Tulsa Ports facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tulsa Ports |
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| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Rogers County, Oklahoma |
| Details | |
| Opened | January 1971 |
| Operated by | City of Tulsa - Rogers County Port Authority |
| Type of harbor | Multi-modal |
| Land area | 2500 acres |
| Employees | approx. 3,000 |
| Website http://tulsaport.com |
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Tulsa Ports are important shipping centers in Oklahoma, United States. They include two main areas: the Port of Catoosa and the Port of Inola. These ports are located near the city of Tulsa, right on the Verdigris River. This river connects to the Arkansas River and then to the huge Mississippi River.
This connection means ships can travel from Tulsa all the way to the Gulf of Mexico! The ports are at the very start of a special water highway called the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS). This system lets barges travel all year round, even when it's cold, because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers controls the river's water levels.
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Tulsa Port of Catoosa: A Busy Hub
The main part of Tulsa Ports is the Tulsa Port of Catoosa. It's located close to the town of Catoosa in Rogers County. This port is huge, covering about 2,500 acres (that's like 1,900 football fields!). Over 70 companies have their businesses here, employing more than 4,000 people.
The Port of Catoosa helps ship many different things. It sends manufactured goods and farm products from Oklahoma to places all over the world. It's a "foreign trade zone," which means it has special rules that make it easier to trade internationally. This port is a big reason why the local economy is strong. For example, in 2013, over 2.7 million tons of cargo passed through it!
How the Port Began
People in Tulsa started thinking about having a port in the early 1960s. This was when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was building the big MKARNS waterway. Some business leaders from Tulsa visited Ohio to see how river ports helped businesses there. They realized a port would be great for Oklahoma!
They convinced other leaders to support the idea. A special committee was formed, called the City of Tulsa–Rogers County Port Authority. This group helped make the port a reality.
The port officially opened for business on February 20, 1970. The first commercial shipment arrived in January 1971. President Richard M. Nixon even came to dedicate the port on June 5, 1971.
This port is the biggest in Oklahoma. It's also one of the largest river ports in the United States that is so far inland. It's very convenient, located only 8 miles from the Tulsa International Airport. It's also 15 miles from downtown Tulsa.
Connecting the World
The Port of Catoosa is a "multi-modal" transportation center. This means it uses different ways to move goods. It has connections to two major railroads: the BNSF Railroad and the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad. The port also has its own special railroad, called the Port of Catoosa Industrial Railroad (PCIR). This railroad helps move cargo around inside the port.
In its first full year, 1971, the port handled about 86,654 tons of cargo. By 2013, this had grown to over 2.7 million tons! That's a lot of goods moving in and out.
The port has special equipment to handle different types of cargo. It has a huge 200-ton crane that can lift very heavy items. It also has a "roll-on/roll-off" dock. This dock lets vehicles and large equipment drive directly onto or off barges.
In 2016, the port added a new 720-foot dock. This dock can handle rail lines and many cranes. In 2020, the port received a grant to improve its railroad crossings and tracks. This helps make shipping even smoother.
On September 24, 2020, the Tulsa Port of Catoosa changed its name to "Tulsa Ports" to include both its locations.
Port Facilities
The port has five public terminals. These are places where cargo can be moved between barges, trucks, and trains.
- Dry Cargo Terminals: These handle things like iron and steel products. One dock is 720 feet long and has cranes and forklifts. It also has a huge 200-ton crane that moves along a bridge.
- Dry Bulk Freight Terminal: This terminal handles materials like fertilizer or pig iron (a type of metal). It has cranes and a conveyor system to load materials. There are places to store cargo both outdoors and under cover.
- Roll-on/Roll-off (RO-RO) Wharf: This special dock is for very large or heavy cargo. Imagine huge pieces of equipment for oil refineries! These items are often too big for regular trucks or trains. They can be driven right onto or off a barge here.
- Bulk Liquids Terminals: These terminals handle liquids like chemicals, asphalt, oil products, and molasses. The port has seven of these terminals.
Tulsa Port of Inola: Growing Fast
The Tulsa Port of Inola is another important part of Tulsa Ports. It's a large industrial park covering 2,500 acres. This port also has great connections. It can use the Union Pacific railroad and has barge access to the MKARNS waterway.
The first company to build a factory here was Sofidel in 2020. They make paper products.
In September 2022, Tulsa Ports received a huge grant of $22.3 million from the government. This money is for building a special wastewater treatment plant at the Port of Inola. This plant will help bring many new industrial businesses to the area. It could create up to 10,000 new jobs in the future!
In December 2022, the port announced a $15.76 million project to fix and connect existing rail tracks. This project links the port and the Sofidel plant to the main Union Pacific rail line. This new railroad, called the Verdigris Southern Railroad, opened in April 2024.
Even more improvements are planned! By the end of 2023, there were plans for an additional $150 million in upgrades. These will improve roads, water systems, and other important services over the next two years.
A big announcement came on May 22, 2023. A company called Enel said they would build one of the largest solar cell and panel factories in the U.S. at the Tulsa Port of Inola. Enel plans to invest over $1 billion in this huge factory. It will create 1,000 permanent jobs by 2025, with a chance for 900 more jobs later. Oklahoma officials have called this the biggest economic development project in the state's history!
