Company chosen to manage river port

The Northwest Tennessee Regional Port Authority on Wednesday approved a Louisiana company to operate the Cates Landing River Port terminal after initial construction is complete.

A memorandum of understanding was affirmed between the port group and Associated Terminals LLC of Reserve, La. for negotiations that would allow a five-year contract followed by two five-year extensions.

The move could accelerate progress to complete the port because of the company's unique strategy.

Associated Terminals operates sites in Louisiana that allow ships to be loaded or unloaded without docking. Instead, massive cranes offload cargo onto barges, which then move the cargo to truck or rail.

"It's an economical way to do business," said authority board chairman Jimmy Williamson. "It's pretty exciting."

The possible scenario for Cates Landing is to construct an "open cell" sheet pile design. The plan is to increase dock space by pile driving sheet metal into a U-shaped design in the river to retain the fill material.

"All they need is a gravel road and ability to go in and out with a rubber-wheeler crane and start unloading."

Williamson said the design would allow the port "to start small."

"We could grow as we get customers," he said. "That makes a lot more sense than building something on speculation. We can grow as we develop customers."

Williamson said soil borings needed for the open cell plan was awarded to Forcum Lannom Contractors, who will subcontract the work.

Several members of the port authority traveled to Lousiana to visit the Associated Terminals work.

"Most ports I've seen are dirty and messy. Their place was very neat."