Virginia Port Volume Up 24%

The Port of Virginia in February processed 220,726 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a 24 percent increase when compared with February 2015.

“Last February’s volumes were affected by several snowstorms, but it is important to note that the strength of our increase was far greater than the impact of last year’s weather,” said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority.

In February, the port saw increases in rail volume, up 51 percent; truck volume, up 12 percent; and ship calls, up 10 percent. The new rubber-tire gantry cranes that were delivered in early January were placed into service in February and helped to build throughput at the rail operations at VIG and Norfolk International Terminals.

Richmond Marine Terminal’s (RMT) volume was up 42 percent and Virginia Inland Port (VIP) was up 96 percent. Reinhart stated, “Richmond and VIP are showing growth and demonstrating their overall importance to our capacity to efficiently handle cargo outside of our primary facilities and meet the needs of our customers.”

Reinhart added that there are still opportunities for improvement, saying, “While we handled a significant amount of volume, we did experience some deterioration of service levels at Virginia International Gateway (VIG) that created a challenge for our motor carriers: corrective measures are being taken and implemented.”

On a fiscal-year basis the port’s TEU volume is up 5 percent; rail volume, up 11 percent; truck volume, up 2 percent; and ship calls, up 2 percent.