UN/LOCODE: USCHA📍 United States
Port of Chattanooga (UN/LOCODE USCHA)
❖ Coordinates: 35.0300°N, -85.3000°E
❖ Time Zone: America/New_York
❖ UN/LOCODE: USCHA
## About the Port
**Port of Chattanooga** (UN/LOCODE: **USCHA**) sits at the confluence of the Tennessee River and the Chickamauga Creek in Hamilton County, Tennessee (35.03 °N, –85.30 °W). Although classified as an inland waterway port, Chattanooga functions as a multimodal logistics hub that integrates barge, rail, truck, and air transport. Governed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ **Tennessee River Navigation System**, the port operates within the Eastern Time Zone (America/New_York) and adheres to federal maritime regulations for the Inland Waterway System.
Key attributes that distinguish Chattanooga include:
| Attribute | Specification |
|-----------|----------------|
| **Primary waterway** | Tennessee River (part of the Ohio‑Mississippi Inland Waterway) |
| **Navigational depth** | 9 ft (maintained by TVA’s lock‑and‑dam system) |
| **Berth length** | Approx. 2,200 ft of linear dock space |
| **Cargo handling** | Bulk, break‑bulk, containerized, and project cargo via barge and intermodal transfer |
| **Connectivity** | Direct rail links (CSX, Norfolk Southern), Interstate 24/75 access, nearby Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) |
The port’s strategic inland location enables it to serve as a gateway for shippers moving commodities between the industrial Midwest, the Gulf Coast, and the southeastern United States. Its inclusion in the **National Waterway System** grants it priority for federal funding and infrastructure upgrades, reinforcing Chattanooga’s role as a resilient node in the North American supply chain.
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## History
### Early Development (19th Century)
Chattanooga’s relationship with river transport dates to the early 1800s, when the Tennessee River was primarily used for flat‑boat trade. The construction of the **Chickamauga Dam** (1913) and subsequent TVA projects in the 1930s transformed the river into a reliable navigation channel. The **Chattanooga Lock** (built 1936) was the first lock on the Tennessee River, enabling barge traffic year‑round and laying the groundwork for a formal port facility.
### Mid‑20th Century Expansion
During World War II, the port’s capacity was expanded to support war‑time logistics, particularly the movement of coal and steel for the nearby steel mills. Post‑war, the Port of Chattanooga benefitted from the **Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991**, which funded the development of intermodal terminals that linked river, rail, and highway modes.
### Recent Modernization (21st Century)
In the 2000s, the Tennessee Valley Authority, in partnership with the **U.S. Army Corps of Engineers**, launched a series of dredging and lock‑rehab projects to deepen the navigation channel and improve lock cycle times. The **Chattanooga Intermodal Terminal** opened in 2015, adding 150 acre of rail‑ready yard space and state‑of‑the‑art cargo handling equipment. Recent investments have focused on **environmentally sustainable operations**, such as shore‑power installations and low‑emission diesel locomotives.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Waterborne Facilities
- **Lock and Dam Complex** – The Chattanooga Lock (90 ft wide × 600 ft long) accommodates standard 15‑barge tows, reducing transit times between the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers.
- **Berthing** – Two main berths (approximately 1,200 ft and 1,000 ft) equipped with rubber‑filled fenders, mooring dolphins, and hydraulic cranes (up to 50 ton capacity).
- **Bulk Handling** – Dedicated grain elevators, coal dryers, and cement silos allow for rapid loading/unloading of dry bulk cargo.
### Intermodal Facilities
- **Rail Yard** – Dual‑track yard with direct connections to CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway, supporting up to 30 railcars per day.
- **Truck Access** – Four dedicated truck bays linked to Interstate 24 and Interstate 75, featuring automated gate systems and real‑time slot booking.
- **Warehouse Space** – 350,000 sq ft of climate‑controlled warehouse, equipped with RFID inventory tracking and cross‑dock capabilities.
### Technology & Services
- **Port Community System (PCS)** – Integrated digital platform that streams vessel arrival notices, cargo manifests, and customs data to shippers and customs brokers.
- **Customs and Inspection** – On‑site U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspection facilities enable expedited clearance for both domestic and foreign‑origin cargo.
- **Sustainability Initiatives** – Shore‑power (cold‑iron) for docked vessels, solar‑panel installations on warehouse roofs, and participation in the **Clean Water Act** compliance program (see EPA Water Quality Standards↗).
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## Economic Importance
### Direct Economic Impact
- **Employment** – The port directly supports ~2,400 jobs, ranging from dockworkers and logistics coordinators to marine engineers and customs officials.
- **Revenue Generation** – Annual cargo throughput exceeds **6.5 million short tons**, translating to an estimated **$1.2 billion** in local economic activity.
### Multiplier Effects
- **Supply‑Chain Integration** – The port’s intermodal connectivity reduces transportation costs for regional manufacturers by up to 15 %, enhancing the competitiveness of Tennessee’s automotive, aerospace, and chemical sectors.
- **Regional Development** – The presence of the port has catalyzed ancillary industries, including warehousing, freight forwarding, and equipment rental, contributing to a cumulative **$3.5 billion** impact on the Greater Chattanooga metropolitan area’s GDP.
### Strategic Role
Chattanooga serves as a **primary gateway for the Southeast’s bulk commodities**—particularly coal from the Appalachian Basin, limestone from the Cumberland Plateau, and steel sheet from regional mills. Its inland location also makes it an ideal staging point for disaster relief logistics, as demonstrated during the 2020–2021 Tennessee floods when the port facilitated the rapid movement of relief supplies via barge.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Principal Trade Corridors
| Corridor | Destination | Mode | Approx. Transit Time |
|----------|-------------|------|----------------------|
| **Tennessee River → Ohio River → Mississippi River** | Gulf of Mexico (Port of New Orleans, Port of Mobile) | Barge | 10–12 days |
| **Tennessee River → Kentucky River → Ohio River** | Midwest (Cincinnati, Chicago) | Barge/Rail | 7–9 days |
| **Intermodal Rail** | East Coast (Savannah, Charleston) | Rail | 2–3 days |
| **Truck** | Regional distribution centers (Knoxville, Atlanta) | Truck | 6–8 hours |
These corridors are supported by the **National Waterway System** and are integral to the **U.S. Interior Commerce** framework, ensuring that Chattanooga remains a vital node for both north‑south and east‑west freight flows.
### Dominant Cargo Categories
1. **Coal & Coal By‑Products** – Approximately 2.1 million short tons annually, primarily for power generation and steel production.
2. **Aggregates (Limestone, Sand, Gravel)** – 1.8 million short tons, sourced from local quarries and shipped to construction sites throughout the Southeast.
3. **Steel & Metal Products** – 900,000 short tons, including rolled steel plates destined for automotive assembly plants in the region.
4. **Chemicals & Fertilizers** – 650,000 short tons, encompassing nitrogen‑based fertilizers and petrochemical intermediates.
5. **Containerized Goods** – Growing segment, with an estimated 350,000 TEU equivalent handled via barge‑to‑rail transfer; key imports include electronics, machinery parts, and consumer goods.
The port’s **flexible cargo handling**—from dry bulk to high‑valued containers—allows it to respond swiftly to market shifts, such as the recent increase in containerized cargo driven by e‑commerce growth.
### Future Outlook
Projected infrastructure improvements, including a **lock‑capacity upgrade** slated for 2027 (see the **U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Tennessee River Navigation Plan**), will permit larger tow configurations, potentially increasing annual barge traffic by 20 %. Moreover, the port’s ongoing **digitalization** initiatives aim to reduce cargo dwell time by 15 %, further cementing Chattanooga’s role as a competitive inland hub for the next decade.
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Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
USCHA
Country
United States
Province / Region
Tennessee
Latitude
35.030000
Longitude
-85.300000
Timezone
America/New_York
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Chattanooga?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Chattanooga is USCHA.
Where is Port of Chattanooga located?
The Port of Chattanooga is located in United States, Tennessee. Its coordinates are 35.0300°N, -85.3000°E.
What time zone is Port of Chattanooga in?
Port of Chattanooga operates in the America/New_York time zone.
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
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