Dan Overbey, executive director of the Semo Port, gave details about the operation of the port and the reach of its shipments during the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee program at Isle Casino Event Center.

Shipments of various products through the port, which straddles Cape Girardeau and Scott counties and is governed by a county-appointed board, reach 40 states and -- eventually by way of ocean ship after leaving a river barge -- several other countries, Overbey demonstrated Friday with maps and figures.

The amount of cargo shipped through the port reached a record high in 2014 at 1.3 million tons, according to lease reports. Overbey said the port often can claim a competitive advantage over St. Louis and Memphis, Tennessee, river ports because of ease of access for river traffic to its harbor and the road and rail infrastructure the port has gained over its 40-year history.

The port, which offers various shipping and cargo handling methods including truck, train and barge, has handled everything from large equipment coming from overseas to be installed in manufacturing facilities such as BioKyowa, an amino acid production facility in Cape Girardeau, to lead products from The Doe Run Co. and millions of bushels of grains and other agricultural products such as wood chips.

The loads of cargo shipped by barge contribute to much of the port's tonnage because barges can carry so much, Overbey said.

"If you take a normal size ranch home, you can put two homes on one barge, to give you an idea," he said.

Adding to the capability of the Semo Port Railroad is among the main priorities so the port can increase tonnage, its board of commissioners president said recently. The port has its own switching railroad that serves Union Pacific and Burlington Northern rail lines.

The port is seeking bids for a railroad improvement project, Mandi Brink, the port's finance and administration manager, said Friday. The project will add tail track to the current rail system at the port, which Brink said will help drive developer interest to a site near the port's south side and help existing businesses that lease land at the port.

The port's plans for the project were pushed back earlier this year when state money set to be disbursed to ports was put on hold by Gov. Jay Nixon. The money -- $3 million total for Missouri ports, including $425,000 for the Semo Port -- was released in April after the state's revenue improved.

Brink said the port's deadline for accepting bids for the project is Thursday. After contracts are awarded, construction of the railroad addition should begin this fall and be finished by January.

The port eventually would like to add a unit train and loop track, which Overbey has said could double tonnage shipped through the port.

First Friday Coffee sponsors were Southeast Athletics and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management-Ozbun, Deimund, Beckham Group. The next event will be Sept. 4.

eragan@semissourian.com

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