Record tonnage at Ports of Indiana

The Ports of Indiana says all three of the state’s ports reported an increase in the amount of cargo received over the previous year, including record numbers at two locations. The authority has also announced $20 million in new projects at the Indiana ports.

Overall, the three facilities handled 11.9 million tons of cargo in 2022, a 6% increase over 2021 and 42% higher than 2020.

Breaking it down, the Burns Harbor facility along Lake Michigan handled 3.45 million tons, up two percent compared to 2021. The Ports authority says that is the second-consecutive year the port reached its highest annual shipment total since it began operation in 1970.

On the Ohio River, Ports of Indiana-Jeffersonville handled 3.46 million tons, seven percent higher than 2021. The organization Jeffersonville says its highest annual shipment total since it began operating in 1985,

The facility in Mount Vernon, which is also on the Ohio River, did not set a record in 2022, however it did see increased tonnage. It handle five million tons, up 7.8% compared to the previous year.

“We’re excited to see the continued growth at our ports and this success is directly attributable to the world-class companies we partner with every day,” said Ports of Indiana Chief Executive Officer Jody Peacock. “Our industry is still recovering from the economic and supply chain challenges, but the continued growth in shipments is a very good sign, and the new business development opportunities we’re seeing indicate more growth is ahead.”

In its first quarterly meeting of the year, the Ports of Indiana Commission approved a $13 million capital budget and up to $15 million in additional future investments related to three federal grants.

The ports authority says the projects include three new shipping berths and a bulk warehouse at Burns Harbor, a new barge shuttle storage facility at Jeffersonville, as well as a new dock winch system and major maintenance projects at Mount Vernon.