Port of Indiana reports another strong year
By Teresa Auch Schultz tauch@post-trib.com November 19, 2012 3:46PM
Coal is unloaded from the St. Clair of Wilmington, DE., at the Port of Indiana Monday Nov. 19, 2012. | Andy Lavalley~Sun-Times Media
Updated: December 21, 2012 6:19AM
The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor might not be keeping pace with the increased shipping at other St. Lawrence Seaway ports, but one official said Burns Harbor is still doing well compared to previous years.
According to a release from the seaway, tonnage for all the ports was up about 10 percent through October compared to a year before.
However, Jody Peacock, spokesman for the Ports of Indiana, said that Burns Harbor’s numbers overall were about flat compared to the same time period. Some items, such as grain, fertilizer, coke and minerals, were up. Others were down, however, including coal, limestone, road salts and oils.
“It’s a mixed bag holding relatively steady compared to last year,” Peacock said.
Although the port didn’t se an increase in shipping last month, the numbers are still a positive compared to earlier years. The port set record shipping numbers in 2011, and this October’s numbers still better than those from 2009 by about 50 percent, he said.
“It’s not up year-to-date,” he said. “But historically looking back, this is still a very strong year.”
The report from the St. Lawrence Seaway said that iron, steel slabs, project cargoes and domestic general cargoes had led the increase in shipping for the whole seaway.
The seaway’s season usually ends in December.
