The Port of Lake Charles announced a four-year contract with Federal Marine Terminals (FMT) for the handling of commercial and USDA bagged agricultural commodities.

The contract makes FMT the exclusive terminal services and stevedoring services provider for all bagged commercial and bagged USDA PL-480 cargoes at the port, effective Feb 1, 2013.

The Port of Lake Charles—the 14th busiest port in the U.S.—shipped more than 245,000 tons of bagged cargo in 2011, including some 134,000 tons of USDA cargo. The port is one of the leading USDA PL-480 export points in the U.S.

Port of Lake Charles Executive Director William Rase said, “FMT has operated at the Port of Lake Charles for the past 13 months, demonstrating consistent performance at a high level. FMT has committed the quality personnel and equipment to provide the services that our customers require. FMT intends to draw the labor needed from the local International Longshoremen’s Association workforce, providing continuity in port activities.