Brian Dooley (Photo provided, Ports of Indiana)
Ports of Indiana says it has opened its first international trade office in Ireland to grow cargo shipments and support the launch of a direct Europe-to-Indiana container service. The office will be based in Cork and Kildare, Ireland. In 2024, officials say Ireland made $32.4 billion of shipments to Indiana, according to the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research, more than triple any other country’s total, but most of these shipments did not use Indiana’s ports. Ports of Indiana is preparing to open its first container terminal and recently signed partnership agreements with Port of Cork, the fastest growing container port in Ireland, and Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the world’s 13th largest container port, which offers existing liner service to Indiana for general cargo. Ports of Indiana says it is developing the Burns Harbor Container Terminal on Lake Michigan to provide the only direct ocean container service into the largest U.S. container market, the Chicago metro area, with trial shipments expected to start later this year.
Maritime trade veteran, Brian Dooley, will lead the new office. Dooley has nearly 30 years of experience in the maritime, logistics, and business development sectors. He previously served as Business Support Manager at Port of Cork for five years, and as Operations Supervisor at MTL Peelports in Dublin, Ireland, for nine years. Prior to that, he served as Assistant Operations Manager at Marine Terminals Ltd. for more than a decade and began his maritime career as a Crane Operator with Coastal Container Line Limited.
“Europe is a critical trading partner for Ports of Indiana and establishing an Ireland office is part of our strategic growth initiative that will allow us to better serve existing customers and develop new container shipments between Indiana and Europe,” said Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock. “The extensive experience and relationships that Brian Dooley brings to our team will help expand our existing liner service to Antwerp and provide more efficient direct shipments for Ireland-Indiana trade.”
“There is significant interest in Ireland and European markets about Ports of Indiana’s expansion plans and the opportunity to develop a direct container service with the U.S. Midwest,” said Dooley. “I am truly excited to join the great team at Ports of Indiana and help develop new partnerships throughout Europe. Indiana has a unique port system and the trade connections with Ireland present a tremendous opportunity for future growth and creating efficiencies by better leveraging maritime transportation routes through the Great Lakes and U.S. river system.”
