In a statement New York-listed ISC said “significantoperations” will remain in Mobile, however, and indicated the move won't be sealed until the fourth quarter of 2015.

The company told investors its railcarrepair facility and CG Railway terminal will not be relocated and pointed out it will also maintain “an active presence” in the city’s port.

According to local media outlets ISCopened its New Orleans headquarters in 1947 but was forced to relocate in 2005following Hurricane Katrina.

In a statement Louisiana Governor BobbyJindal was quick to point out that the move will create 100 new direct jobs at a 45 to 50,000-square-footfacility located in the city’s Warehouse District.

“[ISC] could havestayed in Mobile but they are coming back home because of our strong businessclimate, expanding industrial projects, resurgent New Orleans economy, andbusiness growth along the Mississippi River,” Jindal said.

ISC chief Niels Johnsen said the Mississippi River will “once again playan important strategic role” for his company as a result of the move and notedits new location will aid in efforts to take advantage of “opportunities from the significant industrialinvestment being made in the state.”

Jindal, who acknowledged it was “hardwork” to convince the shipowner to come home, said the process of courting thecompany began in 2011 when the state offered up an incentive package that included what he called “performance-based grants”.

The politician pointed out that Louisiana plans to give $5.17m to ISC to help offset the cost of openingup the new headquarters in New Orleans and another $5.1m to reimburse thecompany for expenses associated with the relocation from Mobile.

“Based upon [ISC's] plans to renovate a historicstructure, the company could be eligible for a Restoration Tax Abatementincentive waiving property taxes on improvements to the structure for up to tenyears,” the governor added.

Michael Hecht, president and chief executive of NewOrleans Inc, an public-private partnership that promotes economic development in New Orleans and neighbouring parishes, applauded the homecoming as well.

“First,we are gaining 100 new direct jobs," he said. "But even more importantly International Shipholding’s return to New Orleansheralds a broader, deeply important trend – the best people and companies arecoming home.”