Maritime Education Center Open for the Public

The Tulsa Port of Catoosa opened the doors to a new Maritime Education Center on May 2nd.  The MEC is an interactive forum to educate students and the general public about the importance of water transport to the economy.

“Our Port staff has been working on this education center for a significant amount of time,” said Bob Portiss, Port Director. “It is vitally important for everyone to know the value of our Port and the inland waterway system.”

The Maritime Education Center features interactive video kiosks where visitors can learn about the Port’s history and economic impact on Oklahoma. There are also floor maps highlighting the inland waterway system and the Port's location in global trade.  Facts about the Port and artifacts from companies that utilize the Tulsa Port of Catoosa are incorporated throughout the center as well. 

The space used for the education center previously housed the Arkansas River Historical Society Museum. The new education center expands on that concept to show how states along the Arkansas River rely on the Tulsa Port of Catoosa. 

“Our story isn’t just about a port on the Arkansas River,” said Portiss. “It is about an international port, providing efficient shipping that keeps lowers transportation costs in Oklahoma.  It also gives our state the ability to ship cargo that could not be shipped using other forms of transportation because of its size and weight.” 

Admission at the Maritime Education Center is free and people of all ages are welcome. Some Tulsa area schools have already taken advantage of the education center for field trips. 

“Our future business leaders in the community are already taking a renewed interest in the waterway,” said David G. Page, Chairman of the City of Tulsa-Rogers County Port Authority. “The Maritime Education Center demonstrates the impact the waterway has on the entire region.”