Shipment for large pharmaceutical project in central Indiana
Oversized equipment destined for pharmaceutical production campus in Lebanon, Ind., gets careful handling at Ports of Indiana’s Ohio River facility en route from Texas.
Indiana River & Rail Terminals recently managed the barge-to-truck transload of some delicate oversized cargo at Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon destined for a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing facility under construction in central Indiana.
As the largest general cargo operation on the Ohio River, Indiana River & Rail Terminals plays a critical role in supporting Indiana’s economy through the multimodal handling of steel, project cargo and a variety of breakbulk commodities.
The shipment consisted of two 51-ton specialized tanks built in the Houston metro area. These tanks will play an integral role in the manufacture of medications at a pharmaceutical research, development, and production campus under construction near Lebanon, Ind., 35 minutes northwest of Indianapolis.
The tanks’ 44-foot by 18-foot dimensions and weight made overland shipping financially and logistically impractical, so the company’s transportation provider, Barnhart, arranged for the barge shipment to Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon. The tanks were carefully braced and loaded in a standard 195-by-35-foot barge to move from Texas to Mount Vernon via the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Mississippi River and Ohio River. Upon arrival, Indiana River & Rail Terminals transloaded each tank onto Barnhart specialized heavy-haul trucks for the final leg.
“Our team utilized the same expertise, operational skill and care for transloading this cargo that they do for every customer, no matter the commodity,” said Shane Davenport, Terminal Manager for Indiana River & Rail Terminals. “However, we took some extra pride from this knowing that this equipment will aide in creating medications that can improve thousands of lives for many years to come.”
Established in 2024, Indiana River & Rail Terminals is a joint venture between Ports of Indiana and Superior River Terminals Indiana, a general cargo stevedore operating at Ports of Indiana’s Mount Vernon and Jeffersonville facilities.
“Barnhart chose Indiana River & Rail at Ports of Indiana-Jeffersonville to handle Lebanon-bound materials earlier this year, and we’re very happy to have Mount Vernon’s heavy-duty capabilities play a role in this historic expansion of Indiana’s pharmaceutical industry,” said Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon Port Director Jason May. “Indiana River & Rail Terminals has quickly built a reputation for safe, reliable and efficient logistics management across the full spectrum of commodities for Fortune 500 and family-owned small businesses alike, and we’re proud to serve so many Indiana job-creators while growing the state’s economy.”
About Indiana River & Rail Terminals
Indiana River & Rail Terminals is a partnership between Ports of Indiana and Superior River Terminals – Indiana that handles cargo at two Ohio River ports in Jeffersonville and Mount Vernon. The terminals provide extensive multimodal services for river barges and rail cargo inside the Louisville, Ky., and Evansville, Ind., metro areas, with access to multiple Class I railroads. For more information: www.IndianaRiverandRail.com
About Ports of Indiana
Ports of Indiana is a statewide port authority operating three maritime ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan, with an inland port near Madison, Ind., set to open in 2025. Established in 1961, Ports of Indiana is a self-funded enterprise dedicated to growing Indiana’s economy by developing and maintaining a world-class port system, and by serving as a statewide resource for maritime issues, international trade, and multimodal logistics. More information: www.portsofindiana.com
Media Contact:
Eric Powell
317-233-6231
epowell@portsofindiana.com
