Metro Ports on the Great Lakes

News 21 Jun 2017 by WCN Editorial

Metro Ports will operate a bulk terminal at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor at the foot of Lake Michigan.

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Metro Ports, which prides itself on being the oldest stevedore in the US with 165 years of continuous family ownership, has announced that from July 1 it will “manage the loading and unloading of shipments along the port’s East Harbor for port tenants and outside companies shipping bulk cargoes, including products for the steelmaking, agricultural, manufacturing, energy and construction industries”.

Based in Long Beach, Metro Ports operates at 27 U.S. ports on the East, West and Gulf coasts in the states of Washington, New York, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Texas, Florida, Louisiana, California, North Carolina and Georgia. Indiana-Burns Harbor will be the company’s first facility on the Great Lakes.

“Having a 165-year-old company like Metro Ports select Indiana to launch its Great Lakes operations is a tribute to our state’s business climate and our extremely successful port system,” said Rich Cooper, CEO for the Ports of Indiana. “Indiana’s robust maritime economy leverages shipping connections to domestic and international markets through the Great Lakes and the inland river systems to support 155,000 Hoosier jobs and generate $21.5 billion in annual economic activity. We’re happy to see Metro Ports recognizes tremendous economic opportunity in establishing a port terminal at the ‘Crossroads’ and ‘Cross-waterways’ of America.”

In 2016, the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor handled nearly 2.6 M/t of cargo, completing the highest three-year total in the port’s history. While cargo related to the steel industry has fallen recently, the port has made strong gains in the project cargo sector, as well as grains to compensate. Project cargo in particular requires more stevedoring expertise, a likely factor behind Metro Ports entry.

Over 2016 Ports of Indiana invested nearly $2.5M into port infrastructure, including dredging and stabilization of two berths, replacing 2,000 feet of rail track and other rail upgrades. “Additional investments are planned by the Ports of Indiana and Metro Ports to upgrade the bulk terminal to increase the port’s throughput capacity,” Metro Ports stated.

“We’re honoured to be selected as the bulk terminal operator at the Port of Indiana,” said Michael Ferguson, president of Metro Ports. “We see tremendous potential here to leverage the port’s connections to ocean ships, Great Lakes vessels, river barges and multiple rail carriers, as well as the region’s powerful industrial base located within sight of downtown Chicago. Indiana was the obvious choice for us to expand our business into the Midwest and establish a Great Lakes presence. We could not have asked for a better business partner than the Ports of Indiana and are already working together with their team to develop new shipments that could significantly grow business in this region.”