Burns Harbor prepares to bring ocean boxes to Chicago's doorstep

Chicago is set to gain its first effectively ocean-served container terminal as an Indiana port near the city prepares to open a new box facility this year. Located around 20 miles from Chicago, the terminal will be the only all-water container gateway serving the greater Chicago market by way of the Great Lakes and the St Lawrence Seaway.

The project forms part of a $100m expansion, the largest investment at the port since it opened in 1970, and includes new dock and rail infrastructure alongside efforts to reopen one of the largest grain export facilities on the Great Lakes. Customs authorities approved the container terminal in 2024, clearing the way for a staffed cargo examination facility, with the port providing the inspection equipment, radiation monitors and security infrastructure required for international container handling.

The new terminal will sit within a port offering 9,000 feet of dock, ten seaway berths and full-time tug support. Its container operation is expected to offer around 15 lifts an hour, backed by a managed container system, round-the-clock security and gated access, and it will be able to connect directly with Europe, tranship via Canadian ports and offer barge links to the Gulf. A trial shipment is planned before the end of the year.

The potential prize is significant. Chicago is North America's largest intermodal container market, yet boxes currently reach the region only by rail or truck. Backers say an all-water route could cut as much as ten days from some European container moves into the market while easing congestion and lowering emissions.