The Port of New Orleans re-opened on a limited basis yesterday and plans to be at 80% of capacity within three months. Moreover, the nearby Port of South Louisiana and Port Fourchon on the Gulf Coast have also partially restored service, and the Port of Pascagoula, Miss. expects to resume service by early October. Although the focus of analysis on the economic effect of Hurricane Katrina has been on the oil and gas industry, the economic impact on shipping along the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico has also been severe, so the reopening of the ports in the New Orleans area is good news.