Calcasieu Ship Channel: Economic Impact Study 2017

On November 9, 2017, the Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District released the 2017 update of the Economic Impact Study of the Calcasieu Ship Channel.

The Economic Impact Study concludes that the Calcasieu Ship Channel is the main marine transportation corridor and infrastructure for sustained economic development in the SWLA Region. The importance of the Channel and terminal facilities to the overall economic impact in 2016 for the SWLA Region is evidenced by the 37,159 direct, indirect, and induced jobs; $5.7 billion of GPD; and $118.8 million generated in local sales and property taxes. Additionally, 56 million tons of cargo came into the port district in 2016. The Calcasieu Ship Channel is truly the heart of the SWLA Region’s economy.

The 2023 completed ship channel related economic development expansion projects measured in 2016 dollars will facilitate an additional 10,729 jobs, add $4.9 billion of GPD, and contribute an additional $100.4 million in local sales and property taxes.

The Channel’s impact reaches beyond the Lake Charles metro area. In 2016, over 50,000 Louisiana jobs and $187.8 million of Louisiana production, state sales and production taxes were generated by channel-dependent businesses. The aggregate statewide will grow by more than $101.7 million in new sales and income taxes generated from these new economic drivers.

All of these impacts are conditioned upon the Channel’s ability to meet the needs of business and industry, now and in the future. The Channel can only meet these needs if it is consistently maintained at the congressionally authorized dimensions of 400 feet wide by 40 feet deep.

Click here to download the full 2017 Economic Impact Study of the Calcasieu Ship Channel.

Calcasieu Ship Channel Traffic Study

Traffic in the Calcasieu Ship Channel is expected to increase significantly over the next 10 years due to the expanded operations of the present channel users and the construction of several proposed terminals. By 2021, the traffic in the channel is forecasted to double from 2013 levels. Ausenco was engaged by the Port of Lake Charles to conduct a simulation study to investigate the impact of this traffic on the operations of the channel and to assess the need for changes to the channel infrastructure and regulations. 

For this study, Ausenco developed a detailed model of the Calcasieu Ship Channel. This model included the existing and proposed terminals, present and forecasted traffic levels, different vessel types, the four pilot boarding areas, rules and restrictions for transits, boarding windows, and weather closures. 

To read the full study, click here