en.Wedoany.com Reported - Chicago, the third-largest city in the United States, is about to welcome its first maritime container terminal. The Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor plans to open a new maritime container facility this year. Located in Portage, Indiana, about 20 miles from Chicago, the terminal will become the only all-water container gateway serving the greater Chicago market via the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway.

This project is part of Burns Harbor's $100 million expansion plan, the largest investment since the port began operations in 1970. The overall project includes the construction of a new terminal and railway infrastructure. Meanwhile, port officials are advancing efforts to restart one of the largest grain export facilities in the Great Lakes region.

The US Customs and Border Protection approved the container terminal in 2024, clearing the way for a staffed cargo inspection facility. The Ports of Indiana will provide the customs offices, inspection equipment, radiation portal monitors, and security infrastructure required for international container handling.

The new terminal will be situated within a port featuring 9,000 feet of dock space, 10 seaway berths, and 24/7 tugboat support. The container facility can perform approximately 15 lifts per hour, equipped with a container management system managed by Logistec, 24-hour security, access control, and night vision camera coverage. The port stated that the terminal will have direct access to Europe, transshipment via Canadian ports, and barge connections to the Gulf of Mexico. A trial run is planned before the end of this year.

The market potential for this project is significant. Chicago is the largest intermodal container market in North America, but currently all containers enter the region by rail or truck. Burns Harbor stated that all-water routes could reduce transit time for some European containers entering this market by up to 10 days, while also reducing congestion and emissions.