Port of Burns Harbor

Burns Harbor connects steel, agriculture and manufacturing businesses with shipping on Lake Michigan. Ocean-going ships, lake vessels and river barges use the port, giving its industrial waterfront access to several parts of the inland and international waterway network.

Bulk and breakbulk facilities handle commodities and manufactured products, while the port estate accommodates steel-related businesses and other industrial tenants. Warehousing, distribution and manufacturing activities therefore operate close to the quays where materials arrive or leave by vessel.

A shortline railway within the port connects waterfront operations with the wider rail system, complemented by highway access. These land connections are important to the port’s industrial function, allowing raw materials and finished goods to move between marine terminals, nearby factories and customers farther inland.