Record-setting shipments at Mount Vernon drive successful first quarter for Ports of Indiana
Published by Claire Cuddihy,
Assistant Editor
Dry Bulk,
The Ports of Indiana have achieved record first quarter shipments in 2018, handling 3.2 million t at all three ports. The Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon drove this success by setting a record for the highest first quarter volume ever recorded at any of the state’s three ports. This follows a record-breaking year for Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon, which handled more cargo in 2017 than any port in the 57-year history of Indiana’s port system.
In the first quarter of 2018, the Mount Vernon port handled 2.2 million t, which is 6% higher than the first quarter of 2017. Key drivers of the record shipments included increases in coal (+16%), grain (+27%), and smaller increases in salt, limestone and soy products.
“Coming off a record-setting year in Mount Vernon, it’s encouraging to see the upward trends continue, especially in coal and agricultural shipments, which make up over 90% of this port’s cargo,” said Port Director for the Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon, Phil Wilzbacher. “This first quarter certainly sets the pace for what we anticipate being another strong year for maritime shipments throughout Indiana.”
Business activities at the Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon support over 7000 jobs and generate more than US$1 billion in annual economic impact for the state, including US$348 million in wages and US$33 million in state and local taxes each year. Coal, soybean meal, soybean oil, ethanol, dried distillers grain, corn, wheat, fertilizer, minerals and cement are primary cargoes moving through the Mount Vernon port. The Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville saw a 3% increase in the first quarter. According to the port, this increase was driven by rises in fertilizer, liquid bulk, and salt shipments, with more salt coming through the port in the first quarter of 2018 than was handled in the whole of 2017. The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbour saw a slight decrease in shipments year to date, but handles over 90% of its annual cargo in the last three quarters of the year after the St. Lawrence Seaway opens to ocean vessels.
Read the article online at: https://www.drybulkmagazine.com/dry-bulk/17052018/record-setting-shipments-at-mount-vernon-drive-successful-first-quarter-for-ports-of-indiana/
You might also like
UMAS study finds optimising port waiting times could reduce dry bulker emissions by 10%
The study finds that these ships spend between 4-6% of their operational time, around 15-22 days per year, waiting at anchor outside ports before being given a berth.