Page 39: of Marine News Magazine (May 2020)

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heartland. “The area is well-suited for a steel production facil- ity because of the direct waterway access to two U.S. coasts, ?ve Class 1 Railroad connections and major highway and in- terstate access creating substantial logistical savings,” he says, adding, “The port has over $20 million of existing infrastruc- ture and capacity to accommodate such a facility.” “Additionally, the port is home to 13 businesses that are recognized as innovators in their respective industries, in- cluding transportation, grain merchandising and processing, coal transloading, ethanol production, fertilizer and cement distribution, minerals processing, cargo handling and more – many of which are complementary to the steel industry,”

Wilzbacher says.

“The overhead gantry crane is the key component of the general cargo terminal that would support the operation of a steel company, as its capabilities and features are ideal to han- dle steel coils,” Wilzbacher says. “Key requirements [when or- dering the crane] included quality manufacturing, upgrades in electrical components and the capabilities of transloading car- go between any combination of barge/rail/truck/warehouse.”

The new electric-powered crane manufactured near Mil- waukee, Wis., by Zenar Corporation and assembled by Mount

Vernon-based company TMI Mechanical Contractors spans 75 feet, has a 60-ton lifting capacity with twin, 30-ton hoists, and can travel the full length of the site’s 790-foot crane way.

It will be operated by long-time port company and general cargo terminal operator Consolidated Terminal and Logistics

Company (CTLC) to load and unload general cargo between barge, rail, truck and warehouse.

The new 53,000 square-foot concrete transit shed ?oor installed by southwest Indiana company Rivertown Con- struction in early 2019 can sustain load-bearing capacity to accommodate the maximum weights of any general cargo.

Wilzbacher says the new ?oor brings the 40-year-old facility to a “nearly like-new condition”, and could even be expanded to more than 200,000 square feet if warranted.

“Our terminal updates will also help enhance the Mount

Vernon port’s capabilities in handling container-on-barge shipments,” Wilzbacher says. “We are looking forward to new opportunities for our current and future companies.”

The upgraded general cargo terminal is currently fully oper- ational, and terminal operator CTLC and Ports of Indiana are jointly marketing the facility to expand services by developing container-on-barge shipments to handle both domestic and international shipments using the inland waterway system in addition to steel coil shipments scheduled for the balance of 2020, Wilzbacher says. Iinquiries to handle super-sacks have been received as well as project cargo shipments, he adds. “The next generation of the general cargo terminal will certainly carry the port to another 40 years,” Wilzbacher says.

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