Henderson Port Completes $2.2 Million Bulk Dock Project

The Henderson County (Ky.) Riverport Authority reopened its bulk dock earlier this month following completion of a $2.2 million infrastructure improvement project.

The facility, Ohio River Mile 808, acquired a new $2.03 million Sennebogen 865E electric material handler capable of offloading dry bulk cargo at the liquid bulk dock rather than the main dock. It allows the riverport to unload two barges simultaneously, easing seasonal bottlenecks and reducing demurrage costs for customers.

The port also constructed a concrete staging pad and performed electrical upgrades. The refurbishment and expansion began in May 2024 and was mostly funded through state riverport grants.

The project was designed to increase efficiency and reduce congestion at the port.

“During the spring and fall fertilizer seasons, we often receive multiple barges at a time,” Executive Director Ben Weithman said. “This causes bottlenecks. Riverports typically operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so when we receive multiple barges for one customer, other barges arriving next could be held up. Having two berths allows us to mitigate the bottlenecks.”

Additionally, he said, the project allows the port to have redundancy to better serve customers. While the port tends to unload bulk products at the new dock and breakbulk loads at the main dock, crews now also have the option to unload both bulk and breakbulk at both docks, if needed.

“So, if a piece of equipment is down for repair, we can easily shift the load to the other dock,” Weithman said.

The project also helps to position the port better for the future, he said.

“Having a dedicated bulk dock with a new highly efficient material handler will allow us to better market our bulk handling services,” Weithman said. “With additional attachments, we can broaden our offerings to include scrap and aggregates. Currently, when we need the crane to unload rail cars, they must be done by placing one at a time at the main dock. The material handler can reach one of our rail sidings, which will allow us to place 10 to 12 cars for unload or load.”

The riverport received a $1.5 million no-match grant through the Kentucky Public Riverport Construction and Maintenance (KPRCM) program toward purchase of the material handler. Subsequent funding rounds provided an additional $532,000 to complete the equipment purchase.

Additionally, the riverport secured a Kentucky Riverport Improvement (KRI) grant for $76,472 to support construction of the $95,590 concrete staging pad. A required local match provided $19,118. To power the new material handler, the port invested $74,134 to upgrade electrical service at the dock.

Weithman said that moving bulk unloading off the main dock helps to extend the service life of the riverport’s 40-year-old, 125-ton cable crane, “which has been the backbone of riverport operations for decades.”

He thanked the Kentucky General Assembly for continued support of riverports and the grant funding, along with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Sen. Robby Mills and state Rep. J.T. Payne for their advocacy on behalf of the riverport.

The riverport plans a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the project in the spring.