disputes at New Orleans
Free time at New Orleans is set by the ocean carrier's tariff or your service contract, and terminal storage by the MTO's published schedule. The port does not set a port-wide free time. Each D&D invoice must include the 20 minimum elements of § 541.6, including the availability date (imports) or earliest return date (exports) and the specific dates charged.
River conditions are the defining New Orleans issue. When fog, high water or low water delayed a vessel, exporters' containers could not sail and importers' cargo could not arrive as scheduled. Charges for days when cargo could not move are the focus of 46 CFR § 545.5, and contemporaneous river notices are strong evidence.
Billing parties must issue within 30 calendar days of the date the charge was last incurred (§ 541.7), and you have at least 30 calendar days from issuance to request relief (§ 541.8). ATAHSKIA's Milestone & Gate Tracking attaches vessel and terminal events to each invoice so river-driven delays are visible in the dispute packet.
New Orleans D&D FAQ
Who operates the container terminal at Port NOLA?
Ports America operates the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal. The port is also developing the Louisiana International Terminal in St. Bernard Parish.
Can I dispute detention caused by Mississippi River fog or high water?
Yes. If river conditions delayed the vessel and your container could not move, the billed days did not serve their incentive purpose. Submit river notices with a relief request in the § 541.8 window.
How much container volume does Port NOLA handle?
Port NOLA reported 263,961 TEU for the first half of 2025, up from 258,758 in the first half of 2024.
Nearby and related ports
Audit your New Orleans invoices.
Send your recent D&D invoices for a free audit. We report what is recoverable within 48 hours.