Ports of Indiana welcomes M.V. Jamno as first ocean vessel of the 2024 international shipping season

Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor opened the 2024 international shipping season with the arrival of the M.V. Jamno. The bulk carrier sailed from Port of Ijmuiden, Netherlands, on March 21, traveling through the St. Lawrence Seaway, and will unload cargo today at Indiana’s Lake Michigan port.

To celebrate the first ocean vessel of 2024, Port Director Ryan McCoy presented the “Steel Stein” to Captain Dariusz Buczek on board the Bahamas-flagged ship. The stein commemorates Northwest Indiana’s identity as “The Steel Capital of North America.”

"We look forward to the first ocean vessel in Burns Harbor as a sign that spring is upon us and our port’s international connection to the world is now open,” McCoy said. “The arrival of ocean vessels creates jobs for our dockworkers and crane operators, and access to world markets for Indiana businesses.”

Owned and operated by Polish marine line Polsteam, the Jamno is a general cargo vessel built in 2018 with a length of 656 feet and width of 78 feet. The ship delivered more than 6,200 tons of specialized steel products to Burns Harbor that will be used by local manufacturers.

The steel was unloaded by port stevedore Logistec with local workers from the International Longshoremen’s Association and the International Union of Operating Engineers.

The port handles more than 3 million tons of cargo each year, and steel-related materials represent more than 50 percent of throughput. The port handles finished steel for various manufacturers and raw materials for steel production such as limestone, coking coal and iron ore pellets.

The St. Lawrence Seaway opened March 22 for the 2024 international shipping season – the 66th year of operations on the marine superhighway. The Seaway closes during winter for routine maintenance on the system’s 15 locks. Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor is open year-round to handle cargo via river barge, lake vessels, rail and truck.