Louisiana Ranked Top Maritime State

New data released this year shows that Louisiana ranks first in economic impact from America’s maritime industry. Louisiana’s 54,850 maritime jobs pump more than $11.3 billion into the state’s economy each year. Louisiana’s robust maritime industry includes vessel operators, marine terminals, shipyards, and workers engage in the movement of cargo within the waterways of Louisiana.

According to a study commissioned by the Transportation Institute and conducted by Pricewaterhouse-Coopers, Louisiana ranks first in the country in maritime jobs per capita. One in every eight-three jobs in Louisiana is connected to the state’s maritime industry, nearly twice that of any other state. Louisiana also ranks third in the nation in ship building. Shipbuilding accounts for 29,250 jobs and more than $2.23 billion in annual economic impact for the state.

Members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation strongly support their state’s domestic maritime industry. “Maritime is one of the largest industries in Louisiana, behind oil and gas and agriculture,” said Sen. Mary Landrieu. “Louisiana’s maritime jobs aren’t just important to our state’s economy – they play an incredibly vital role in our national economy,” Senator David Vitter said. “The American maritime industry is leading an economic recovery and investing in America’s waterways infrastructure,” Representative Steve Scalise remarked.

Louisiana’s navigable waterway network of over 2,800 miles is second only to that of Alaska and handles more waterborne commerce than any other state, moving more than 500 million tons of cargo each year. Louisiana is also home to the largest container port in the Western Hemisphere by tonnage and the second busiest port in the nation based on vessel arrivals.