The DNV New Orleans office is 100% operational as of 3 January 2006. The New Orleans and Mobile offices were closed due to the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina.
Following Hurricane Katrina, DNV shifted the staff of its New Orleans and Mobile offices to Houston and Miami, which allowed it to continue to meet customer survey requests in the Gulf Coast.
DNV will not reopen its Mobile, Alabama office, but is well positioned to provide services to the Mobile area from New Orleans.
The Port of New Orleans is a main port of entry for imported steel, natural rubber and coffee. Indeed, New Orleans is the fifth largest port in the United States in terms of cargo tonnage. Port officials now report that there are about 20 vessels calls each week, which is about 50% of the 40 vessel calls per week before Katrina struck. Port officials expect that the port will be back to 70% of its pre-Katrina cargo volume by March 2006.
Blaine Collins, DNV Vice President and maritime regional manager of the Americas, says he is pleased that no DNV employees were injured and that all were safely evacuated to Houston and Miami prior to Katrina hitting the Gulf.