The Port of Decatur is a
transshipment
Transshipment, trans-shipment or transhipment is the shipment of goods or containers to an intermediate destination, then to another destination.
One possible reason for transshipment is to change the means of transport during the journey (e.g. ...
port
A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ham ...
on the
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names, ...
, in the city of
Decatur, Alabama
Decatur (dɪˈkeɪtə(r)) is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County (with a portion also in Limestone County) in the U.S. state of Alabama. Nicknamed "The River City", it is located in northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake ...
,
United States of America
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...
. The port was founded in 1971.
Port facilities
Port facilities include
intermodal transfer points for switches between barge, road and rail, storage facilities for bulk liquids, dry bulk and general cargo and of open storage. Serviceable quay length is , with a year-round draft of nine metres.
The port is directly connected to the
Norfolk Southern
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Railroad classes, Class I freight railroad in the United States formed in 1982 with the merger of Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway (U.S.), Southern Railway. With headquarters in Atlanta, the ...
and
CSX
CSX Transportation , known colloquially as simply CSX, is a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The railroad operates approximately 21,000 route miles () of track. ...
railroads and to interstate and regional highway networks.
Industries
Port throughput is dominated by imports of industrial and agricultural commodities including sand, asphalt, grains and fertilizers, coal, and steel piping.
From 2005 the port also began handling poultry feed products for nationwide poultry firm
Golden Kist.
Exports are limited by the cost-efficiency of road and rail distribution networks, forcing many barges accessing the port to return empty.
Shipping times to
are approximately two weeks from loading.
See also
*
Decatur, Alabama
Decatur (dɪˈkeɪtə(r)) is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County (with a portion also in Limestone County) in the U.S. state of Alabama. Nicknamed "The River City", it is located in northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake ...
*
List of North American ports
Lists of ports cover ports of various types, maritime facilities with one or more wharves where ships may dock to load and discharge passengers and cargo.
Most are on the sea coast or an estuary, but some are many miles inland, with access to th ...
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Port Of Decatur
Decatur metropolitan area, Alabama
Huntsville-Decatur, AL Combined Statistical Area
Decatur
Decatur
River ports of the United States
Decatur
Industrial parks in the United States
1971 establishments in Alabama