PORT REPORT
PORT REPORT
Peter Laman Port Director
Phil Wilzbacher Port Director
New project cargos have moved through the port this year, including these liquid storage tanks for a construction project near the port.
Steel shipments through the first half of 2009 at the Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon are nearly triple last year’s tonnage.
PORT OF INDIANA – BURNS HARBOR
PORT OF INDIANA – MOUNT VERNON
Ag products and new project cargo shipments highlight first half of 2009
Shipments up 29 percent midway through 2009
Some unusual cargos have crossed the docks at the Port of IndianaBurns Harbor this year. More than 200 wind turbine components and five 10,000- to 20,000-gallon liquid storage tanks helped more than double project cargo shipments moving through the port in 2009. Both grain and fertilizer tonnages were also well ahead of last year through seven months. Fertilizer shipments increased 36 percent while grain was more than 10 times 2008’s slow start, but still twice as much as the 2007 midpoint.
One of the first tenants at the port was Frick Services, which started operations in 1975 under the leadership of Merrill Frick. Frick handles liquid and bulk fertilizers at the port, providing onsite storage, blending and bagging operations. Another Frick product line is hi-calcium burnt limestone used in steel production and calcium chloride. Frick Services is also a large supplier of salt for road de-icing in Northwest Indiana.
It’s hard to find signs of an economic downturn here. The Port of
describing the Indiana port system and took a bus tour where they
Indiana-Mount Vernon shipped 2.3 million tons across its docks
saw steel coils from Brazil being unloaded. We welcome school field
for the first six months of 2009 – a 29-percent increase over last
trips to the port and would be happy to coordinate an educational
year. Despite decreased demand from electric utilities, coal tonnage
experience with any teachers who would like to bring their class.
Mineral shipments also increased in 2009.
Overall port volume was more than 454,000 tons through the first seven months of 2009. Steel production has not resumed to levels anywhere near what we saw last summer, but we have seen some increases in steel shipments from earlier this year. Going forward, we expect to see improvements in local steel production and metal cargoes as well as increases in road salt and magnesite shipments.
Last year, Frick Services moved more than 200,000 tons of dry and liquid fertilizer through the port, which included potash from Canada via Great Lakes ships as well as urea and phosphates from New Orleans by barge up the Mississippi River system. The company has 80 employees at multiple plant and retail locations in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. Frick’s location at the port allows them to handle material by truck, rail, barge and ship.
A bit of history...
Indiana Harbor Belt’s Szamatowicz retires
As the St. Lawrence Seaway celebrates its 50th anniversary, this year also marks an important date in the history of the Port of IndianaBurns Harbor. It was 40 years ago that the port saw its first ship. The S.S. Lehigh was the first domestic ship to call on the port, delivering a load of iron ore to Bethlehem Steel, now known as ArcelorMittal. A year later the port saw its first international shipment – an export of scrap steel in 1970.
I would like to wish a good friend of the port a very happy retirement. John Szamatowicz, director of business development and sales for Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad, recently retired after 20 years with the company. Congratulations to John on retirement and a nearly four decade career in transportation and logistics.
remained strong during the first half of 2009 because of previously contracted commitments. Coal shipments were up considerably over 2008 while steel cargoes nearly tripled last year’s midyear total.
New repair boat Mount Vernon Barge Service is home to a new 34-foot fleet repair boat. The aluminum boat was built by Scully’s Boat Works in Morgan City, La. It is equipped with two 250-horsepower outboard motors and will carry welding equipment, a cutting torch, pumps and supplies for performing barge repairs along the Ohio River between Evansville and Uniontown, Ky. The boat has been named “Sidney Rene” after the 4-year-old daughter of company president, Don Miller.
School in session at the port The port welcomed 63 students from Yankeetown Elementary in
Contact Peter Laman at (219)787-5101; plaman@portsofindiana.com
Newburgh, Ind., this past March. This is the sixth year teacher Teresa Kramer has led the trip as part of her fourth grade Indiana history curriculum. While at the port, the kids watched a short video
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Contact Phil Wilzbacher at (812) 833-2166; pwilzbacher@portsofindiana.com
In July, the Ports of Indiana presented a plaque to the crew of Mount Vernon Transfer Terminal in honor of the new barge loading record – 22 barges of coal in 21 hours. Pictured from left to right – Port Director Phil Wilzbacher and terminal employees: Don Barnett, Don Fuchs, Brian Nobles, Brandon Holton, Alex Smock, Jason Wyatt, Jeff Spieker, Deb Calvert, Darren Wilson, Dave Owens, Donnie Wilson and Taylor Kanipe.
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