Louisiana Ranks First in U.S. Maritime Industry

New data released today shows that Louisiana ranks first in the nation in economic impact from America’s domestic maritime industry.

The American Maritime Partnership, the voice of the domestic maritime industry, joined with the Offshore Marine Service Association; the American Waterways Operators; Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and David Vitter (R-La.); and Reps. Steve Scalise (R-La.), Charles Boustany (R-La.), and Cedric Richmond (D-La.) to highlight new information that shows the state’s 54,850 maritime jobs pump more than $11.3 billion annually into the Louisiana economy.

America’s robust domestic maritime industry includes vessel operators, marine terminals, shipyards, and workers engaged in the movement of cargo exclusively within the United States.

According to a study commissioned by the Transportation Institute and conducted by Pricewaterhouse-Coopers (PwC), Louisiana also ranks first in the country in maritime jobs per capita, with one in every 83 jobs connected to the state’s domestic maritime industry, nearly twice that of any other state.

Louisiana also ranks third in the nation in shipbuilding, according to a recent study by the U.S. Maritime Administration covering commercial and military construction. Shipbuilding accounts for 29,250 jobs and more than $2.23 billion in annual economic impact for the state.

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Seafarers, April 10, 2014