Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor opened the 2024 international shipping season with the arrival of the M.V. Jamno.
The Jamno departed from the Port of Ijmuiden, Netherlands, on March 21. It traversed the St. Lawrence Seaway and docked at Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor on April 12.
To mark the occasion, Ryan McCoy, port director, presented a steel stein to Capt. Dariusz Buczek. The stein symbolizes Northwest Indiana's status as “The Steel Capital of North America.”
“We look forward to the first ocean vessel in Burns Harbor as a sign that spring is upon us and our port’s international connection to the world is now open,” McCoy said in a press release. “The arrival of ocean vessels creates jobs for our dockworkers and crane operators and access to world markets for Indiana businesses.”
The Jamno is operated by the Polish maritime company Polsteam. The vessel is 656 feet long and 78 feet wide. Its cargo, over 6,200 tons of steel products, will be used by local manufacturers.
Port stevedore Logistec and local workers from the International Longshoremen’s Association and the International Union of Operating Engineers unloaded the ship.
Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor’s annual cargo throughput exceeds 3 million tons. Steel-related materials, such as finished steel and raw materials for steel production, constitute over half of its handled cargo.
The 2024 international shipping season officially started with the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway on March 22. The seaway closes in winter for maintenance on its 15 locks, Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor accommodates cargo via river barges, lake vessels, rail and trucks year round.
Established in 1961, Ports of Indiana is a statewide port authority. It operates three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. Ports of Indiana serves as a statewide resource for maritime issues, international trade and multimodal logistics.
Caption: Port Director Ryan McCoy bestowed a steel stein to Capt. Dariusz Buczek upon the M.V. Jamno's arrival April 12. (Provided by Ports of Indiana)
