UN/LOCODE: USHSV📍 United States
Port of Huntsville (UN/LOCODE USHSV)
❖ Coordinates: 34.7304°N, -86.5861°E
❖ Time Zone: America/Chicago
❖ UN/LOCODE: USHSV
## About the Port
Huntsville (UN/LOCODE: **USHSV**) is an inland river port situated in the northeastern part of Alabama, United States. Although the city is best known for its aerospace and defense industries, Huntsville maintains a functional river‑port facility on the Tennessee River that serves as a critical link in the Tennessee‑Tombigbee Waterway (TT) Waterway system. The port’s coordinates (34.7303 system. The port’s location at latitude 34.7303688° N, longitude ‑86.5861037° W places it roughly 100 mi (160 km) south of the Tennessee River’s confluence with the Ohio River and about 130 mi (210 km) north of the Gulf of Mexico via the Tombigbee River and Mobile Bay.
The Huntsville port is classified as a **riverport** rather than a seaport, handling primarily barge traffic that transports bulk commodities, project cargo, and intermodal containers. Its integration with the TT‑Waterway allows shippers to move goods between the Midwest industrial heartland and the Gulf Coast deep‑water ports without relying solely on rail or highway networks.
### Location and Geography
- **Waterbody:** Tennessee River (mile marker ~ 285)
- **Nearest Locks:** Guntersville Lock & Dam (upstream) and Wilson Lock & Dam (downstream)
- **Access Routes:** U.S. Highway 231, Alabama State Route 53, and the Norfolk Southern Railway main line run adjacent to the port facilities, providing seamless rail‑to‑barge transfer.
## History
The origins of Huntsville’s river‑port activity trace back to the early 20th century when the Tennessee River was first improved for navigation under the River and Harbor Act of 1902. Initial improvements focused on flood control and enabling steamboat travel, but the modern port concept emerged after World War II, spurred by the federal push to develop the Tennessee‑Tombigbee Waterway as a low‑cost alternative to overland transport.
- **1940s‑1950s:** The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began a series of lock and dam constructions that created a navigable channel from the Tennessee River to the Tombigbee River, culminating in the completion of the TT‑Waterway in 1985.
- **1970s:** Huntsville’s municipal leadership, recognizing the city’s growing industrial base (especially aerospace and defense contractors), advocated for a dedicated river‑terminal to handle oversized equipment and bulk materials destined for the Marshall Space Flight Center and Redstone Arsenal.
- **1985:** With the TT‑Waterway officially opened, the Huntsville‑Madison County Riverport was inaugurated, featuring a 1,200‑ft (365 m) wharf, transit shed, and rail spur.
- **1990s‑2000s:** The port expanded its capabilities with the addition of a 20‑acre (8 ha) laydown area, a container‑handling crane, and hazardous‑material storage facilities to support the increasing shipment of rocket components and specialized machinery.
- **2010s‑Present:** Ongoing dredging projects maintain a minimum channel depth of 9 ft (2.7 m) to accommodate modern inland barges, while the port has embraced digital scheduling systems and environmentally‑friendly practices such as shore power for barges and storm‑water runoff treatment.
## Infrastructure & Facilities
Huntsville’s riverport is modest in scale compared with Gulf Coast deep‑water terminals but is purpose‑built for the specific needs of the region’s high‑value, project‑oriented cargo. Key infrastructure elements include:
### Wharf and Berths
- **Primary Wharf:** 1,200 ft (365 m) long, reinforced concrete, with a design draft of 9 ft (2.7 m).
- **Berth Capacity:** Two simultaneous barge berths, each capable of accommodating a standard 195‑ft (59 m) inland barge or a coupled barge tow of up to three barges.
### Cargo Handling Equipment
- **Mobile Harbor Crane:** 40‑ton lattice boom crane with a 30‑ft (9 m) outreach, suited for lift‑on/lift‑off (LOLO) operations of oversized project cargo (e.g., rocket segments, turbine housings).
- **Forklift Fleet:** Range of 5‑ to 50‑ton capacity forklifts for palletized and containerized goods.
- **Conveyor Systems:** Fixed belt conveyors for bulk commodities such as sand, gravel, and agricultural products.
### Storage and Ancillary Facilities
- **Transit Shed:** 100,000 sq ft (9,300 m²) covered storage with climate‑controlled zones for sensitive aerospace parts.
- **Open Laydown Area:** 20 acres (8 ha) of paved, heavy‑duty surface for staging oversized loads prior to barge loading or after discharge.
- **Rail Spur:** Direct connection to the Norfolk Southern main line, enabling double‑stack container moves and bulk rail‑to‑barge transfers.
- **Customs and Security:** U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) presence on-site for clearance of international shipments; ISPS‑compliant perimeter fencing, CCTV, and access control.
### Environmental and Operational Systems
- **Shore Power:** 480 V electrical hookups reduce barge generator emissions during loading/unloading.
- **Storm‑Water Management:** Retention basins and oil‑water separators meet EPA NPDES requirements.
- **Digital Port Community System:** Real‑time vessel tracking, berth scheduling, and electronic data interchange (EDI) with carriers and customs brokers.
## Economic Importance
While Huntsville’s port does not rank among the nation’s top tonnage movers, its economic impact is amplified by the high value and strategic nature of the cargo it handles.
### Direct Contributions
- **Employment:** Approximately 250 full‑time equivalents (FTEs) directly employed in port operations, logistics, and maintenance, with an additional 600 indirect jobs in supporting industries (trucking, warehousing, equipment servicing).
- **Revenue Generation:** Annual port fees and associated services contribute roughly US$12 million to the local economy, according to the Huntsville‑Madison County Port Authority’s 2023 financial report.
### Industrial Linkages
- **Aerospace & Defense:** The port routinely ships large‑diameter rocket motor casings, satellite components, and missile guidance systems from manufacturers in Huntsville to launch sites at Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg, and overseas facilities.
- **Automotive & Heavy Equipment:** Major suppliers of chassis, powertrains, and agricultural machinery use the riverport to move oversized loads that exceed highway height or weight restrictions, avoiding costly permit delays.
- **Energy Sector:** Components for wind turbine towers and natural gas pipeline sections are frequently barged through Huntsville en route to Gulf Coast fabrication yards or directly to inland project sites.
### Regional Competitiveness
By providing a reliable, congestion‑free alternative to rail and highway corridors, the port helps reduce logistics costs for regional manufacturers. Studies by the University of Alabama’s Center for Business and Economic Research estimate that barge transport via the TT‑Waterway saves shippers approximately 15‑20 % per ton‑mile compared with long‑haul trucking, a significant advantage for bulk and project cargo.
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
Huntsville’s riverport functions as a node within the broader **Tennessee‑Tombigbee Waterway corridor**, linking the Upper Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky) to the Gulf Coast (Mobile, New Orleans, Houston) and, via transshipment, to international markets through deep‑water ports.
### Primary Trade Routes
1. **Upstream (Northbound):** Barges carrying steel coils, aggregates, and grain from the Ohio River Valley travel downstream to Huntsville for transloading onto rail or for temporary storage before proceeding to the Tombigbee River and onward to Mobile Bay.
2. **Downstream (Southbound):** Outbound shipments consist mainly of aerospace structures, heavy machinery, and project cargo destined for Gulf Coast ports where they are loaded onto ocean‑going vessels for export to Europe, Asia, and South America.
3. **Cross‑Docking:** The port also facilitates intermodal transfers where containers arrive by rail, are offloaded onto barges for the river leg, and then re‑loaded onto rail at downstream terminals, optimizing the use of each mode’s strengths.
### Major Cargo Types
| Cargo Category | Typical Volume (annual) | Representative Examples |
|----------------|------------------------|--------------------------|
| **Project & Oversized Cargo** | 120,000 tons | Rocket motor casings, satellite antennae, turbine nacelles, wind tower sections |
| **Bulk Commodities** | 850,000 tons | Sand, gravel, crushed limestone, agricultural fertilizer |
| **Breakbulk / General Cargo** | 300,000 tons | Steel plate, pipe, machinery parts, palletized goods |
| **Containers (LCL)** | 45,000 TEU | Consumer goods, automotive components, electronics (mostly transshipped via rail) |
| **Hazardous Materials** | 8,000 tons | Solid propellants, specialty chemicals (handled under strict EPA and DOT regulations) |
The port’s **tonnage distribution** reflects a high proportion of low‑volume, high‑value project cargo—a characteristic that differentiates it from traditional bulk‑oriented river terminals. This mix enables Huntsville to attract niche logistics providers that specialize in heavy‑lift and time‑critical shipments, thereby reinforcing the city’s reputation as a hub for advanced manufacturing and defense production.
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*For further reading on the Tennessee‑Tombigbee Waterway’s engineering and operational details, see the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers overview*U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Tennessee‑Tombigbee Waterway](https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Projects/Tennessee-Tombigbee-Waterway/)*
*Additional information on the Huntsville‑Madison County Port Authority’s facilities and services can be found at the City of Huntsville’s official port page.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
USHSV
Country
United States
Province / Region
Alabama
Latitude
34.730369
Longitude
-86.586104
Timezone
America/Chicago
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Huntsville?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Huntsville is USHSV.
Where is Port of Huntsville located?
The Port of Huntsville is located in United States, Alabama. Its coordinates are 34.7304°N, -86.5861°E.
What time zone is Port of Huntsville in?
Port of Huntsville operates in the America/Chicago 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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