“Both of these customers are long term,” said Kip Middendorf, Business Manager of all the affiliated companies and part owner of Tanco Clark Maritime. “This is good for both Tanco and the ports.”

At the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor, Tanco Terminals built two new tanks for Seneca Petroleum, an existing customer. Based in Crestwood, Ill., Seneca Petroleum is a family-owned business that manufactures and distributes liquid asphalt products.

Tanco Terminals invested $800,000 to build the two tanks, which hold approximately 630,000 and 40,000 gallons respectively.

“The new tanks allow a greater asphalt blending ability,” said Ken Long, operator of Tanco Terminals and part owner of Tanco Clark Maritime. “This results in more asphalt blends.”

These new blends help Seneca meet changing state and federal road requirements and keep it competitive with other asphalt companies in the region.

Long said the barge access is very important for Seneca’s operation. Since the new tanks were built, Seneca has expanded its shipping area served by the Burns Harbor location to include Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.

At Tanco Clark Maritime, the tanks were built for new customer Transammonia. Transammonia, one of the world’s largest private fertilizer merchandising and trading company with offices around the world, was only selling its products through distributors in southern Indiana and Kentucky. Since working with Tanco Clark Maritime, it now sells direct to the customers.

In addition to two liquid fertilizer tanks that hold a combined over two million gallons, Tanco Clark Maritime built a pipeline and automated truck loading tracks, which allow trucks to load 24 hours a day. The cost for the project was $1.6 million.

For both Tanco facilities, the new tanks became operational during 2007, making 2008 the first full year or operation. The expansions created a new full-time job as well as seasonal part-time help at each location.

“Tanco Terminals is off to a great start in 2008 with liquid bulk tonnage volumes at the port well ahead of 2007,” said Peter Laman, port director at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor.

Built in 1978, Tanco Terminals was the fifth business to locate at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor. When looking to expand in the Louisville area, Tanco chose a familiar partner.

“Our good experience at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor led us into entering a lease at the Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville,” Middendorf said. “We have a great partnership with the Ports of Indiana. We enjoy a significant competitive advantage by operating at the ports.”