Multimodal facility with 7-million-bushels capacity to have first new operator in 44 years

PORTAGE, Ind. – Ports of Indiana has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify potential operators for its International Ag Shipping Terminal at Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor. The terminal has transload capabilities for ocean ships, lake vessels, river barges, unit trains and trucks, and on-site storage of more than 7 million bushels. This is the first time the Lake Michigan terminal has been available for a new operator in 44 years.

Cargill has operated the facility since opening in 1979, but the company recently announced it is changing its regional business model and will relinquish the facility to the port on June 1. Ports of Indiana financed the construction of Cargill’s facility in 1979, and through the years, the terminal has exported more than 500 million bushels of corn and soybeans to world markets. The terminal can handle ocean vessels transiting the Great Lakes, 1,000-foot lake vessels, year-round barge traffic via the inland river system and unit trains from nearly all Class I railroads.

“It’s the end of an era and a new beginning for one of the largest international ag terminals on the Great Lakes,” said Ryan McCoy, port director for Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor. “It’s bittersweet for me because I worked at that facility for 10 years and Cargill has been a great partner for the Ports of Indiana and the local community. However, this change also creates a unique opportunity to reimagine the facility and expand its capabilities going forward.”

The grain elevator terminal includes 7.2 million bushels of storage facilities and high-speed loading capacities that can load 90,000 bushels per hour into an ocean vessel and unload 30,000 bushels per hour from a unit train, which are industry leading capacities even today. Ports of Indiana will assume possession of the facility and is currently looking for a long-term partner to help grow shipments at the port.

The RFQ seeks qualifications from companies interested in operating the ag terminal. Responses are due April 21. Ports of Indiana will issue a formal Request for Proposals in May to all qualified companies.

“We’re excited about the next chapter for this terminal,” McCoy said. “We have received multiple inquiries from companies interested in expanding the facility. This is a unique deep-water terminal with tremendous capabilities for shipping grain, DDGs and many bulk cargoes to and from ocean vessels at the Heartland of America. It’s not every day that this type of facility becomes available.”

The Burns Harbor port opened in 1970, is home to more than 30 companies, and handles approximately 3 million tons of cargo per year. Currently, the port is developing a $32 million facilities expansion funded by two federal grants that includes construction of two rail yards, new bulk and general cargo terminals, a bulk warehouse, and a truck marshalling yard. The port complex contributes $5.2 billion per year to the Indiana economy and supports more than 30,000 jobs.

View the Request for Qualifications here.

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About the Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor: The Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor opened in 1970 and is operated by Ports of Indiana, a statewide port authority managing three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. Established in 1961, the Ports of Indiana is a self-funded enterprise dedicated to growing Indiana’s economy by developing and maintaining a world-class port system.

Information: portsofindiana.com. Follow us on Twitter: @PortsofIndiana.

Media Contact: Jen Hanson, jhanson@portsofindiana.com