Ports of Indiana Receives First Aluminum Shipment at New Bonded Storage Facility at Mount Vernon

MOUNT VERNON, Ind. –– The Ports of Indiana this week announced that it has opened a new federally approved bonded storage facility at its Mount Vernon port, resulting in a major expansion of capabilities and enabling the port to handle its first barge shipment of aluminum.

The new facility, the Ports said, positions Mount Vernon as a competitive Midwest hub for duty-deferred storage of high-value commodities. The Mount Vernon facility was built to meet an urgent customer demand and was developed in about six weeks.

The first shipment to arrive at the facility was approximately 1,650 tons of aluminum, which had traveled via ocean vessel from Asia to New Orleans and then by barge to Indiana. According to a presser released by the Ports, “The aluminum will be distributed to Midwest manufacturers, where it will be used in a wide range of applications, including automotive, construction, and packaging materials.”

Jody Peacock, CEO of Ports of Indiana, said “Opening a federally approved bonded facility within six weeks after a customer inquiry is unheard of in our world and a tremendous accomplishment. The collaboration and efficiency of our port team, our terminal operator, and U.S. Customs is creating real-time supply chain solutions and competitive advantages for our customers.”

The new Mount Vernon facility offers both outdoor and indoor storage, and has a 20,000-square-foot warehouse and a one-acre storage yard. Moreover, as a bonded storage area, the facility offers a secure, government-authorized facility where imported goods can be stored without immediate payment of duties or taxes. This means that businesses can defer costs for up to five years, enabling more flexible supply chain strategies and improving cash flow. The presser added that “To meet federal requirements, Ports of Indiana installed approximately 800 feet of fencing, security cameras, access controls, and an aggregate laydown yard.”

Indiana River & Rail Terminals is the operator of the new Mount Vernon facility, and is the largest general cargo operator on the Ohio River. IR&RT and Ports of Indiana partner to operate the terminals in Mount Vernon and Jeffersonville.

Indiana River & Rail Terminals CEO Jonathan Lamb said “Through our partnership with the Ports of Indiana, we’ve created new opportunities for growth and expanded our ability to serve customers. This facility opens the door to new cargoes in metals, energy, and technology sectors, and we see strong potential for continued expansion.”

Rail–Water Supply Chain

Inland barge at Richmond Marine Terminal (Image courtesy of Port of Virginia)