Port NOLA, NOPB gain AI rail-clearance tech through new partnership

The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) and the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB) have partnered with newly launched logistics company UTC Transoceanic to improve how oversized cargo is moved through the port.

Increased demand for power infrastructure, data centers, energy projects and industrial manufacturing has made the movement of oversized cargo more critical, Port NOLA officials said in a press release. Massive power transformers, wind turbine components, refinery vessels and industrial generators often arrive in the United States via ship from overseas manufacturers. The cargo then must move inland by rail, as highways often cannot handle cargo of that scale, they added.

Port NOLA already serves as a gateway for oversized cargo, with NOPB providing direct connections to all six Class Is. However, these oversized rail moves currently take weeks or months to plan, as shipments must be reviewed for bridge clearance, tunnel restrictions, track geometry and routing limitations. The new partnership with UTC Transoceanic aims to simplify the process with a digital platform that determines the best routing option based on information about cargo dimensions, weight and rail-car specifications.

UTC Transoceanic is a newly formed joint venture (JV) between New Orleans-based Transoceanic and Houston-based UTC Overseas. The JV developed a patented AI-powered rail clearance technology and a real-time digital model of the NOPB rail network using the Palantir Foundry platform, port officials said.

"The Port of New Orleans and the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad have always played a major role in connecting global cargo to the American interior,” said Tomeka Bryant, NOPB's chief strategy officer and general manager. "This partnership builds on that legacy by bringing advanced technology and real-time infrastructure intelligence into the process. It helps customers move cargo more efficiently while strengthening New Orleans’ position in the global supply chain."