Ports of Indiana and Port of Cork signed an agreement to collaborate on initiatives and explore Ireland-to-Indiana container service.

Gov. Eric Holcomb joined officials from Indiana and Cork, Ireland, to sign a memorandum of understanding. The ports have committed to collaborating on economic, environmental and technology initiatives. They also will explore the feasibility of an Ireland-to-Indiana express container shipping service.

The Oct. 23 ceremony came a day after the governor announced a new direct flight between Dublin, Ireland, and Indianapolis.

“Ireland is one of our most important partners in the world, and building strong connections between our countries is critical to support our growing economies,” Holcomb said in a press release. “This new partnership will allow our ports to explore shared initiatives and new opportunities to leverage our tremendous port resources.”

Key areas of the memorandum include economic and port development strategies to increase maritime and container trade involving pharmaceuticals, dairy products, manufacturing, semiconductors, clean energy, life sciences and agriculture. It also involves decarbonization initiatives, port security and cyber security.

“This signing between the Port of Cork Company and the Ports of Indiana strengthens our position, linking us into the only container service in the Chicago market — the crossroads of America — giving us a connection to the east and west coasts of the USA,” said Joe Carroll, County of Cork mayor.

Ireland ranks as Indiana’s No. 1 importer with $20.9 billion in shipments in 2023. The top shipments between Ireland and Indiana are pharmaceuticals and organic chemicals. Both ports are looking to expand upon recent container initiatives. They also plan to evaluate opportunities to create a direct service between Europe and the Chicago/Northern Indiana container market.

“It’s an honor to partner with the Port of Cork and explore the opportunity to establish a new container service and increase maritime trade between Cork and Indiana,” said Jody Peacock, Ports of Indiana CEO. “The Port of Cork has developed an impressive new container terminal that has shown tremendous growth in a short time. We hope to follow in their footsteps as we build a new container terminal in Burns Harbor that will open in 2026.”

Ports of Indiana is a statewide port authority. It operates ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan in Burns Harbor/Portage, Jeffersonville and Mount Vernon. The ports serve three different metropolitan areas in Chicago, Louisville and Evansville. Indiana generates more than 50% of the economic impact from U.S. shipping on the Great Lakes.