"We are proud to receive this honor for the second year in a row," said Ports of Indiana CEO Rich Cooper. "More than two million tons of cargo were shipped through the port last year, which was our highest total since 2006. We've been extremely fortunate to see a steady growth in shipments during this time of economic uncertainty. We're now starting to see more investments by port companies in business expansion projects, which we believe is an indication that the economy is indeed improving."
In 2011, the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor posted an increase of 5 percent in cargo tonnage shipped through the Seaway compared to 2010, and a 10 percent increase in overall shipments, which also included lake vessels and river barges. Port cargoes which had the highest percent increase included limestone (23%), steel (18%), fertilizer (61%), coal (44%) and salt (18%).
Other Pacesetter Award recipients include the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, Port of Green Bay and Port of Chicago. "The strong numbers realized last year by these Great Lakes ports represents a positive snapshot of the upward turn in U.S. trade as a good direction for the overall economy," said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. "Congratulations to the four ports on their robust shipping season and we look forward to another banner year for the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System."
The Pacesetter Awards will be presented to each of the winners by SLSDC Administrator Collister Johnson, Jr. in the coming months.
Johnson said, "The gains made in international cargo shipments last year bode well for the entire Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System and indicate the key role that shipping continues to play in the overall economic recovery. All four of these ports have been past winners of the award since its inception in 1992 and we are pleased to recognize their outstanding performance again this year."
