Executives from the Ports of Indiana and Metro Ports celebrated the grand opening of a new bulk terminal facility at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor. Metro Ports is now managing 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.
Metro Ports, the country's oldest stevedoring company, is the brand used to collectively identify stevedoring affiliates of Metropolitan Stevedore Co. and its parent company, Nautilus International Holding Corp., both based in Long Beach, Calif. The company's roots date back to 1852 when its original parent corporation, California Stevedore and Ballast Co., was established during the Gold Rush era, and it has maintained continuous family ownership for 165 years. Metro Ports operates at 27 U.S. ports on the East, West and Gulf Coasts in 10 states.
Metro Ports handles a wide range of bulk and breakbulk cargoes around the country, including aggregates, potash, coke, coal, cement, fertilizer, borax, bauxite, RoRo, military, steel, wind energy, yachts and project cargo.
In 2016, the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor handled nearly 2.6 million tons of cargo, completing the highest three-year total in the port's history. In addition, the Ports of Indiana invested nearly $2.5 million into port infrastructure, including dredging and stabilization of two ship berths to increase dock capacity for handling Seaway draft vessels as well as replacement of 2,000 feet of rail track and rehabilitation of multiple rail turnouts. Additional investments are planned by the Ports of Indiana and Metro Ports to upgrade the bulk terminal to increase the port's throughput capacity.
Maritime operations at the port generate nearly $4.9 billion per year in economic activity and support more than 39,000 total jobs. The port currently has 110 acres available for development and is home to 30 companies that provide a range of advanced manufacturing and logistics services.