Ports of Indiana inks agreement to explore collaboration with Irish port
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After Monday’s announcement of a new nonstop flight between Indianapolis and Dublin, Ireland, the connection between Indiana and Ireland continues to grow.
The Ports of Indiana on Wednesday announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Port of Cork in Ireland to explore the feasibility of an express container shipping service between the two locations.
Gov. Eric Holcomb joined Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock, Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor Director Ryan McCoy, Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg and other officials for the signing ceremony in Cork, Ireland on Tuesday.
The Ports of Indiana said in a news release that the MOU focuses on three key areas:
- Economic and port development strategies to increase maritime and container trade involving pharmaceuticals, dairy products, manufacturing, semiconductors, clean energy, life sciences, and agriculture
- Decarbonization initiatives, such as developing a “Green Shipping Route” between Ireland and Indiana to reduce supply chain emissions
- Port security and technology integration for data collection, container scanning and cyber security.
“Ireland is one of our most important partners in the world, and building strong connections between our countries is critical to support our growing economies,” Holcomb said in the release. “This new partnership will allow our ports to explore shared initiatives and new opportunities to leverage our tremendous port resources.”
The Ports of Indiana has made a concerted focus on container shipping this year with the launch of the Indiana Container Initiative, designed to support the development of multiple international container terminals throughout the state.
In July, the port authority received approval from U.S. Customs and Border Protection to establish the first international sea cargo container terminal on Lake Michigan at the Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor.
“It’s an honor to partner with the Port of Cork and explore the opportunity to establish a new container service and increase maritime trade between Cork and Indiana,” Peacock said in the release. “The Port of Cork has developed an impressive new container terminal that has shown tremendous growth in a short time. We hope to follow in their footsteps as we build a new container terminal in Burns Harbor that will open in 2026.”
Ireland is Indiana’s No. 1 importer with $20.9 billion in shipments last year. The top shipments between Ireland and Indiana are pharmaceuticals and organic chemicals, the port authority said.
Port of Cork Interim CEO Donal Crowley said the MOU represents a significant opportunity for Ireland’s economy.
“By linking Cork directly to the greater Chicago/Northern Indiana market—the heart of America’s logistics network—this partnership opens a crucial trade gateway to both the East and West Coasts of the United States,” Crowley said. “The economic potential of this collaboration is considerable, and it underscores the Port of Cork’s role in advancing Ireland’s global trade connections.”
