Burns Harbor port lands $11.2 million federal grant for a harbor crane and container gear

PORTAGE, Ind. Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor will buy a mobile harbor crane and new cargo-handling equipment with an $11.2 million federal grant, gear the Lake Michigan port says will move more steel now and containers later.

The award comes from the U.S. Maritime Administration's Port Infrastructure Development Program, Ports of Indiana announced Oct. 27. It was one of 35 port projects in 19 states that shared $498 million in the round U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced that day, according to the port authority's release.

Burns Harbor is the state's port on Lake Michigan, and a 2023 Martin Associates study the port authority cites credits it with $4.63 billion a year in economic activity, $363 million in local and state tax revenue and 28,400 jobs supported.

What the money buys

The Burns Harbor Container Handling Modernization Project will pay for a mobile harbor crane, bulk-handling attachments, reach stackers, a top handler and off-road yard trucks, the release says. The crane can switch between bulk grabs, lifting gear for breakbulk cargo and spreaders that lift shipping containers, so the port can handle more steel, bulk materials, construction materials and project cargo alongside future container traffic "when market demand arises."

Of the project's $14 million cost, Ports of Indiana puts up $2.8 million, so the federal grant covers 80%.

"Paired with our own funding, it puts existing docks and terminal space to work and creates new revenue to support the port long term," Chief Financial Officer Erica Jackson said in the release.

Gov. Mike Braun said the grant "helps Burns Harbor move more goods faster and gives Hoosier farmers and manufacturers a more direct path to customers around the world." U.S. Sen. Todd Young said securing the federal money needed to expand the port's shipping capabilities "has been a priority of mine for years," and U.S. Sen. Jim Banks and U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan also praised the award.

Where the container plan stands

Ports of Indiana is developing a container terminal at Burns Harbor that it describes as the only direct ocean container service into the Chicago market. When it opened a trade office in Ireland on March 17, the authority said trial container shipments were expected to start later this year. During Duffy's tour of the port June 19, it said a $100 million expansion with new docks and rail lines was nearing completion.

The October release describes the new equipment as support for "future international container service" and says it will also strengthen the port's existing operations. Steel led the port's cargo in 2025, followed by limestone and coal and coke, and Logistec manages the container and general cargo terminal, according to the port's website.

The port grew its international shipments through the Great Lakes Seaway by 5.8% in 2025, to 362,100 metric tons, and that growth earned it the Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award from the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp., a U.S. Department of Transportation agency, the port authority announced Aug. 11.

New leadership at the top

The grant lands during a change at the top of Ports of Indiana, whose Nov. 2 release said Jody Peacock's service as chief executive officer ended Nov. 1 and that Chief Operating Officer Dave Parrott and Jackson are now serving as the interim leadership team. Commission Chairman Steven Stemler is taking an active role with them during the interim period, the release says.

"On behalf of the Commission, I thank Jody for his more than 25 years of service to Ports of Indiana," Stemler said. "Dave and Erica bring strong experience and a deep commitment to our ports. I'm very confident about the path ahead and the opportunities to keep moving Indiana forward."