Tulsa Ports Contribute to Local Job Market and International Commerce 

On May 29, Tulsa Ports of Catoosa and Inola hosted a media event to highlight its facilities and storied institution.  

Representatives from televisions stations – KOTV Channel 6 (CBS) and KTUL Channel 8 (ABC) – and other media outlets, including The Oklahoma Eagle and the Tulsa World, attended the event. The session began with a heartfelt welcome from Sheila Shook, director of workforce and education, who gave an informative presentation of the port’s history.  

In 1946, constant flooding in the Arkansas River led two senators, Robert S. Kerr (Okla.) and John L. McClellan (Ark.), to pass a congressional bill for the creation of the Port. As a result, Congress passed the Rivers and Harbors Act.  

In 1967, the federal government set aside $21.2 million (equal to $199.4 million in today’s dollars) to purchase the land and build the port. By 1970, the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System was fully funded and running. On June 5, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon christened the port with a speech calling the Port of Catoosa “Oklahoma’s Seacoast.”  


The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System is a vital waterway system that facilitates barges and cargo transit to ports from the Tulsa Ports of Catoosa and Inola to ports worldwide. (Photo by Camila Abdusattorova)

Since its opening, more than 82 million tons of freight have passed through the port. Transporting things by water is a cost-effective and efficient method. A single barge can transport up to 1,500 tons of cargo, which is equivalent to the amount of cargo in 60 semi-trucks. This makes transporting via water environmentally beneficial as well as a cost-effective solution.  

After the presentation on the port and its history, media representatives were given a tour of the port’s facilities.  

Tulsa Port of Catoosa contains a 200-acre industrial park where 70 international and local companies operate.  

Among the products transported to and from the port is steel, which is connected to 2,500 jobs through the Port’s industries. Dry fertilizer, liquid products, product cargo, wheat, and soybean products are frequently shipped as well. The tour presented the behind-the-scenes process of product shipment as well as the port’s capacity to meet shipping requirements.   


Towboats similar to this one are usually pushing barges along the Ports of Catoosa and Inola. They are crucial for the movement of cargo. (Photo by Camila Abdusattorova)

During the tour, Shook talked about the economic importance of the port and its role in linking Oklahoma to the international arena. The port provides thousands of jobs and new opportunities for everyone. The port has an economic impact of $300 million annually to the state of Oklahoma.  

The port’s executives discussed ongoing and planned initiatives that will raise the port’s profile and expand it. The Port of Inola, the second Tulsa Ports facility, is a 2,500-acre industrial park that is expanding and has access to rail and barge. The industries being targeted include a solar panel component assembly and manufacturing company, and producers of plastic, resin, steel, and iron.  

The Tulsa Ports of Catoosa and Inola’s media event effectively demonstrated the port’s crucial position in the local and national logistics economy. The program included insightful information on the port’s history, functions, and prospects, demonstrating why it is a vital resource for the nation’s and state’s economy.  

The port is dedicated to promoting economic growth, sustainability, and acting as a doorway to opportunities as it develops and grows. The media event highlighted the port’s significance not only in trade and transportation but also in economic growth and job opportunities, inspiring as well as informing attendees. 

For additional information on Tulsa Ports of Catoosa and Inola and career opportunities, check out its website, https://tulsaports.com/about/ or contact (918) 266-2291.  

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