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Ports of Indiana has opened its first international trade office in Ireland to increase freight shipping and support a direct container service between Europe and Indiana. The new European trade office will be led by Brian Dooley, an experienced professional in maritime trade, who will operate in Cork and Kildare.
According to the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research, shipments from Ireland to Indiana in 2024 are projected to reach $32.4 billion, which is more than three times the shipments from any other country. However, most of these shipments were not handled through the ports of Indiana. Ports of Indiana is currently preparing to open its first container terminal, the Burns Harbor Container Terminal on Lake Michigan, and has recently signed partnership agreements with the Port of Cork, Ireland’s fastest-growing container port, as well as the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, ranked 13th in the world. The latter already offers a liner service to Indiana for general cargo.
“Europe is an important trading partner for Ports of Indiana, and the opening of an office in Ireland is part of our strategic growth initiative that allows us to better serve existing customers and develop new container shipments between Indiana and Europe,” said Jody Peacock, CEO of Ports of Indiana. “The extensive experience and relationships that Dooley brings to our team will help expand our existing liner service to Antwerp and enable more efficient direct deliveries for trade between Ireland and Indiana.”
Dooley brings nearly 30 years of experience in maritime, logistics, and business development. Previously, he served as Business Support Manager at the Port of Cork for five years and as Operations Supervisor at MTL Peelports in Dublin for nine years. Before that, he worked for over a decade as Assistant Operations Manager at Marine Terminals Ltd. and began his career as a crane operator at Coastal Container Line Limited.
“There is significant interest in the expansion plans of Ports of Indiana in Ireland and the European markets, as well as the opportunity to develop a direct container service with the Midwest of the USA,” said Dooley. “I am very excited to develop new partnerships across Europe. Indiana has a unique port system, and the trade connections with Ireland present a tremendous opportunity for future growth and the creation of efficiencies through better utilization of maritime transport routes via the Great Lakes and the U.S. river system.”
The three ports of Indiana handle shipments for over 30 countries via the Great Lakes and the inland river system, contributing $8.7 billion annually to the economy. Ports of Indiana is a state port authority operating three ports on Lake Michigan and the Ohio River. The rapidly growing inland port system has doubled in size within five years and is currently undergoing a $100 million expansion of dock, rail, and road capacities.
