The Louisiana Transportation Authority (LTA) has approved a contract for New Orleans-based LabMar Ferry Services to operate and maintain the Cameron Ferry in southwest Louisiana.
The crossing carries residents and businesses across the 1,000-foot (300-metre) Calcasieu Ship Channel in Cameron Parish. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has operated the ferry for more than 60 years.
The agreement covers the ferries themselves, including the new Holly Beach, and the terminals. DOTD plans to work with LabMar during a 60-day transition.
The agency said LabMar has pledged to retain DOTD ferry employees, with staff from other ferries available to help during the handover.
DOTD will retain ownership of the vessels and property. LabMar’s contract is limited to their operation and maintenance.
The Ro-Pax ferry Holly Beach had arrived in Cameron but has not yet entered public service as of Friday, September 25. Training and certification of her crew are underway, with the vessel Cameron No II operating in the meantime.
“We currently estimate that the process will take approximately four weeks,” DOTD District Engineer Administrator Seth Woods had told news outlet Cameron Pilot in a September 20 email.
“Coupled with the delivery of the new Holly Beach ferry, we are hopeful that this effort results in increased reliability for our region,” added Louisiana State Representative Ryan Bourriaque, Chairman of the LTA.
Cameron No. II was built in 1964. DOTD has cited maintenance and drydocking requirements alongside a shortage of spare end-loading boats as constraints on the service.
Mechanical problems took the ferry out of service in August; DOTD then expected the shutdown to continue until early September.
LabMar already operates the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority’s ferry system. DOTD said the company was involved in the delivery of two new passenger ferries for that service in 2020.
LabMar submitted an unsolicited proposal for the Cameron service on August 25, 2025. On September 10, the LTA authorised DOTD to solicit competing proposals for at least 90 days. The deadline was set for December 29.
Before the handover, DOTD spent US$3,097,688 on ferry operations and maintenance in FY2025. DOTD had also tendered for a 190-foot (58-metre) double-ended vehicle and passenger ferry in 2022.
