Bulk Dock Project At Henderson Port To Open In 2025
Barge unloading will be available at a second dock next year as part of Henderson County Riverport Authority’s planned refurbishment.
The port, located at Ohio River Mile 808, is repurposing its secondary dock. A nearby grain operation, which is finishing a facility-wide rehabilitation, has used the dock for the past few years.
A new, grant-funded electric material handler will be available to customers, along with the port’s existing 125-ton electric-pedestal crane, which can handle commodities from barge, truck and rail. On the main dock, the crane, rehabbed six years ago at a cost of $1 million, will also be available to handle heavy-lift projects.
“This will be a game changer for Henderson, as we have some commodities that are very stable in volume month in and month out, while others are more seasonal in nature,” executive director Ben Weithman said. “This addition will alleviate congestion during those times and allow us to grow our business throughout the year.”
The riverport’s primary dock area will continue to be used for general cargo-handling and break-bulk products. It includes a dock with 42,000 square feet of open dock space.
The terminal is noted for its crane capacity and design configuration, which provides excellent heavy-lift capacity, Weithman said. Adjacent to the primary dock area is the 40,000-square-foot warehouse with indoor load outs for flatbeds, two covered truck doors and two covered rail docks. The port has a total of 95,000 square feet of warehouse space, including 20,000 square feet of conditioned space.
The riverport also has a 48-inch public use belt that can handle 600 tons (20,000 bushels) per hour and a 30-inch grain belt that can handle 400 tons (14,500 bushels) per hour, allowing the port to load or unload four barges at once, accessible by both rail and truck.
Corps of Engineers permitted fleeting is available for 134 barges, with fleeting services available around the clock. The riverfront facility boasts 12,800 feet of railroad track, served by CSX Direct with switching services provided by the port. Additionally, Henderson County Riverport Authority can provide accommodation for all types of integrated transportation activities, such as stevedoring, warehousing, yard storage and distribution, Weithman said.
The Henderson City-County Airport is within sight of the riverport for incoming and outgoing executives, and it can handle executive and private aircraft, including light commercial craft and jet service on its 5,504-foot paved, lighted runway. Ample hangar space, national air taxi-freight service and a Bell Helicopter Service facility are also available.
Dock Project
The planned relocation of ADM Grain in the fourth quarter of this year opened up the potential for the riverport to make its secondary dock available for multiple customers, concentrating its bulk product handling at the secondary dock.
The result is that the port has expanded its efficiency in serving customers.
“Our goal is to put that dock back in operation to unload barges so we can effectively unload two barges at the same time,” Weithman said.
Bulk unloading and loading and scrap metal loading will all be available from the dock, Weithman said. Typical products handled could range from grains to aggregates and fertilizers.
Material Handler
A new, track-mounted, electric material handler was made possible by a new state grant open to Kentucky’s public riverports. The Kentucky Public Riverport Construction and Maintenance grant program provides up to $750,000 a year for two years. The port recently was awarded its first funds for the material handler and will receive the balance next summer.
“Governor Beshear and the state legislature recognized the important role riverports play in the movement of freight across multiple modes,” Weithman said. “This past legislative session saw action taken to assist Kentucky’s riverports become more competitive with our neighboring states. With the passage of HB1, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has been authorized to distribute $7.5 million in each of the next two fiscal years totaling $15 million for the improvement of Kentucky’s riverports. In addition, HB265 continues the $500,000 per fiscal year the Transportation Cabinet can use to fund improvements to Kentucky’s riverports.”
Available Space
The port still has room to grow, as well, with 40 acres of property available for development.
In addition to a 20-acre site with 1,600 contiguous feet of river frontage available for lease, the riverport has a 10-acre site with rail access and rail and truck scales and two 5-acre sites with rail access.
Recently, the port received a $50,000 state grant to update its master plan to make the best use of its facilities and better market its available acreage. On August 12, Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing Inc. was awarded the contract for the project.
The plan will help the riverport to strategically plan infrastructure improvements, bulk storage capabilities and potential future dock expansions as well as any rail siding construction, Weithman said.
————
Photo caption: The Henderson County Riverport, at Ohio River Mile 808 in western Kentucky, will open a second dock for barge unloading in 2025. (Photos courtesy of Henderson County Riverport Authority)
