Ports of Indiana, Port of Cork collaborate on key initiatives and explore direct Ireland-to-Indiana container service

Indiana Governor leads trade mission to Ireland to promote direct connections by sea and air

Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb joined officials from Indiana, U.S.A, and Cork, Ireland, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between Ports of Indiana and Port of Cork. The MOU formalizes a commitment by the ports to collaborate on economic, environmental, and technology initiatives and to explore the feasibility of an Ireland-to-Indiana express container shipping service. The ceremony comes one day after the Governor announced a new direct flight between Dublin, Ireland, and Indianapolis, Indiana.

“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,” said Governor Holcomb. “This new partnership will allow our ports to explore shared initiatives and new opportunities to leverage our tremendous port resources.”

The agreement was signed by Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock and Port of Cork Interim CEO Donal Crowley, and witnessed by Governor Holcomb, Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg, Mayor of the County of Cork Joe Carroll, and Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork City Honore Kamegni, Chief Commercial Officer Conor Mowlds of Port of Cork, Cork Chamber CEO Conor Healy, and Port Director Ryan McCoy from Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor.

Key focus areas of the MOU include: 1) Economic and port development strategies to increase maritime and container trade involving pharmaceuticals, dairy products, manufacturing, semiconductors, clean energy, life sciences, and agriculture; 2) Decarbonization initiatives, such as developing a “Green Shipping Route” between Ireland and Indiana to reduce supply chain emissions; 3) Port security and technology integration for data collection, container scanning and cyber security.

Ireland ranks as Indiana’s No. 1 importer with $20.9 billion (€19.3 billion) in 2023 shipments, which is more than the combined total of No. 2 Canada and No. 3 China. The top shipments between Ireland and Indiana are pharmaceuticals and organic chemicals, which are Ireland’s top exports and Indiana’s top imports. Containers are a key driver for the new partnership as both ports look to expand upon recent container initiatives and evaluate opportunities to create a direct service between Europe and the expansive Chicago/Northern Indiana container market.

Port of Cork recently opened a $102 million (€94 million) state-of-the-art Cork Container Terminal (CCT), which was the largest single investment in marine infrastructure of any Irish port during the last 100 years. The terminal has grown faster than expected, and a phase 2 expansion is now underway. Ports of Indiana is completing a $77 million (€71 million) infrastructure expansion at its Lake Michigan port and received federal approval to establish Indiana’s first sea cargo container terminal at Burns Harbor, opening in 2026.

Quotes from key officials:

• Mayor of the County of Cork, Joe Carroll: “The Port of Cork is crucial to Ireland’s international trade and economic growth. This signing between the Port of Cork Company and the Ports of Indiana strengthens our position, linking us into the only container service in the Chicago market - the crossroads of America - giving us a connection to the East and West Coasts of the USA. I am proud to see Cork exploring these important opportunities to develop as a key gateway for global trade.”
• Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, Honore Kamegni: “It is great to witness the signing of this MOU between the Port of Cork and Ports of Indiana, further strengthening ties between Ireland and the U.S. Fostering a close direct trade relationship between Cork and the Ports of Indiana would bring a major boost to the southern region and the national economy. I look forward to seeing the many benefits this collaboration could bring, creating new avenues for growth and prosperity that will benefit both our regions for years to come.”
• Interim Port of Cork CEO, Donal Crowley: “This MOU marks a historic moment for the Port of Cork and 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. The economic potential of this collaboration is considerable, and it underscores the Port of Cork’s role in advancing Ireland’s global trade connections. We look forward to working closely with Ports of Indiana on a range of initiatives that will benefit both regions and further strengthen the economic ties between our two nations.”
• Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock: “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. 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.”