Shipping at SEMO Port this year nearly even with '10

While slightly fewer tons of cargo passed through SEMO Port this year, millions of dollars in upgrades to its facilities may help attract more business next year, officials said.

The port's total tonnage was down from last year about 1.5 percent, said executive director Dan Overbey. From January through November this year, 1,108,441 tons were shipped by either rail, truck or barge, compared to 1,125,672 during the same period of 2010.

"Considering the economy, that's pretty decent. You can just about call that even," Overbey said. "Everybody would like to have a better year next year."

Throughout 2011, work continued on $3.59 million worth of improvements to the port's rail lines and roadways. That amount also included some bank stabilization efforts to create more space for industrial development.

"The port operation is such an infrastructure-heavy operation, you just can't slack off and expect everything to be in good condition, especially when you're dealing with heavy equipment and the rising river's impact on that infrastructure," said Mitch Robinson, executive director of Cape Girardeau Area Magnet.

"I hate to use the cliche 'if you build it, they will come,' but that's exactly the situation. You can't turn that stuff overnight. It requires an intensive investment to move that facility ahead."

This year a portion of Rushing Road was paved along with entrances to several businesses operating at the port. A new main track was installed at a higher elevation than the existing track, which was prone to flooding. Work is also underway on three new rail spurs that will provide storage space for about 40 rail cars.

This spring, about 4,000 railroad ties will be installed along the six miles of track between Scott City and Cape Girardeau operated by the port. Upgrades to bridges and railroad crossings are also planned.

Grain makes up about half of the products shipped at SEMO Port, Overbey said. The remaining half consists of four-fifths industrial products and one-fifth fertilizer.

The slight shipping decrease this year could be due in part to late planting and a hot, dry summer dragging down local crop yields, Overbey said.

"We didn't see that many days when we had grain trucks lined up here waiting to get through. Sometimes in the past we've had 20 to 25 trucks stacked up, but not this year," Overbey said.

According to USDA estimates for this year, Missouri's corn production was down 3 to 4 percent while its soybean production was down 8 percent compared to last year.

So far this year, the port has shipped 766,117 tons by barge, but that's well under the 1 million tons the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requires in order for the corps to dredge it.

After battling with the corps for two years, Overbey said, they're now including funds for dredging in the port's annual budget.

This year, dredging cost about $325,000 and was completed in October.

"It was done just in time, too. The river was falling pretty hard, and we had some of our folks out here that were starting to have problems and were not able to unload barges for a few days," Overbey said. "That's not unusual, but you don't want people waiting weeks and weeks."

Having to pay for dredging, previously a cost covered by the corps, took money away from other projects that would have improved and expanded the port, Overbey said.

"We'd rather use these funds for other things, but first things first, we've got to take care of what we've got. It slows you down on some other things you want to do, but you just don't have a choice," he said.

Overbey said SEMO Port is fortunate it was able to pay for the dredging because many smaller ports can't afford it.

"There are a number of other ports that aren't set up like we are and don't have that option," Overbey said. "As the corps leaves them, no pun intended, high and dry, there are some of them that it's questionable how long they can survive before people pull out and move somewhere else."

Overbey said he and the SEMO Port board are working with federal legislators in an effort to make dredging smaller ports more of a priority for the corps. Overbey said ports at New Madrid and Pemiscot counties, which ship less than SEMO Port, would like to see the corps change its dredging standard from 1 million tons to 500,000 tons.

mmiller@semissourian.com

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