Rich Cooper News

Marvin Ferguson, Commissioner for the Ports of Indiana (POI) from 1993 – 2018, has passed away. First appointed by Governor Evan Bayh in 1993, Ferguson was the longest-serving Commissioner in the Ports’ history, having served under six different Governors (Bayh, O’Bannon, Kernan, Daniels, Pence and Holcomb). “Marvin has a great legacy with the Ports of Indiana,” said Ports of Indiana chief executive officer Vanta E. Coda, II. “I often talk of the foundation that I was handed when taking my current role. Marvin was a huge builder of that foundation.

The Ports of Indiana is a statewide port authority, established in 1963, which operates three ports: two on the Ohio River, one on Lake Michigan. Port officials refer to the three as “America’s Premier Inland Port System.” They cite location, location, location, providing access via two critical freight arteries – the Great Lakes and the Inland Waterway System and proximity to the world’s most productive industrial and agricultural regions. The Ports is the only statewide port authority in the Midwest.

The Ports of Indiana handled nearly 3.9 million tons of cargo during the fourth quarter of 2016, the highest quarterly shipment total in the organization's 55-year history. The total surpassed the ports' previous quarterly record set in the second quarter of 2015 by 300,000 tons. The state's three ports' shipped nearly 11.3 million tons in 2016, the second highest volume in history and the third consecutive year the ports exceeded 10 million tons annually. Since 2014, the Ports of Indiana has handled 34 million tons of cargo, the highest three-year total since Indiana's ports opened. Major cargoes included coal, steel, grain, fertilizer and limestone.

The Ports of Indiana announced that Indiana Michigan Power has agreed to sell its recently retired Tanners Creek coal plant in Lawrenceburg, Ind., to a brownfield redevelopment company that is working with the Ports of Indiana to evaluate the site for use as the state's fourth port. "Infrastructure critical to our state's economy includes more than just roads," said Governor Mike Pence. "Indiana's ports and waterways have been tremendous catalysts for economic growth in this state for decades, and there is great potential here in southeast Indiana to develop a fourth port that will further energize our economy. St. Louis-based Commercial Development Company, Inc.

Fednav Limited, the largest international bulk shipowner in Canada, welcomed to the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor, the Federal Caribou, one of seven new oceangoing lakers equipped with a ballast water treatment system-a first for the Great Lakes. This vessel protects the Lakes by treating its ballast water two times: by conducting an exchange in the North Atlantic, and through filtration and a chlorine disinfection treatment on the ship. The Federal Caribou is part of a series of 16 Handysize vessels, representing an investment by Fednav of more than $400 million and designed specifically for the Great Lakes. The company is the leading international operator in the Great Lakes, has one of the most modern fleets of bulk carriers in the world, the average age being under 10 years.

Fednav Limited,  an  international bulk shipowner in Canada, has welcomed to the Port of Indiana – Burns Harbor, the Federal Caribou, one of seven new oceangoing lakers equipped with a ballast water treatment system—a first for the Great Lakes. This vessel protects the Lakes by treating its ballast water two times: by conducting an exchange in the North Atlantic, and through filtration and a chlorine disinfection treatment on the ship. The Federal Caribou is part of a series of 16 Handysize vessels…

The newly released 2016 Indiana Logistics Directory reports that Indiana ranks high nationally in its ability to move freight via truck, rail, water and air. The state is ranked in the top five states in more than 25 logistics-related categories and in the top 10 in 109. The Directory, published by the Ports of Indiana, showcases Indiana's vast transportation infrastructure and includes national logistics rankings, maps and freight statistics. According to the Directory, Indiana ranks first among all states in pass-through interstates, is home to the country's largest producer of truck trailers and is ranked third in truck tractor registrations.

A coalition of U.S. Great Lakes ports, vessel operating companies and maritime trade associations today filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the U.S. Coast Guard’s 2016 increase in Great Lakes pilotage rates, the American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA) announced. The complaint was filed by a coalition including the AGLPA, along with the Shipping Federation of Canada and the U.S. Great Lakes Shipping Association, as well as vessel operating companies Fednav International Ltd…

POSCO, a multinational company headquartered in Pohang, South Korea, and the fifth-largest steel producer in the world, has announced plans to build a wire rod processing center at the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville, creating up to 60 high-wage jobs by 2018. POSCO is South Korea's fourth largest company, behind Samsung Electronics, SK Holdings and Hyundai Motors, and is ranked No. 162 in Fortune's Global 500. "Although we are located on different continents, South Korea and Indiana both share a reputation of excellence when it comes to advanced manufacturing," said Governor Mike Pence. "Having a globally-focused company like POSCO select Indiana to grow its business is a strong endorsement of our state's low-cost…

INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 11, 2016) - The Ports of Indiana handled over 12.2 million tons of cargo in 2015, surpassing 2014's record volume by nearly 18 percent. This was the first time annual shipments exceeded 12 million tons in the port authority's 54-year history, and the total was more than 1.8 million tons more than the previous year's record. Shipments of coal, steel, bulk commodities and ethanol-related products helped drive significant increases in annual cargo volumes at the three Ohio River and Lake Michigan ports. Coal volumes increased 69 percent while ethanol shipments more than doubled, and dried distillers grains (DDGs) increased 64 percent from 2014.

In the 2016 State of the State Address, Governor Mike Pence called on the Ports of Indiana to "vigorously explore" building the state's fourth port in southeastern Indiana. In Tuesday's State of the State Address, Governor Pence said, "Indiana's ports have also been spectacular catalysts for job growth. The Ports of Indiana is a statewide port authority created by state legislature in 1961 that operates three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. The three ports include Port…

The top federal official presiding over the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway presented Indiana Governor Mike Pence with its flagship award today in recognition of an increase in international shipping at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor. Chief executives from the Great Lakes shipping community visited Indianapolis Wednesday to meet with Gov. Pence, Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann as well as public and private leaders from Indiana. During the meetings, U.S. Seaway Administrator Betty Sutton presented the "Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award" to Gov. Pence in recognition of the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor's increase in international shipments through the Seaway during the 2014 navigation season. Sutton is the top executive for the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, a U.S.

The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville will receive $10 million in TIGER Discretionary Grant money to enhance and expand the port's infrastructure. U.S. Maritime Administrator Paul "Chip" Jaenichen joined Indiana Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann and port officials for the announcement at the Port of Indiana on Friday. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that 39 projects across the U.S. will receive a total of $500 million in TIGER grant funds, including five port projects totaling $44.3 million. "The awarding of this TIGER Grant underscores the port's goal of increasing maritime commerce through domestic barge service," said Administrator Jaenichen.

The Ports of Indiana handled over 10.4 million tons of cargo in 2014, up nearly 26 percent from the previous year. This was the first time annual shipments exceeded 10 million tons in the port authority's 53-year history. The 2014 total was nearly 800,000 tons higher than the previous record set in 1994. Shipments of coal, agricultural products and steel helped drive significant increases in annual cargo volumes at the state's ports. Steel shipments more than doubled while grain shipments were up nearly 72 percent from 2013. Ethanol and dried distillers grains (DDGs) increased 54 percent and 51 percent, respectively, while salt shipments nearly tripled over the previous year.

The Port of Indiana - Jeffersonville handled over 2.4 million tons of cargo in 2014, up 48 percent from the previous year, according to a news release from the port. This was the first time annual shipments exceeded two million tons in the port’s 29-year history. The 2014 total was 464,000 tons higher than the previous record set in 2006. Another outstanding harvest in 2014 helped push grain tonnage to its highest volume ever breaking the previous record set in 1993. Steel and salt shipments also set all-time records, up 72 percent and 51 percent from 2013, respectively. For the year, the port handled approximately 1,300 barges, 197,000 trucks and 18,000 railcars.

The Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville handled over 2.4 million tons of cargo in 2014, up 48 percent from the previous year. This was the first time annual shipments exceeded two million tons in the port's 29-year history. The 2014 total was 464,000 tons higher than the previous record set in 2006. Another outstanding harvest in 2014 helped push grain tonnage to its highest volume ever breaking the previous record set in 1993. Steel and salt shipments also set all-time records, up 72 percent and 51 percent from 2013, respectively. For the year, the port handled approximately 1,300 barges, 197,000 trucks and 18,000 railcars. "These robust year-end numbers illustrate the impact our port companies have on the region's economy," said Ports of Indiana CEO Rich Cooper.

The Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon handled 735,000 tons of cargo in December, which was the highest ever single-month total at any of Indiana's three ports, and also produced the highest fourth-quarter shipments by any port in Ports of Indiana history. December's results were 31 percent higher than the previous single-month record set in 1993 and the port's fourth quarter shipments broke its own quarterly record established in 2013. The port finished 2014 with 4.85 million tons, up 17 percent from 2013 and the highest annual total since 1994.

The Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon handled 735,000 tons of cargo in December, which was the highest ever single-month total at any of Indiana's three ports, and also produced the highest fourth-quarter shipments by any port in Ports of Indiana history. December's results were 31 percent higher than the previous single-month record set in 1993 and the port's fourth quarter shipments broke its own quarterly record established in 2013. The port finished 2014 with 4.85 million tons, up 17 percent from 2013 and the highest annual total since 1994. Coal, grain, ethanol, dried distiller grains (DDG) and steel were the dominant cargoes in 2014.

The Ports of Indiana has named Scott Stewart as port director for the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville. A native of nearby New Albany, Ind., Stewart spent 24 years in positions of increasing responsibility with the Procter & Gamble Company before retiring in 2008 and moving back to Indiana. Upon his return, he served as a senior policy director for Governor Mitch Daniels and most recently as Director of Strategy for the Indiana Department of Transportation on the Ohio River Bridges project. "We're very excited to have someone of Scott's caliber join our team," said Rich Cooper, CEO for the Ports of Indiana. "Scott's management and leadership roles with one of the world's top corporations…

U.S. ports continued to post positive tonnage numbers in November. The Seaway’s 2011 year-to-date total cargo shipments from March 22 to November 30 were 33 million metric tons, up 1.23 percent from the same period last year. “With only one of the big three commodities, coal, bettering last year’s pace by 22,000 metric tons, the year-to-date performance of other bulk commodities like petroleum products (up 80 percent), salt (up 32 percent), scrap metal (up 49 percent), and other general cargo like wind turbine components (up 50  percent)…

The Ports of Indiana handled 8.1 million tons of cargo in 2011, the largest annual tonnage since 2006. New ethanol and dried distillers grains (DDGs) shipments combined with gains in limestone, salt and steel cargoes fueled a 5 percent increase in total shipments moving through Indiana's three ports. "Despite continued economic uncertainties, this was the fourth consecutive year our ports experienced growth," said Ports of Indiana CEO Rich Cooper. "Our 2011 shipments were nearly a million tons higher than the five year average. We've also seen a significant increase in capital investments by our port companies as they prepare for future growth. The Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon handled its largest annual tonnage since 1994 and the third highest in the port's 36-year history.

U.S. ports post positive numbers. For the period March 22 to September 30, year-to-date total cargo shipments were 25.1 million metric tons, virtually flat over the same period in 2011, as reported by the St. Lawrence Seaway. “Cargo tonnage on the Seaway System remained relatively steady for the month of September,” said Rebecca Spruill, Director, Trade Development for the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. “These tonnage numbers reflect historical trading patterns for the month of September, with the noteworthy increase in shipments of windmill components.

The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor handled more shipments in 2014 than any year since the port opened in 1970. Total tonnage was up 30 percent over 2013 driven by strong shipments of steel, grain and salt. "It was a terrific year thanks to our port companies, steelmakers and businesses that use our port," said Rich Cooper, CEO for the Ports of Indiana. "Federal Marine Terminals, the port's terminal operator, and its labor force did a tremendous job handling the significant cargo increases that arrived at the port by ship and barge.