Duquesne Wharf's unique capabilities and location provide coal producers in the Pittsburgh Seam and Central Appalachian Region access to Great Lakes shipping. Coal barges traveling the Monongahela, Big Sandy, Kanawha and Ohio Rivers transfer their loads to rail at Duquesne Wharf for daily delivery to rail carriers serving lake ports.

Augmenting Duquesne Wharf's location is a dual unloading system that offers unparalleled capacity, speed and flexibility. This system, which handles multiple barges simultaneously and provides uninterrupted operation, includes a continuous bucket unloader and a state-of-the-art, hydraulic equilibrium crane. The continuous bucket unloader, in place since 1978, unloads coal from standard and stumbo width barges at a rate of 1500 NTPH, or 12,000 NT per shift.

Replacing an electromechanical cable-operated crane, the equilibrium crane was installed in 1999 to primarily accommodate jumbo barges as well as backup standard and stumbo width barge unloading. The equilibrium crane features a 24-cubic yard hydraulic bucket for transfer of coal at a rate of 750 NTPH, or 6000 NT per shift. The combined capacity of the bucket unloader and equilibrium crane is 18,000 NT per shift -- capable of delivering an annual throughput of 8.5 million NT.