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Hurricane Ida closes New Orleans and the Lower Mississippi River

Hurricane Ida closes New Orleans and the Lower Mississippi River. The disruption ran from 2021-08-28 (28 August 2021) to 2021-09-03 (3 September 2021), 7 days, affecting New Orleans, South Louisiana, Baton Rouge. New Orleans averaged 2.9 calls per day during the event window against an expected 13.6 (-79.1%). South Louisiana averaged 0.9 calls per day during the event window against an expected 6.4 (-86.5%).

World Freight Monitor permanent record. https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2021/hurricane-ida-new-orleans-2021/. Record last updated 2026-09-24.

Key facts

Started
2021-08-28 (28 August 2021)
Ended
2021-09-03 (3 September 2021)
Status
ended
Severity
2 Moderate
Scope
regional
Chokepoints
None
Lanes
None
Countries
United States
Confidence
medium: The closure and the reopening are documented by the Coast Guard, but the Coast Guard bulletin and the port release give different days for the river reopening, so the end date follows the bulletin that describes the removal of the obstruction.
First reported
2021-08-28 (28 August 2021)
  • Severity basis: Port wide stoppage of 24 hours to seven days; vessel movement on the Lower Mississippi River was prohibited from 2021-08-28 and the river reopened to all traffic on 2021-09-03.

What happened

From 2021-08-28 (28 August 2021) the Captain of the Port set port condition Zulu before Hurricane Ida and prohibited vessel movement on the Lower Mississippi River, closing the Port of New Orleans and the other river ports of southeast Louisiana. Ida made landfall in Louisiana on 2021-08-29 as a category 4 hurricane. A downed transmission tower dropped power lines across the channel near mile marker 106.5 and a survey of the ship channel was required before traffic could return. The Coast Guard reopened the river to all vessel traffic on 2021-09-03 (3 September 2021), with speed and tow size limits between mile markers 108 and 167.5. The port resumed limited cargo work on 2021-09-02 and container operations on 2021-09-07.

Measured effect

Port calls, New Orleans

Baseline (expected)
13.6 calls per day
Observed
2.9 calls per day
Change
-10.8 (-79.1%)
Standardised score
-2.9
Event window
2021-08-28 to 2021-09-03 (7 days)
Baseline window
2021-06-26 to 2021-08-20 (56 valid days)
Method
wfm-effect-1.0
Computed
2026-09-24 (24 September 2026), data revision 1:0cc7febfacf8
Port calls, New OrleansPort calls, New Orleans, 2021-06-19 (19 June 2021) to 2021-10-15 (15 October 2021): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2021-08-29 to 26 calls per day on 2021-09-04, with a mean of 13.5 calls per day. The latest value, for 2021-10-15, was 17 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2021-08-28 to 2021-09-03.01020302021-06-192021-08-172021-10-15
Port calls, New Orleans, 2021-06-19 (19 June 2021) to 2021-10-15 (15 October 2021): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2021-08-29 to 26 calls per day on 2021-09-04, with a mean of 13.5 calls per day. The latest value, for 2021-10-15, was 17 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2021-08-28 to 2021-09-03.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Port calls, New Orleans (calls per day).
Datecalls per day
2021-06-1912
2021-06-2016
2021-06-2111
2021-06-2211
2021-06-2314
2021-06-2415
2021-06-2514
2021-06-2612
2021-06-2713
2021-06-2819
2021-06-2912
2021-06-3011
2021-07-0125
2021-07-027
2021-07-0318
2021-07-0417
2021-07-0510
2021-07-0613
2021-07-078
2021-07-088
2021-07-0913
2021-07-1016
2021-07-1122
2021-07-1217
2021-07-137
2021-07-1412
2021-07-1514
2021-07-1614
2021-07-1721
2021-07-1813
2021-07-1914
2021-07-2017
2021-07-2117
2021-07-2213
2021-07-2314
2021-07-2421
2021-07-259
2021-07-2617
2021-07-2713
2021-07-2810
2021-07-2918
2021-07-3013
2021-07-3113
2021-08-0125
2021-08-0213
2021-08-039
2021-08-0420
2021-08-0512
2021-08-0612
2021-08-0715
2021-08-0819
2021-08-0916
2021-08-1010
2021-08-1111
2021-08-1218
2021-08-1314
2021-08-1415
2021-08-1511
2021-08-1615
2021-08-1710
2021-08-1819
2021-08-1913
2021-08-2019
2021-08-2116
2021-08-2212
2021-08-2313
2021-08-2414
2021-08-2521
2021-08-2611
2021-08-277
2021-08-281
2021-08-290
2021-08-305
2021-08-312
2021-09-010
2021-09-020
2021-09-0312
2021-09-0426
2021-09-055
2021-09-064
2021-09-078
2021-09-0814
2021-09-0913
2021-09-108
2021-09-1113
2021-09-1212
2021-09-1313
2021-09-146
2021-09-1522
2021-09-1611
2021-09-1716
2021-09-1812
2021-09-1911
2021-09-2018
2021-09-2111
2021-09-2215
2021-09-2315
2021-09-2418
2021-09-2515
2021-09-2623
2021-09-2717
2021-09-2810
2021-09-299
2021-09-3013
2021-10-0116
2021-10-0210
2021-10-0315
2021-10-0416
2021-10-0510
2021-10-0624
2021-10-0717
2021-10-0810
2021-10-0913
2021-10-1018
2021-10-1115
2021-10-1214
2021-10-1320
2021-10-1417
2021-10-1517

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Port calls, South Louisiana

Baseline (expected)
6.4 calls per day
Observed
0.9 calls per day
Change
-5.5 (-86.5%)
Standardised score
-2.2
Event window
2021-08-28 to 2021-09-03 (7 days)
Baseline window
2021-06-26 to 2021-08-20 (56 valid days)
Method
wfm-effect-1.0
Computed
2026-09-24 (24 September 2026), data revision 1:2b0c40614c9f
Port calls, South LouisianaPort calls, South Louisiana, 2021-06-19 (19 June 2021) to 2021-10-15 (15 October 2021): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2021-08-29 to 15 calls per day on 2021-08-21, with a mean of 5.8 calls per day. The latest value, for 2021-10-15, was 7 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2021-08-28 to 2021-09-03.0510152021-06-192021-08-172021-10-15
Port calls, South Louisiana, 2021-06-19 (19 June 2021) to 2021-10-15 (15 October 2021): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2021-08-29 to 15 calls per day on 2021-08-21, with a mean of 5.8 calls per day. The latest value, for 2021-10-15, was 7 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2021-08-28 to 2021-09-03.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Port calls, South Louisiana (calls per day).
Datecalls per day
2021-06-194
2021-06-205
2021-06-219
2021-06-226
2021-06-233
2021-06-246
2021-06-256
2021-06-268
2021-06-274
2021-06-286
2021-06-297
2021-06-306
2021-07-016
2021-07-024
2021-07-0311
2021-07-043
2021-07-058
2021-07-064
2021-07-075
2021-07-084
2021-07-098
2021-07-105
2021-07-116
2021-07-128
2021-07-139
2021-07-142
2021-07-155
2021-07-167
2021-07-179
2021-07-186
2021-07-194
2021-07-208
2021-07-215
2021-07-229
2021-07-236
2021-07-244
2021-07-256
2021-07-269
2021-07-277
2021-07-286
2021-07-294
2021-07-308
2021-07-314
2021-08-014
2021-08-029
2021-08-038
2021-08-047
2021-08-056
2021-08-066
2021-08-077
2021-08-084
2021-08-097
2021-08-105
2021-08-117
2021-08-129
2021-08-137
2021-08-1410
2021-08-153
2021-08-165
2021-08-176
2021-08-183
2021-08-198
2021-08-2010
2021-08-2115
2021-08-225
2021-08-234
2021-08-246
2021-08-257
2021-08-268
2021-08-277
2021-08-283
2021-08-290
2021-08-301
2021-08-310
2021-09-011
2021-09-020
2021-09-031
2021-09-042
2021-09-053
2021-09-065
2021-09-074
2021-09-084
2021-09-093
2021-09-108
2021-09-114
2021-09-127
2021-09-139
2021-09-144
2021-09-155
2021-09-163
2021-09-174
2021-09-188
2021-09-193
2021-09-207
2021-09-218
2021-09-225
2021-09-237
2021-09-2410
2021-09-254
2021-09-268
2021-09-277
2021-09-286
2021-09-2910
2021-09-304
2021-10-015
2021-10-023
2021-10-038
2021-10-046
2021-10-053
2021-10-063
2021-10-079
2021-10-086
2021-10-097
2021-10-104
2021-10-118
2021-10-127
2021-10-136
2021-10-148
2021-10-157

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Replay

Replay: Port calls, New OrleansPort calls, New Orleans, 2021-06-29 (29 June 2021) to 2021-09-27 (27 September 2021): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2021-08-29 to 26 calls per day on 2021-09-04. The shaded band marks the event window, 2021-08-28 to 2021-09-03.01020302021-06-292021-09-27
Port calls, New Orleans, 2021-06-29 (29 June 2021) to 2021-09-27 (27 September 2021): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2021-08-29 to 26 calls per day on 2021-09-04. The shaded band marks the event window, 2021-08-28 to 2021-09-03.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Port calls, New Orleans (calls per day), daily values shown in the replay.
Datecalls per day
2021-06-2912
2021-06-3011
2021-07-0125
2021-07-027
2021-07-0318
2021-07-0417
2021-07-0510
2021-07-0613
2021-07-078
2021-07-088
2021-07-0913
2021-07-1016
2021-07-1122
2021-07-1217
2021-07-137
2021-07-1412
2021-07-1514
2021-07-1614
2021-07-1721
2021-07-1813
2021-07-1914
2021-07-2017
2021-07-2117
2021-07-2213
2021-07-2314
2021-07-2421
2021-07-259
2021-07-2617
2021-07-2713
2021-07-2810
2021-07-2918
2021-07-3013
2021-07-3113
2021-08-0125
2021-08-0213
2021-08-039
2021-08-0420
2021-08-0512
2021-08-0612
2021-08-0715
2021-08-0819
2021-08-0916
2021-08-1010
2021-08-1111
2021-08-1218
2021-08-1314
2021-08-1415
2021-08-1511
2021-08-1615
2021-08-1710
2021-08-1819
2021-08-1913
2021-08-2019
2021-08-2116
2021-08-2212
2021-08-2313
2021-08-2414
2021-08-2521
2021-08-2611
2021-08-277
2021-08-281
2021-08-290
2021-08-305
2021-08-312
2021-09-010
2021-09-020
2021-09-0312
2021-09-0426
2021-09-055
2021-09-064
2021-09-078
2021-09-0814
2021-09-0913
2021-09-108
2021-09-1113
2021-09-1212
2021-09-1313
2021-09-146
2021-09-1522
2021-09-1611
2021-09-1716
2021-09-1812
2021-09-1911
2021-09-2018
2021-09-2111
2021-09-2215
2021-09-2315
2021-09-2418
2021-09-2515
2021-09-2623
2021-09-2717

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Timeline

  1. The Captain of the Port sets port condition Zulu. From 14:00 no vessel movement is authorised between mile marker 167.5 above Head of Passes and mile marker 20 below it, and from 22:00 the closure extends upriver to mile marker 303. [s1]
  2. Hurricane Ida makes landfall in Louisiana as a category 4 storm, according to the Port of New Orleans, which reports that seven general cargo vessels stayed in port through the storm. [s3]
  3. The port resumes limited cargo and vessel operations, starting with breakbulk work at the Louisiana Avenue complex. [s3]
  4. The Coast Guard opens the Lower Mississippi River to all vessel traffic after power lines from a downed transmission tower are cleared and the ship channel is surveyed, keeping speed and tow size limits in place. [s2] [s4]
  5. Container operations resume at the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal, according to the port. [s3]

Cause

The Coast Guard closed the river to vessel movement ahead of Hurricane Ida, which made landfall in Louisiana on 2021-08-29. Reopening waited on the removal of power lines from a transmission tower that fell across the waterway near mile marker 106.5 and on a survey of the ship channel. Attributed by: U.S. Coast Guard. [s1] [s2]

Resolution

2021-09-03 (3 September 2021): The Coast Guard reopened the Lower Mississippi River to all vessel traffic on 2021-09-03 once obstructions were cleared and the channel surveyed. Port terminals restarted in stages, with limited cargo work from 2021-09-02 and container operations from 2021-09-07. [s2] [s3] [s4]

Corrections

No corrections to this record as of 2026-09-24 (24 September 2026).

Sources

  1. [s1] U.S. Coast Guard, MSIB Vol XXI Issue 058 Setting of Port Condition ZULU- Sunshine Bridge (MM167.5 AHP) to MM 20 BHP, published 2021-08-28 (28 August 2021), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)
  2. [s2] U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard opens Lower Mississippi River to all vessel traffic following Hurricane Ida, published 2021-09-04 (4 September 2021), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)
  3. [s3] Port of New Orleans, Port of New Orleans Cargo Operations Resume Four Days After Hurricane Ida, published 2021-09-03 (3 September 2021), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)
  4. [s4] gCaptain, Lower Mississippi River Open To All Vessel Traffic, published 2021-09-05 (5 September 2021), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (press)

Cite this record

The address of this record is permanent and a correction is always logged on this page, so a citation names the version you read. Add the date you accessed it.

Plain text

World Freight Monitor. "Hurricane Ida closes New Orleans and the Lower Mississippi River." Last updated 2026-09-24 (24 September 2026). https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2021/hurricane-ida-new-orleans-2021/

APA

World Freight Monitor. (2026). Hurricane Ida closes New Orleans and the Lower Mississippi River. World Freight Monitor. https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2021/hurricane-ida-new-orleans-2021/

BibTeX

@misc{wfm_hurricane_ida_new_orleans_2021,
  author = {{World Freight Monitor}},
  title = {Hurricane Ida closes New Orleans and the Lower Mississippi River},
  year = {2026},
  note = {Last updated 2026-09-24},
  url = {https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2021/hurricane-ida-new-orleans-2021/}
}