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Ports of Indiana Media Guide

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Ports of Indiana - Central Office Tel: (800) 232-PORT
150 W. Market St., Ste. 100 Tel: (317) 232-9200
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2845 Fax: (317) 232-0137
www.portsofindiana.com Email: info@portsofindiana.com


Overview

The state of Indiana ships about 70 million tons of cargo by water each year, which ranks 14th among all U.S. states. More than half of Indiana's border is water, which includes 400 miles of direct access to two major freight transportation arteries - the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway (via Lake Michigan) and the Inland Waterway System (via the Ohio River).

The state's three-port system serves the world's most productive industrial and agricultural region through a combination of strategic location, intermodal connections and specialized facilities.

The Ports of Indiana is a quasi-governmental enterprise that operates a statewide system of ports, foreign trade zones and economic development programs under the authority of the Ports of Indiana Commission - a seven-member bipartisan board appointed by the governor.

The state's three public ports are:

  • Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville, on the Ohio River;

  • Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon, on the Ohio River;

  • Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor on Lake Michigan.


  • Mission

    The Ports of Indiana is dedicated to facilitating economic development in Indiana through logistics facilities and services, maritime industrial and commercial development, development finance tools and strategic public-private partnerships.



    Strategic Vision

    The Ports of Indiana Commission approved a new strategic vision for the Ports of Indiana at the start of 2002. The plan - "Positioning for Indiana's Future: 2002-2006 Strategic Plan" - will guide the organization as it looks ahead to future growth and contribution to the Indiana economy.

    The strategic goals of the Ports of Indiana are:
    1. Develop a common understanding and consensus on the Ports of Indiana's appropriate role and responsibilities.
    2. Manage the Ports of Indiana to achieve financial self-sufficiency.
    3. Management and growth of existing businesses.
    4. Focus on outreach, communication and engagement with the Ports of Indiana publics.
    5. Develop and implement new initiatives to promote and facilitate economic development in Indiana.
    To realize this vision and operationalize these values, the Ports of Indiana will be:
    • An agile, performance-based, entrepreneurial and strategically-driven business arm of the State of Indiana, working in collaboration with state agencies to further the State's economic development objectives;
    • An expert state resource to address Indiana's freight mobility needs and challenges, and a facilitator and convener of public-private sector discussions on freight and mobility issues; and
    • An integrated, team-oriented organization that leverages its strengths and capabilities through centralized strategic planning and decentralized operations.


    Ports of Indiana Background

    Indiana's port system is an increasingly valuable asset to the state's economy. It generates significant revenue, creates jobs, attracts businesses and provides access to domestic and global markets.

    The Ports of Indiana Commission was established in 1961 under Gov. Matthew Welsh (1961-1965), replacing the Indiana Board of Public Harbors and Terminals. That same year, the Port Commission formally selected the Burns Waterway area on Lake Michigan in Porter County to be the site of the state's first port: Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor. The port opened in 1970. On the Ohio River, the Port Commission opened the Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon in 1976 and Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville in 1985. The Ports of Indiana opened its Central Office in 1984 across the street from the state capitol building in downtown Indianapolis.

    Vital Statistics

    The Ports of Indiana contributes significantly to the strength and economic growth of the state of Indiana. Indiana's three ports annually ship about 7.5 million tons of cargo across its docks. The main cargoes handled at the Ports of Indiana include: grain (35%); coal (25%); steel (20%); fertilizer (10%); limestone (5%); and miscellaneous/heavy lift project cargo (5%).

    The latest economic impact study of Indiana's three ports shows an annual contribution to the state's economy of $1.452 billion - up from $325 million in 1993. Port activities annually contribute $400 million in wages for Indiana workers, 10,500 total jobs, $22 million in tax revenue, and $1.4 million in local property taxes.

    - Competitive Advantages -

    Foreign-Trade Zones

    The Ports of Indiana grants Foreign Trade Zones (FTZ) to companies all over the state. All three of Indiana's ports are also classified as FTZs. This status offers tenants and shippers significant economic benefits, helps open new markets and encourages participation in the global economy. FTZs enhance the global competitiveness of both large and small companies by reducing, postponing or eliminating U.S. duties taxes. Goods and raw materials that are subject to high duty rates can be stored or processed without payment due until the final product leaves the zone.

    Location

    At "the Crossroads of America," Indiana's ports are ideally situated to access domestic and international markets. Burns Harbor, located on Lake Michigan, offers access to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Gulf of Mexico via the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. The ports in Jeffersonville and Mount Vernon are both located on the Ohio River, the most modern waterway in the world, which transits more cargo each year than the Panama Canal. Both of these ports have access to the Gulf of Mexico via the Inland Waterway System.

    Intermodal Capability

    Indiana's ports are designed to quickly and efficiently transport products by truck, rail or barge to the manufacturing and agricultural markets of the country and the world. The ports offer onsite direct rail-to-water coal transload facilities as well as ground and rail storage. With the rail-to-barge coal capabilities, the ports are able to handle the needs of large utility coal customers. To further assist with intermodal transportation, distribution and logistics, the ports offer tenants and shippers a wide range of services, including tug, barge fleeting, heavy-lift, railroad switching, a complete range of materials handling, waste disposal/sanitation, security and fire protection.

    Development Financing

    The Ports of Indiana is dedicated to creating economic incentives to attract and retain businesses in Indiana. It accomplishes this by providing specialized development financing for capital infrastructure to companies locating or expanding businesses in Indiana. In 2003, the Indiana General Assembly approved statutory changes that will allow the Ports of Indiana to offer its traditional development financing service to businesses outside the ports.

    Not Just Water Anymore

    In 2003, the Indiana General Assembly approved statutory changes that will allow the Ports of Indiana to development traffic exchange points anywhere in Indiana.

    Indiana Code 8-10-1-1: "In order to promote the agricultural, industrial and commercial development of the state, and to provide for the general welfare by the construction and operation, in cooperation with the federal government, or otherwise, of a modern port system with terminal facilities to accommodate water, rail, truck, air-borne, and other forms of transportation, the Ports of Indiana is hereby authorized and empowered to construct, maintain and operate, in cooperation with the federal government, or otherwise, at such locations as shall be approved by the governor, projects, including without limitation public ports with terminal facilities and traffic exchange points throughout Indiana for all forms of transportation, giving particular attention to the benefits which may accrue to the state and its citizens from all forms of transportation, and to issue revenue bonds of the state payable solely from revenues, to pay the cost of such projects. The commission's powers are not limited to ports and may be exercised throughout Indiana for projects that enhance, foster, aid, provide, or promote economic development, public-private partnerships, and other industrial, commercial, business, and transportation purposes."



    Facilities

    Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor is the most efficient deep-water port on the Great Lakes. It is located in Portage, Ind., on the south shore of Lake Michigan just 30 land miles and 18 nautical miles from Chicago. It also offers:
    • Year-round barge access to Midwestern markets and the Gulf of Mexico through the Inland Waterway System, and offers access to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence Seaway;
    • 560-acres with more than 30 tenants; Capacity for Great Lakes bulk carriers up to 1,000 feet in length and saltwater vessels capable of transiting the locks on the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway system; Service by the nation's nine class one carriers; 12 modern shipping berths;
    • Heavy industry, light manufacturing and warehousing businesses; and
    • Service for major cargoes including iron, steel, grain, chemicals, fertilizers, coal and heavy lift project cargo (up to 230 tons).

    Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville Jeffersonville is the fastest growing port on the Inland Waterway System. This intermodal transportation gateway is located on the northern bank of the Ohio River in Jeffersonville, Ind., directly across the river from Louisville, Ky. This location is within a one-day drive of more than two-thirds of the U.S. market and is adjacent to the "automotive and appliance alley." The newest of Indiana's three ports, "Clark Maritime Center" began operations in 1985 and quickly established a convenient network of traffic routes and onsite services that offer companies a number of competitive advantages. The port also offers:
    • 12-month ocean access to world markets via the Inland Waterway System to the Gulf of Mexico;
    • 962-acres with approximately 20 tenants; Service for a wide variety of commodities and general cargo products such as corn, soybeans, fertilizer, plastics, paper, iron and steel;
    • Onsite storage of approximately 1.6 million bushels of grain with a throughput rate of 30,000 bushels per hour; and 3,200 linear feet of riverfront access.
    Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon is a leader in throughput tonnage, averaging more than 2 million tons of grain, grain products, coal, fertilizer and minerals annually. It is located in Mount Vernon, Ind., on the Ohio River, 15 miles west of Evansville, Ind. This river port is in the center of one of the richest grain production areas in the world, and one of the globe's largest fertilizer markets. Extensive coal and petroleum reserves are also located in the region, as well as large tracts of commercial timber. The port also offers:
    • 12-month access to the Gulf of Mexico through the Inland Waterway System;
    • 745 acres with eight tenants;
    • Advanced material handling technologies, including a 760-foot, 60-ton bridge overhead crane; container handling equipment; and a five-ton, 50-inch electromagnet; and
    • Storage facilities for general cargo and bulk commodities including a grain elevator with a 4.75 million bushel capacity; three 1 million gallon liquid fertilizer storage tanks; and a 55,000-ton covered facility for the storage of dry fertilizer.




    Port Companies

    The Ports of Indiana is home to more than 60 businesses engaged in manufacturing, processing and shipping grain, fertilizer, minerals and steel. The tenants of each port include:

    Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville

    Airgas Specialty Products; Chemtrusion, Inc.; Consolidated Grain & Barge Co.; Cylicron Engineered Cylinders; Eagle Steel Products; FedEx Ground; Flexible Materials Inc.; Idemitsu Lubricants America Corp.; Interstate Structures - A Division of Mid-Park Inc.; Jeffersonville River Terminal; Kasle Metal Processing; Kinder Morgan; Metals USA; M.G. Rail; Mytex Polymers Inc.; Namasco; Nova Tube Indiana LLC; Roll Forming Corp. Indiana; Steel Dynamics Inc.; Tanco Clark Maritime LLC; TMSi; Valmont Industries Inc.; Vitran Express; Voss/Clark Industries.

    Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor

    ADS Logistics; Aqua-land Communications, Inc.; Behr Iron & Steel; Beta Steel Corp.; Calumite Co.; Cargill Inc.; Central Coil Processing LLC; Federal Marine Terminals Inc.; Fedmar International; Feralloy Midwest Portage; Feralloy Processing Co.; Frick Services Inc.; Great Lakes Towing Co.; Hoosier Healthcare Northwest; ILA Local 1969; Indiana Pickling & Processing; Lakes and Rivers Transfer; Mid-Continent Coal & Coke Co.; O-N Minerals; Steel Warehouse Co. Inc.; Tanco Terminals Inc.; The Levy Company; Walsh & Kelly.

    Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon

    Agrium US, Inc.; Barretts Minerals; Bristol-Myers Squibb; CEMEX/Kosmos Cement; Consolidated Grain & Barge Co.; Consolidated Terminals & Logistics; Mount Vernon Transfer Terminal; Mount Vernon Barge Service Inc.; Tri-County Agronomics.



    Additional Information:

    Contact: Jody Peacock
    (317) 233-6225 or jpeacock@portsofindiana.com

       
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