Port of Milwaukee
Port Milwaukee is a municipal port authority in Milwaukee, Wisconsin providing multimodal cargo handling (agriculture, breakbulk, bulk, heavy lift, liquid bulk), cruise and ferry terminal services, Foreign Trade Zone No. 41 administration, and waterfront recreation across its Jones Island facilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1835
- HeadquartersMilwaukee, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Port of Milwaukee does
Port Milwaukee is a municipal port authority operated by the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, providing multimodal cargo handling, cruise and ferry services, and Foreign Trade Zone administration from its Jones Island facilities. The port operates Terminal 2 (a 53,000 sq ft building constructed in 1966), Terminal 5, and a Heavy Lift Dock as the core cargo infrastructure, supporting agriculture, breakbulk, bulk, heavy lift, and liquid bulk cargoes routed through Great Lakes sea lanes with rail and interstate connections. The port also administers Foreign Trade Zone No. 41, which offers tariff deferral and duty reduction for importers and exporters, and operates cruise (Great Lakes Cruises, with Viking Cruises as the current anchor operator), high-speed ferry (Lake Express to Muskegon, Michigan), and waterfront recreation assets including Discovery World.
The port's business model rests on port tariffs (referenced but not publicly disclosed), Foreign Trade Zone service fees, property leasing to commercial tenants, and cruise/passenger terminal fees. It does not publish operating revenue; the disclosed $155.7 million in annual economic activity and $100.3 million in income represent broader regional impact across cargo tenants, shippers, and downstream users rather than the port's own revenue capture. Distribution is direct — the port sells to enterprise commercial customers (exporters, manufacturers, industrial cargo owners) through its terminals, with no intermediary partners. Marketing is conducted through the port's official website (port.milwaukee.gov) and earned media coverage of infrastructure investments and partnerships.
Recent strategic activity centers on capital expansion and regional collaboration: a $17 million South Shore Cruise Dock (groundbreaking October 2025, expected completion June 2026) designed for Seawaymax vessels to double cruise visits from 22 to 55 annually; a $1.4 million Wisconsin DOT Harbor Assistance Program grant (January 2026) for Terminal 2 roof and Terminal 5 ventilation upgrades; and a February 2026 Great Lakes–Inland Waterways market study partnership with American Great Lakes Ports Association, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, Ports of Indiana, and Illinois International Port District. Leadership is provided by Port Director Benji Timm under the oversight of the Harbor Commission.
Port of Milwaukee firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Port of Milwaukee
- Legal name
- Port Milwaukee
- Website
- https://portmilwaukee.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1835
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Port Milwaukee is a municipal port authority in Milwaukee, Wisconsin providing multimodal cargo handling (agriculture, breakbulk, bulk, heavy lift, liquid bulk), cruise and ferry terminal services, Foreign Trade Zone No. 41 administration, and waterfront recreation across its Jones Island facilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Port of Milwaukee industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Port and Maritime Logistics Services
- NAICS
- Port and Harbor Operations (48831), Marine Cargo Handling (48832), Coastal and Great Lakes Freight Transportation (483113), Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation (48311)
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Port Stakeholder Coordination (Terminal, Agents, Customs, Pilots, Tugs) (TLAHAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Ferry Terminal, Port & Passenger Handling Services (THAEAGAJ)
Keywords
Where Port of Milwaukee is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milwaukee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Port of Milwaukee business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Port of Milwaukee product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Port Milwaukee is a municipal port authority operating multimodal maritime cargo handling and distribution services through its Jones Island Terminal Complex. It provides specialized handling for agriculture, breakbulk, bulk, heavy lift, and liquid bulk cargoes, complemented by cruise terminal services, ferry operations, and Foreign Trade Zone No. 41 administration for international trade facilitation.
Product overview
Port Milwaukee is a municipal port authority providing maritime cargo handling, logistics, and cruise/recreational services through a network of specialized terminals and infrastructure. The port offers cargo services including agriculture, breakbulk, bulk, heavy lift, and liquid bulk operations, alongside cruise terminal facilities (Great Lakes Cruises, South Shore Cruise Dock), ferry services (Lake Express), and Foreign Trade Zone No. 41 for international trade facilitation. Key infrastructure includes Terminal 2 (53,000 sq ft, built 1966) and Terminal 5 on Jones Island, supporting approximately 2.3 million metric tons of cargo annually and $155.7 million in economic activity.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 2.3 million metric tons of cargo handled annually
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Port of Milwaukee
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Port of Milwaukee technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Port of Milwaukee partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- American Great Lakes Ports AssociationcoreLeading the comprehensive market analysis study in partnership with Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation to expand cargo movement between Great Lakes and Inland Waterways systems. Port Milwaukee is one of three ports providing local funding alongside Ports of Indiana and Illinois International Port District.
- Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development CorporationcoreFederal partner leading the market study with American Great Lakes Ports Association to analyze market demand, identify cargo flow opportunities, and assess infrastructure requirements for expanding waterborne commerce between Great Lakes and Inland Waterways systems.
- Ports of IndianaminorCo-funding partner in the Great Lakes-Inland Waterways market study alongside Port Milwaukee and Illinois International Port District.
- Illinois International Port DistrictminorCo-funding partner in the Great Lakes-Inland Waterways market study alongside Port Milwaukee and Ports of Indiana.
- CPCS Transcom Inc.minorConsulting firm contracted to conduct the research across participating ports in Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, examining market demand, infrastructure needs, and operational requirements for river-lake cargo connections.
- Viking CruisescoreMajor cruise operator currently using Heavy Lift Dock on Jones Island for temporary mooring. The $17 million South Shore Cruise Dock project will replace this temporary arrangement with a purpose-built passenger facility designed for Seawaymax vessels, expected to double cruise visits from 22 to 55 annually.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Port of Milwaukee competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Port of Indiana (Burns Harbor): Port of Indiana operates Burns Harbor on Lake Michigan, a Great Lakes deep-water port handling bulk, breakbulk, and project cargo. Direct peer: explicitly named co-funding partner in the same Great Lakes-Inland Waterways market study and operates similar multimodal cargo services in the same region.
- Port of Detroit: Port of Detroit is a Great Lakes municipal port handling bulk, breakbulk, and heavy lift cargo, serving southeastern Michigan industrial markets. Direct peer: Great Lakes port authority with similar multimodal capabilities and competing for Midwest industrial shipper demand.
- Port of Duluth-Superior: Port of Duluth-Superior is the largest Great Lakes port by tonnage, handling iron ore, coal, and grain with extensive rail connections. Direct peer: Great Lakes municipal port authority operating in the same waterway system with overlapping bulk cargo capabilities.
- Port of Toledo: Port of Toledo is a Great Lakes municipal port handling coal, grain, and bulk commodities with intermodal connections. Direct peer: similar municipal ownership, comparable tonnage throughput, and overlapping regional industrial customers in manufacturing and agriculture.
- Port of Cleveland: Port of Cleveland is a Great Lakes municipal port authority handling bulk, breakbulk, and project cargo with multimodal connections. Direct peer: similar governance structure (municipal port authority), comparable cargo mix, and competing for the same Great Lakes shipper base.
- Illinois International Port District: Illinois International Port District operates Port of Chicago on Lake Calumet, handling containerized, bulk, and breakbulk cargo on the Great Lakes. Direct peer: explicitly named co-funding partner in the Great Lakes-Inland Waterways market study alongside Port Milwaukee, with overlapping cargo types and customer base.
- Port of Buffalo: Port of Buffalo operates on Lake Erie as part of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway system, handling bulk cargo with rail connectivity. Direct peer: Great Lakes port serving similar industrial Midwest markets with comparable infrastructure scale and cargo mix.
Others
- Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation: Federal entity managing the US portion of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Other: infrastructure partner and study collaborator with Port Milwaukee; relevant as the governing body for vessel transit on the waterway system the port depends on.
Broad incumbents
- Virginia International Port Authority: Virginia International Port Authority operates multiple terminals handling containerized and breakbulk cargo on the US East Coast. Broad incumbent: much larger container-focused port authority; relevant for benchmarking infrastructure investment strategies and FTZ operations even though geography differs.
Regional players
- Port of Green Bay: Port of Green Bay is a smaller Wisconsin Great Lakes port handling coal, limestone, and forest products. Regional peer: same state and waterway system, but smaller scale and limited overlap in customer base, positioning as a Wisconsin peer for state-level funding and policy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Port of Milwaukee social profiles
Digital presencePort of Milwaukee financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Port of Milwaukee leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Port of Milwaukee subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Port of Milwaukee funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Port of Milwaukee M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Port of Milwaukee
What does Port of Milwaukee do?
Port Milwaukee is a municipal port authority operating multimodal maritime cargo handling and distribution services through its Jones Island Terminal Complex. It provides specialized handling for agriculture, breakbulk, bulk, heavy lift, and liquid bulk cargoes, complemented by cruise terminal services, ferry operations, and Foreign Trade Zone No. 41 administration for international trade facilitation.
Is Port of Milwaukee a public or private company?
Port of Milwaukee is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Port of Milwaukee founded?
Port of Milwaukee was founded in 1835. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Port of Milwaukee based?
Port of Milwaukee is headquartered in Milwaukee, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Port of Milwaukee's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Port of Indiana (Burns Harbor), Port of Detroit, Port of Duluth-Superior, Port of Toledo, Port of Cleveland, Illinois International Port District and Port of Buffalo. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation is listed as an others. Virginia International Port Authority is listed as a broad incumbent. Port of Green Bay is listed as a regional player.
Does Port of Milwaukee have an API?
No public API is recorded for Port of Milwaukee.
What industry is Port of Milwaukee in?
Port of Milwaukee's product category is Port and Maritime Logistics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAHAFAJ, Port Stakeholder Coordination (Terminal, Agents, Customs, Pilots, Tugs), with a secondary code of THAEAGAJ, Ferry Terminal, Port & Passenger Handling Services. Its NAICS code is 48831 and its SIC code is 4400.