The Port of Virginia, on the east US, handled a total of 245,933 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in April, marking the busiest April in the port’s history. The strong cargo performance was driven by an increase of more than 22% in loaded import containers, which led to increase in truck, rail and barge volumes.
The port’s March volumes were disrupted by the Chinese New Year, which led to the late arrival of vessels and blank sailings: April’s import volume reflected a return of the cargo.
We knew April was going to be a productive month and as we move toward peak season, this and higher volume levels will become normal, but we are more prepared for these increases than ever before. We are just weeks from completion at Virginia International Gateway (VIG) and debuting this world-class facility in its entirety. The productivity and efficiency we are seeing there is going to be instrumental in managing and effectively processing peak season volumes,
…says John F. Reinhart, the CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority.
As volume grows, the amount cargo moving over the port’s inland operations, Virginia Inland Port (VIP) and Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT), is increasing in parallel.
Key figures – April 2019
- Total TEUs – 245,933, up 12.2%
- Loaded Export TEUs – 85,378, down 1%
- Loaded Import TEUs – 119,266, up 22.2%
- Total Containers – 139,004, up 11.3%
- Breakbulk (tons) – 13,018, up 4.1%
- Virginia Inland Port Containers – 3,272, up 12.6%
- Total Rail Containers – 52,052, up 18%
- Total Truck Containers – 82,047, up 6.8%
- Total Barge Containers – 4,905, up 23.6%
- Richmond Barge Containers – 2,957, up 30.2%
- Vehicle Units – 1,797, up 132.2%
Increase
- At VIP volume was up nearly 13%, or 367 containers, and at RMT volume was up more than 30%, or 2,957 containers.
- Rail volume was up 18 %, or more than 52,000 containers,
- Total barge volume was up nearly 24%, or 936 containers
To date, Virginia International Gateway has seen:
- 13 new container stacks
- 26 new rail-mounted gantry cranes (RMGs
- four new truck gates,
- a new terminal operating system,
- the berth lengthening by nearly 800 linear feet and
- four new ship-to-shore cranes placed into service.
The last step is completing the second phase of the on-dock rail yard.
The expansion at Norfolk International Terminals is progressing according to schedule.
There are 12 new stacks served by 24 new RMGs already in service.
Work on phase II of the stack yard expansion (six stacks) began in December 2018 and is nearing completion; work on phase III (12 stacks) begins this month.
