Ports of Indiana

What Ports of Indiana does

Ports of Indiana is a self-funded statewide port authority established in 1961 by the Indiana Port Commission, operating three ports across 2,800 acres: Burns Harbor on Lake Michigan (opened 1970), Mount Vernon on the Ohio River (1976), and Jeffersonville on the Ohio River (1985). The authority provides multimodal cargo handling across ocean vessels, Great Lakes lakers, river barges, rail, and trucks, and administers Foreign-Trade Zone designations (FTZ #152, #170, #177) covering 34 Indiana counties under the Alternative Site Framework. It serves industrial, agricultural, and logistics customers including U.S. Steel, POSCO, Nucor, Consolidated Grain and Barge Co., Valero Renewables, and Louis Dreyfus Company, with more than 90 tenant companies and approximately 12 million tons of cargo handled annually.

The authority generates revenue through three primary streams: recurring port property and warehouse leases, usage-based cargo handling and crane fees, and FTZ administration services. Pricing is quoted per-project rather than published, and the organization reinvests 100 percent of revenue back into port infrastructure. Distribution is direct via an in-house business development team, supplemented by partnerships with economic development organizations; in March 2026 the authority opened its first international trade office in Ireland (Cork and Kildare) alongside a new Burns Harbor Container Terminal positioned as the only ocean container facility in the Chicago metro area.

Ports of Indiana contributes $8.7 billion in annual economic impact and supports approximately 49,000 jobs across the state, with $525 million in annual state and local tax revenue (per a 2023 Martin Associates study). The authority is governed by a seven-member bipartisan commission appointed by the governor and operates under no private equity or institutional ownership structure. Recent strategic priorities include a roughly $100 million expansion at Burns Harbor, the new bonded storage facility at Mount Vernon, expansion of the container terminal, and federal grant-funded infrastructure upgrades.

Name

Ports of Indiana

Legal name

Ports of Indiana

Website

https://portsofindiana.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ports of Indiana is a self-funded statewide port authority operating three multimodal ports (Burns Harbor, Jeffersonville, Mount Vernon) on Lake Michigan and the Ohio River, providing Foreign-Trade Zone services, cargo handling, and industrial land leases to steel, agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics tenants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port Operations and Maritime Logistics

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Inland Water Transportation (48321), Water Transportation (483)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Inland / River Container Terminals (Barge-Served) (TLAHAAAD), Port Equipment Operations (Crane Operators, RTG/RMG, Straddle Carrier Operations) (TLAHALAE)

Keywords

• Port authority services
• Maritime cargo handling
• Multimodal logistics infrastructure
• Foreign-trade zone administration
• Industrial land leasing

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Port Property Leases: Ports of Indiana leases shovel-ready land and warehouse facilities to industrial and logistics companies at its three port locations. Revenue is generated through land leases, building leases, and infrastructure access fees.
2. Cargo Handling Services: Fees for cargo handling, transloading, crane operations, and multimodal cargo transfers between ocean vessels, barges, rail, and trucks. Revenue is usage-based based on cargo volume and type.
3. Foreign-Trade Zone Administration: Revenue from administering Foreign-Trade Zone designations for companies throughout Indiana, supporting global trade growth through duty deferral and reduction programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ports of Indiana operates three multimodal port facilities (Burns Harbor on Lake Michigan, Jeffersonville and Mount Vernon on the Ohio River) providing integrated waterway, rail, road, and ocean cargo handling services. Core services include industrial land and warehouse leasing, cargo handling and transloading, Foreign-Trade Zone administration, bonded storage, and container terminal operations targeting steel, agriculture, manufacturing, and energy companies.

Product overview

Ports of Indiana is a statewide port authority operating three ports on Lake Michigan and the Ohio River: Burns Harbor (Lake Michigan), Jeffersonville (Ohio River), and Mount Vernon (Ohio River). The organization offers a unified port operations platform with multiple integrated services including Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ #152, #170, #177), bonded storage facilities, multimodal transportation connections (ocean, rail, road, river), and the upcoming Burns Harbor Container Terminal. The ports serve steel, agriculture, manufacturing, and construction industries, handling approximately 12 million tons of cargo annually across the three-port network spanning 2,800 acres.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Burns Harbor Port Strategic port location on Lake Michigan in the Steel Capital of North America, offering ocean access through the Great Lakes and inland waterway connections. Handles steel, agriculture, limestone, coal/coke cargo with multimodal rail, road, and barge connections. Home to 30+ companies including 15 steel-related businesses and three steel mills.
• Jeffersonville Port Ohio River port strategically located near Louisville, KY, handling 3.6 million tons of cargo annually. Home to 27 companies including 15 steel-related businesses, serving advanced manufacturing and logistics industries with on-dock rail and truck transloads. Cargo-handling capacity was recently doubled.
• Mount Vernon Port One of the largest inland ports in the U.S. handling more cargo than any other Indiana port. Located near the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, serving agricultural, energy, and manufacturing industries with 8,000 feet of riverfront and connections to five Class I railroads. Features a 544-acre megasite available for development.
• Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ #152, #170, #177) Federally designated secure areas allowing companies to postpone, reduce, or eliminate duties on imported goods. Ports of Indiana administers FTZs at all three ports (FTZ #152 Burns Harbor, FTZ #170 Jeffersonville, FTZ #177 Mount Vernon) and manages Alternative Site Framework designations throughout the state. Fast-track ASF approval is available statewide.
• Bonded Storage Facility at Mount Vernon Federally approved bonded storage facility at Mount Vernon enabling duty-deferred storage of high-value commodities. Features 20,000 square feet of indoor storage and 1-acre outdoor yard, allowing companies to defer federal duties and state-level carrying costs for up to five years.
• Burns Harbor Container Terminal New container facilities providing direct water route to the Chicagoland market. Features 9,000 lineal feet of dock, 10 Seaway Berths, approximately 15 lifts per hour, container management system by Logistec, and 24x7 security. Only container port in Chicago metro area, offering sailings to and from Europe and transshipping with multiple Canadian ports.
• Shovel-Ready Industrial Land Leases More than 1,000 acres of available land across three ports for business development, with parcels at Burns Harbor (75+ acres including 34-acre Greenfield site), Jeffersonville (275+ acres including 140-acre Greenfield site), and Mount Vernon (600+ acres including 544-acre megasite). Leases include multimodal connections, Foreign-Trade Zone benefits, and 24-hour security.

Quantifiable outcome

• Companies can defer federal duties and state-level carrying costs for up to five years through bonded storage
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Consolidated Grain and Barge Co. (CGB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026CGB is investing $47 million in new grain handling facility at Mount Vernon port, the largest investment at Indiana's largest port in more than 20 years. CGB has operated at the port for nearly three decades.
• Indiana University SoutheastsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2026Partnership to launch logistics internship program at Jeffersonville port. Pilot program immerses IU Southeast students in transportation, logistics, and agribusiness operations with multiple port companies.
• Port of CorkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026Ports of Indiana signed partnership agreement with Port of Cork, the fastest growing container port in Ireland, to support direct Europe-Indiana container service. Partnership aims to grow cargo shipments between Ireland and Indiana's ports.
• Port of Antwerp-BrugescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026Partnership agreement with Port of Antwerp-Bruges (world's 13th largest container port) offers existing liner service to Indiana for general cargo and supports new container service development.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)supportingOthers · 5 November 2025FEMA Port Security Grant Program awarded two grants totaling more than $140,000 for security infrastructure upgrades at Burns Harbor and comprehensive security assessment at Jeffersonville.
• U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD)coreOthers · 1 January 2020MARAD awarded $4 million for bulk cargo supply chain improvements at Burns Harbor and Marine Highway Grant for developing steel barge shuttle at Jeffersonville.
• Indiana River & Rail Terminals (IRRT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture between Ports of Indiana and Superior River Terminals Indiana. IRRT is the largest general cargo operator on the Ohio River, managing terminals in Mount Vernon and Jeffersonville. Operates bonded storage facility at Mount Vernon.
• LogistecsupportingTechnology or IntegrationLogistec executes heavy lift transfers at Burns Harbor port, providing stevedore services for ocean vessel cargo handling.
• Great Lakes Towing CompanysupportingTechnology or IntegrationFull-time tug services provided at Burns Harbor port for vessel assist and support operations.
• Nucor SteelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarine Highway grant supports steel barge shuttle service for Nucor at Jeffersonville port, part of outdoor storage facility designed to reduce truck traffic on highways.
• Louis Dreyfus CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected to operate grain export facility at Burns Harbor port. Considered one of the world's 'big four' global agri-commodities merchants.
• American Great Lakes Ports AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnering on market study to expand cargo movement between Great Lakes and Inland Waterways systems. Study analyzes market demand, infrastructure needs, and operational requirements.
• Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development CorporationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint market study to expand river-lake cargo connections. Corporation leads research with American Great Lakes Ports Association across participating ports in Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
• CPCS Transcom Inc.supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting firm conducting market study on expanding cargo transfers between Great Lakes and Inland Waterways systems.
• Northwest Indiana ForumsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to host international delegations and showcase global trade and logistics strengths. Forum hosted delegation representing 10 countries and provinces at Burns Harbor.
• Chicago International Trade Commissioners' Association (CITCA)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to conduct international trade programming and welcome delegations to Northwest Indiana ports.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority (Port of Cleveland): Public port authority operating a Lake Erie facility handling bulk, breakbulk, and project cargo. Comparable as a similarly sized Great Lakes public port with mixed steel/agricultural/industrial cargo mix and multimodal connections.
• Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority: Ohio River public port operator serving the Cincinnati region. Comparable as an Ohio River multimodal port handling steel, bulk commodities, and serving manufacturing customers along the same inland waterway.
• Illinois International Port District (Port of Chicago): State-created port authority operating Chicago's port on Lake Calumet. Closest geographic competitor on Lake Michigan with overlapping steel, bulk, and intermodal cargo and shared Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway access.
• Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority (Port of Toledo): Public port authority on Lake Erie handling coal, grain, iron ore, and general cargo. Comparable as a Great Lakes public port with diversified industrial cargo and rail intermodal capability.
• Port of Pittsburgh Commission: Public port authority operating 17 inland terminals along the Ohio, Monongahela, and Allegheny rivers. Similar public-entity structure and Ohio River barge-and-rail multimodal cargo model.
• Port Milwaukee: City-owned port on Lake Michigan handling bulk, breakbulk, and project cargo. Comparable as a Great Lakes public port serving Midwest industrial customers with multimodal connections.
• Port of Duluth-Superior: Bi-state public port authority on Lake Superior. Comparable as a Great Lakes public port handling bulk commodities (iron ore, coal, grain) with multimodal rail and vessel connections.
• Port of South Louisiana: Largest U.S. port by tonnage, located on the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Comparable as an inland waterway port authority handling bulk grain, petroleum, and chemicals with barge-to-ocean-vessel operations.

Regional players

• Port of St. Louis: Municipal port on the Mississippi River in St. Louis. Similar inland waterway barge and multimodal model but operates on a different river system (Mississippi vs. Ohio River) and serves a different geographic corridor.

Others

• Logistec: Canadian marine terminal operator providing stevedore, container handling, and cargo services, including the Burns Harbor container terminal under partnership. Comparable as a port services operator and ecosystem participant serving the same Midwest/Great Lakes cargo customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PortsofIndiana
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ports-of-indiana
• YouTubeyoutube.com/portsofindiana

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ports of Indiana