Ports Of Indiana Gets Approval To Establish 1st Container Port On Lake Michigan

The Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor has received approval from the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to establish the region’s first international sea cargo container terminal on Lake Michigan.

The approval is significant as it establishes the first all-water container route to serve the bustling Chicago metropolitan area via the Great Lakes.

The Burns Harbor terminal is part of the 25th largest port in the United States in terms of cargo volume.

It is located strategically in northwest Indiana within the Greater Chicago metropolitan area and is visible from the iconic Chicago skyline.

The port is crucial to regional and national supply chains, carrying 25 million tons of cargo annually and contributing $16.6 billion to the economy.

Jody Peacock, CEO of Ports of Indiana, stated that establishing a container terminal and a new supply chain for international container shipments at the Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor is a crucial step in a long process.

Peacock added that having an all-water container route into the Midwest might offer transformational opportunities but will take time to develop.

The CBP’s approval includes plans for a staffed CBP container cargo examination facility in Burns Harbor.

Infrastructure construction is planned for 2025, and operations will begin in 2026.

The terminal will improve security and ease the movement of international cargo.

The Port Director at Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor, Ryan McCoy, emphasized the strategic benefits of this initiative.

Great Lakes shipping, currently restricted by seasonality and vessel size, benefits significantly from container handling capabilities.

Diversifying supply chains and lowering carbon emissions are two promising results.

The project known formally as the “Indiana Conatainer Initiative” demonstrates Ports of Indiana’s commitment to increasing container shipping facilities throughout the state.

Potential partners’ memorandums of Understanding and extensive support from government officials and industry stakeholders further bolster the initiative’s pace.

Cleveland and Duluth are among the few Great Lakes ports that handle container vessels, with Monroe, Michigan, also seeking CBP certification.

Burns Harbor’s addition to this network establishes the region as a critical hub for containerized shipping, including specialized services such as refrigerated containers and eco-friendly shipping alternatives.

Ian Hirt, a maritime consultant involved in the project, states that as the facility plan progresses, Ports of Indiana is actively looking for partnerships to advance development objectives and fulfil future demands, adding that the initial estimates indicate a keen interest in establishing regular liner services to Burns Harbor.

Ports of Indiana, founded in 1961, operates three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan, serving as a valuable statewide resource for maritime challenges, international trade, and multimodal logistics.

Reference: Ports of Indiana

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