Port of New Orleans President and CEO Gary LaGrange announced container volumes at the Port rose 31 percent in 2010, compared to 2009.

LaGrange made the announcement during the Port’s monthly Board of Commissioners meeting. In 2010, the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal handled 426,091 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), compared to 325,857 one year ago.

“These gains are attributed to a strong export market and the result of non-traditional cargoes, such as steel products and grain, now moving by container,” LaGrange said. “Our terminal operators – Ports America and New Orleans Terminal – are to be commended on the service they provide, as well as our container carriers that serve the Port.”

The Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal is served by Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, Seaboard Marine and CSAV.

In other Board news, two contracts were awarded for the renovation of the Julia Street Cruise Terminal. The Board awarded an $8.97 million contract to Metairie, La.-based Ryan Gootee General Contractors LLC, for the renovation and expansion of the terminal. A $3.98 million contract was also awarded to Jackson, Miss.-based Silverton Construction Company for modifications to the Julia Street Wharf and substructure.

The estimated $13.7 million project will renovate two smaller terminals at Julia Street into one large modern terminal. The project includes the installation of a new climate-controlled articulated gangway, currently under construction in Sweden. The terminal will be home to Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas, which will home-port in New Orleans beginning this fall. The 1,020-foot cruise ship carries 3,838 passengers and will be the largest cruise ship ever to call on the Port of New Orleans.

The project is expected to be completed in October.