Global temperature-controlled warehouse and logistics company Lineage has certified its facility in New Orleans, Louisiana, as a bonded warehouse, a first for the U.S. state.
Lineage has touted bonded storage as an important option for seafood importers amid global trade uncertainty. Bonded warehouses allow for goods to be stored under customs supervision, enabling companies to avoid paying duties and taxes until the product leaves the warehouse for domestic sales.
According to Lineage, the certification – which was granted to its Jourdan Road facility in the Port of New Orleans – will make the port a destination for global trade.
“In today’s ever-evolving international trade landscape, having the right infrastructure with secure, customs-regulated storage is of growing importance to our customers,” Lineage President of Western US Operations Brian Beattie said in a release.
The certification also follows up on an earlier announcement from the company, in which its Jourdan Road facility also became an “I-House.” I-Houses, or import houses, specialize in on-site United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection services for imported proteins.
While seafood import regulations mainly fall under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, imports of catfish or suliformes has fallen under the USDA since the early 2010s.
“The dual I-House and customs bonded designation positions Lineage on Jourdan Road as one of the most versatile cold storage facilities in the state,” Beattie said.
Lineage’s facility in New Orleans spans 304,000 square feet. With the latest certification, Lineage now operates 12 bonded warehouses in the U.S.
