West Calcasieu Port Strategic Plan

To see the Port’s Strategic Plan, download the .pdf here.

11/20/07

West Calcasieu Port selects BYL International to develop Port Strategic Plan

SULPHUR, La, Feb. 2, 2007 – The West Calcasieu Port has retained BYL International, Inc. to facilitate the
development of the facility’s long-range Port Strategic Plan. “The strategic plan is the first phase in the port’s
effort to map out a progressive path of growth and development for years to come,” said Lynn Hohensee,
WCP director. “Our 170acre facility is truly a ‘diamond in the ruff’ with its location on the Gulf Intracoastal
Waterway just two miles west of the Calcasieu River Ship Channel, and it is the intent of our board of
directors to maximize the benefit of this location.” Hohensee noted that once the Port Strategic Plan is
completed later this year, it will serve as the foundation for the next step, which is the development of
a comprehensive physical master plan for the facility. “The West Cal Port has been a viable part of the parish’s
maritime community infrastructure for many years,” said Larry Mashburn, president of the West Calcasieu
Port board of directors. “The creation of a longrange master plan will play a critical role in identifying how best
we will serve all of Calcasieu Parish and Southwest Louisiana.”

“BYL has extensive experience in planning for shallowwater and deepdraft public port authorities along the
Gulf of Mexico and nearby inland waterways,” Hohensee said. “In 2005, BYL assisted the port with a
preliminary marketing study, and based on the quality of that work, it was logical to that the port would seek
BYL’s assistance with the next step in the planning process.”

Hohensee also noted that the development of the WCP’s strategic planning process would not have been
possible without the assistance of the Louisiana Department of Economic Development.

“The WCP recently signed a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Louisiana Department of Economic
Development that provides $49,500 in state economic development funding support for the development of
the Port Strategic Plan,” he explained. “This agreement between the port and the LED demonstrates the
effectiveness of the relationships that exist between state agency and localregional entities that encourage
grassroot economic growth.”

Based in Galveston, Texas, BYL has provided planning support to other public port authorities in Louisiana,
including the CaddoBossier Port Commission and the Terrebonne Port Commission. John Massey,
president of BYL with more than 29 years of experience in the port industry, will serve as project manager
for the WCP strategic planning project.

“The West Calcasieu Port has a tremendous opportunity to grow and prosper by drawing upon the economic
development benefits of the extension of the Gulf Opportunity Zone and by its location on the Gulf
Intracoastal Waterway halfway between New Orleans and Houston,” Massey said. “With a solid strategic
plan as a template for its growth, we at BYL anticipate that the port will play an increasingly vital role in the
development of Southwest Louisiana’s economy.”

Located 12 miles south of Interstate 10 on Highway 27, the WCP offers 2,500 feet of waterfront property on
the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway with 12foot water depth. Current tenant activity includes barge operations,
maritime fueling service, dry cargo barge cleaning, diesel repair, heavy equipment contracting and maritime
supply operations.

# # # #

2/2/07

Download the story here.