The notion of making Tulsa a port city on the MKARNS evolved during the early 1960s, as the Corps of Engineers was constructing the massive waterway. A delegation of 23 Tulsa business people travelled to Ohio to evaluate the impact of the effects of the Ohio River Valley navigation systems on regional business growth. They concluded that it would stimulate business in Oklahoma, and convinced other Tulsa business leaders to support the concept. The Metropolitan Tulsa Chamber of Commerce appointed Early Cass to chair a committee, thereafter known as the City of Tulsa–Rogers County Port Authority. The port received its first commercial shipment in January 1971, It was officially opened for business on February 20, 1970 and was formally dedicated by President Richard M. Nixon on June 5, 1971. This port is the largest in Oklahoma. It is also one of the largest, most inland river-ports in the United States. It is located from the Tulsa International Airport, and from downtown Tulsa. It is a fully equipped multi-modal transportation center served by both the BNSF Railroad and the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad. The port also provides rail switching services with three dedicated Port-owned switch engines. In 1971, the port handled 86,654 tons of cargo. In 2013, it handled over 2.7 million tons. In addition to the many private terminals for grain, fertilizer, and break-bulk cargo located along the port channel, the port operates a 200-ton capacity overhead crane as well as a roll-on/roll-off dock. In 2016 the port added a new 720 foot dock accommodating a rail line and multiple cranes. In 2020 the Tulsa Port of Catoosa received a $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration for railroad crossing repairs, freight rail infrastructure, and interchange improvements at the multimodal shipping complex and industrial park.
Facilities
The port has five public terminals that can transfer inbound and outbound bulk freight between barges, trucks and railroad cars.
Dry cargo terminals are owned by Tulsa Port of Catoosa. The dry break bulk cargo dock is operated by Tuloma Stevedoring, Inc. and primarily handles commodity iron and steel products. The dock is long with a wide concrete apron, and has various cranes and forklifts. It also features a overhead traveling bridge crane.
Dry bulk freight terminal is a public terminal operated by Gavilon Fertilizer LLC, and which can handle materials ranging from pig iron to fertilizer. This terminal has two pedestal cranes and an outbound conveyor loading system. Both open and covered storage areas are available.
Roll-on/Roll-off low water wharf or "Project Cargo" is a public wharf operated by the Port Authority very large cargo (e.g. certain process equipment used in oil refineries. Often these cannot be shipped easily by truck or rail because of their weight or their overall dimensions. Sometimes these are shipped internationally by sea, and must be transferred to or from ocean-going vessels at the Port of Houston or the Port of New Orleans.
Bulk liquids terminals handle such commodities as chemicals, asphalt, refined petroleum products and molasses. There are seven such terminals at the Port.
Change of leadership
Robert W. Portiss, who has been director of the Tulsa Port of Catoosa since July 1, 1984, retired on January 31, 2017. He was replaced by David Yarborough, who was hired as Operations Manager in 2006, and promoted to Deputy Director in 2008.
