For the first time in 20 years, Ports of Indiana opened a new dock, which the organization’s CEO called a landmark event.
“It means new business,” said Jody Peacock, Ports of Indiana’s CEO. “It means new investment. It means new cargo coming in. … This is a global gateway that connects Indiana businesses to the entire international market.”
Ports of Indiana on Thursday unveiled its new $6 million dock that will serve ocean vessels at Burns Harbor in Portage. The project is partially funded by a U.S. Department of Transportation FASTLANE grant, which helps nationally and regionally significant freight and highway projects, according to the Federal Highway Administration.
The dock, also called “Berth 5,” is part of a $77 million in new investments that are under construction at the port. Other projects will create double capacity for truck traffic accessing the port, increase rail storage by 1,200%, add two additional docks and develop the state’s first sea cargo container terminal, according to a news release.
The initial grant was awarded in 2017, Peacock said, and Berth 5 was a multi-year project. Seeing the completed project is exciting for Peacock and the rest of Ports of Indiana’s team.
“A lot of work went into this,” he said. “Twenty years ago, this didn’t look like this at all. The port has changed dramatically. … Right now, at this port, we have $77 million in infrastructure investment under construction.”
Berth 5 will handle self-unloading bulk ships and will transfer cargo to railcars, trucks, barges and nearby ground storage. Peacock said the port’s cargo will include products in the agriculture industry, including fertilizer and grain products.
Other cargo include salt, limestone, taconite, foundry coke and various aggregates, according to a news release from Ports of Indiana.
Peacock expects that the dock will create more jobs but is unsure of how many, he said. Currently, the port supports more than 20,000 jobs in the region.
Ports of Indiana has expanded business, Peacock said, which impacted the organization’s decision to build the new dock.
“Infrastructure is only built to do so much,” he added. “When you expand your business, you need to grow with it.”
Todd Aldrich, president of the port’s chapter of the International Longshoremen’s Association, echoed Peacock’s sentiment. The port’s longshoremen appreciate extra space for work, Aldrich said.
“When it comes to bulk cargo, we can run out of space really quickly,” he added. “So places like this will help bring in new customers and more work.”
Portage Mayor Austin Bonta on Thursday said he’s excited to see what Berth 5 will do for Ports of Indiana and the community. The port is “a precious thing for Northwest Indiana,” he said.
“What I’m most impressed by, what I’m honored to be the mayor of, is a hardworking industrial city where we provide dignified work and good quality jobs for everybody,” Bonta said. “We’re thankful for the port for being a consistent provider of the high quality life that we’ve got here.”
