A bill in the Louisiana State Legislature to build a massive port in Plaquemines Parish would be the single largest economic development project in Louisiana history, according to the bill’s author, Sen. A.G. Crowe, seizing on a giant market for containerized ships.

In 2014, the Panama Canal will be widened and deepened, allowing more giant cargo ships carrying thousands of containers into the Gulf of Mexico.

“It’s the cheapest way to get goods into the United States,” said Sen. Crowe, but adding that most of the containerized ships are currently offloaded in Jamaica.

Crowe wants the ships to unload in Louisiana.

“There are literally hundreds of ships that can't get into any port in the entire United States,” Crowe said, “because of the draft that's necessary.”

By building a port 20 miles south of Venice – where the Mississippi River is already 70 feet deep – the port would be deep enough, plenty deep enough, for the massive cargo ships that Crowe wants.  And no dredging would be needed to accommodate the ships.

The port, according to Crowe, would not compete with the Port of New Orleans or any other port upriver, rather the port would feed those upriver.

“It will absolutely supplement all the other ports in Louisiana, which is over 30 ports,” Crowe said.

Crowe said that almost everyone he has spoken with in the maritime industry is onboard with the project, including lawmakers in Louisiana.

One reason that so many back the plan, Crowe said, is that it could be funded entirely with private money.

“The response has been tremendous,” Crowe said.  “There really is no downside to this, in talking with legislators throughout the state, even ones in Shreveport think this is a great idea because even the Port of Shreveport could benefit from this as well.”

Gary LaGrange from the Port of New Orleans said the state needs to move forward with the Napoleon Avenue expansion, but still thought the port in Plaquemines is great idea.

“This could reestablish Louisiana as the Gateway to North America again,” said Crowe.  “150 years ago, we were the gateway to North America, and it was because of the Mississippi River.”

Crowe’s goal is to have the port ready by 2014.