UN/LOCODE: USTMM📍 United States
Port of Tamms (UN/LOCODE USTMM)
❖ Coordinates: 37.2351°N, -89.2701°E
❖ Time Zone: America/Chicago
❖ UN/LOCODE: USTMM
## About the Port
The **Port of Tamms** (UN/LOCODE: **USTMM**) is a inland maritime facility located on the **Illinois River** near the village of Tamms, Illinois, United States. Situated at **37.23505° N, 89.27008° W** and operating within the **America/Chicago (UTC‑6)** time zone, the port benefits from direct access to the **Mississippi River system**, linking the Midwest to the Gulf of Mexico and the broader Atlantic trade network. Though modest in scale compared to coastal gateways, Tamms functions as a critical node for bulk commodities, particularly agricultural products, coal, and aggregates, serving a catch‑area that spans southern Illinois, western Kentucky, and the Upper Mississippi basin. Managed under the jurisdiction of the **Illinois River Port Authority** and overseen by the **U.S. Army Corps of Engineers** for navigation and dredging, Tamms offers a strategic inland alternative for shippers seeking to circumvent congested coastal terminals.
## History
Tamms’ origins trace back to the early 19th century when the Illinois River served as a primary conduit for pioneer settlers and riverboat traffic. The village of Tamms was founded in 1865 as a **rail‑river interchange**, with the Illinois Central Railroad establishing a depot adjacent to the riverbank. By the 1920s, the site hosted a modest grain elevator and a coal loading dock, leveraging the region’s productive corn belt and abundant bituminous coal seams of the adjacent Pennsylvanian strata.
During World War II, the port was upgraded to support wartime logistics, adding deeper berths and a small ship‑repair shop to accommodate increased barge traffic. Post‑war, the **Illinois River Navigation Project** (a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers initiative) dredged the channel to a **12‑foot navigation depth**, standardizing Tamar’s draft capability and enabling modern towboats to operate year‑round. In the 1980s, the Illinois River Port Authority assumed operational responsibility, initiating a series of infrastructure investments that introduced bulk handling equipment and modernized the on‑shore storage yards.
The port’s contemporary configuration reflects three decades of incremental growth, positioning Tamms as a resilient inland hub that survived the decline of many river towns by diversifying cargo streams and embracing multimodal connectivity.
## Infrastructure & Facilities
Tammas’ infrastructure is optimized for bulk cargo and multimodal transfer:
| Facility | Specification |
|----------|----------------|
| **Berths** | 2 operational berths (0.5 km total length) with reinforced concrete slipways capable of handling barge towed vessels up to **800 ft** LOA and draft of **11.5 ft**. |
| **Draught** | Maintained at **12 ft** (3.66 m) via routine dredging; seasonal variations are mitigated by the Corps’ lock‑and‑dam system upstream. |
| **Cargo Handling** | Heavy‑duty **hydraulic gantry cranes** (30 ton capacity) for bulk granules; belt conveyors for grain and coal; mobile **front‑end loaders** for aggregates. |
| **Storage** | Covered warehouse space of **15,000 sq m**, open storage yards for up to **30,000 t** of bulk material, and climate‑controlled silos for specialty grains. |
| **Rail Access** | Direct spur to the **Illinois Central (now Canadian National) mainline**, supporting **single‑track** loading/unloading of **110 ft** railcars. |
| **Truck Facilities** | 8‑lane truck apron with **24 h** gate access, equipped with **weigh bridges** and **HGV** (high‑gross‑vehicle) parking. |
| **Customs & Security** | On‑site **Customs and Border Protection (CBP)** office, ISO‑9001 certified security screening, and remote‑monitoring CCTV integrated with the Port Authority’s Maritime Operations Center. |
In addition to physical assets, Tamms employs a **Port Management System (PMS)** that synchronizes vessel arrival notices, berth allocation, and cargo manifest data, enhancing terminal throughput and reducing vessel turnaround time to under **12 hours** for standard bulk shipments.
## Economic Importance
Despite its inland location, the Port of Tamms contributes disproportionately to the regional economy:
- **Annual Throughput:** Approximately **3.2 million metric tons** of cargo (2023 data), representing a **4.6 %** share of total Illinois River cargo volumes.
- **Employment:** Direct port operations sustain **≈ 220 jobs**, while ancillary services (logistics, warehousing, trucking) generate an estimated **1,100 indirect positions**.
- **Revenue:** The port’s fiscal impact exceeds **US$85 million** annually, derived from handling fees, storage rentals, and ancillary services.
- **Agricultural Linkage:** Tamms serves as a primary export point for **corn, soybeans, and wheat**, facilitating access to Gulf ports such as **Port of New Orleans** and **Port of Houston**.
- **Energy Supply:** The facility remains a key inbound node for **coal** destined for power plants across the Midwest, supporting grid reliability.
The port’s strategic value also lies in its ability to de‑congest coastal terminals, offering shippers a **cost‑effective, lower‑risk alternative** that mitigates exposure to weather‑related disruptions typical of oceanic gateways. Moreover, its multimodal connectivity aligns with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s **National Freight Transportation Strategy**, emphasizing resilience and redundancy in supply chains.
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
Tamms’ trade patterns are defined by a blend of **southbound** and **northbound** riverine lanes, complemented by rail and truck corridors:
- **Southbound River Routes:** Barge convoys travel downstream on the Illinois River, entering the **Mississippi River** and proceeding to **Gulf of Mexico** ports (e.g., New Orleans, Gulfport). This corridor handles the bulk of **grain exports** and **coal imports** destined for maritime shipment.
- **Northbound River Routes:** Upstream movements deliver **construction aggregates**, **fertilizer**, and **manufactured goods** to inland markets such as **St. Louis**, **Cincinnati**, and **Chicago** via the Illinois and Mississippi rivers.
- **Rail Corridor:** The CN/Illinois Central line links Tamms to the **Midwest rail network**, enabling rapid trans‑shipment of **intermodal containers** and **automotive parts** to the **Great Lakes** and **Northern Plains**.
- **Truck Access:** State Route 3 and US 51 provide highway connections to regional distribution centers, supporting **just‑in‑time** deliveries of perishable and high‑value cargo.
**Major Cargo Types** (2022‑2024 averages):
| Commodity | Volume (metric tons) | Primary Destination |
|-----------|----------------------|---------------------|
| Corn & Soybeans | 1.1 M | Gulf export terminals (New Orleans, Corpus Christi) |
| Bituminous Coal | 850 K | Midwestern power plants (Indiana, Ohio) |
| Limestone & Aggregates | 420 K | Construction markets (St. Louis, Chicago) |
| Fertilizer (N‑P‑K) | 210 K | Regional agribusinesses |
| Steel Coil & Pipe | 120 K | Manufacturing hubs (Gary, IN) |
The port’s ability to handle **mixed‑cargo barge trains**—combining grain, coal, and aggregates on a single tow—offers a unique logistical flexibility prized by carriers seeking **economies of scale**. For further technical details on the Illinois River navigation system, see the **U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ navigation project page**[^1].
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[^1]: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Illinois River Navigation Project. https://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/Illinois-River/
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
USTMM
Country
United States
Province / Region
Illinois
Latitude
37.235050
Longitude
-89.270081
Timezone
America/Chicago
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Tamms?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Tamms is USTMM.
Where is Port of Tamms located?
The Port of Tamms is located in United States, Illinois. Its coordinates are 37.2351°N, -89.2701°E.
What time zone is Port of Tamms in?
Port of Tamms 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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