Indiana ports to seek sites for international container facilities

The Ports of Indiana Commission has approved a resolution to launch the Indiana Container Initiative in support of developing multiple international container terminals in the state.
 
As a statewide port authority, Ports of Indiana operates multiple facilities on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan, but the state’s ports do not currently handle container shipments. The new initiative is designed to increase the organization’s efforts to pursue the development of international container facilities within Indiana’s ports and other locations throughout Indiana, commission officials said in a news release.

Ports of Indiana is undertaking a $100 million capital campaign that includes eight federal grants, five docks, three rail yards, two cargo storage facilities, cargo handling equipment and decarbonization planning. Ports of Indiana’s three facilities generate $8.7 billion per year in economic impact and support 50,000 jobs.
 
The initiative directs Ports of Indiana to:
• pursue the development of international container terminals at appropriate locations within Ports of Indiana’s facilities and other Indiana locations;
• pursue regulatory approvals necessary to establish container facilities along Lake Michigan, the Ohio River and at appropriate strategic inland locations;
• make significant investments and seek additional funding sources, such as through federal grants or public/private partnerships;
• explore international best practices for leveraging governmental assistance and legislative actions that can promote, incentivize and advance global container shipments, and remove bureaucratic impediments for developing and operating container facilities; and
• engage in partnerships, trade missions, international agreements and collaborations to establish new global container shipping opportunities.