Port of Virginia posts strong March

The Port of Virginia posted its second strongest March on record, processing 240,035 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during the month, officials said this week.

New capacity at the port helped boost performance, as volumes remained above the 2018 average of 238,000 TEUs, despite falling 5 percent compared to March 2018, officials also said. Total barge volume at the port's inland operations rose nearly 37 percent while truck volume was off 10 percent and rail volume was flat.

The port's recent expansion activities include 13 new container stacks serviced by 26 rail-mounted gantry cranes (RMGs), four new ship-to-shore cranes, and rail yard expansion at Virginia International Gateway (VIG). A new truck reservation system (TRS) is reducing turn time for motor carriers and improving flow at the gates, port officials said, noting that VIG expansion will be complete by June.

"The second phase of the rail yard is the final piece to be delivered and that will be ready in late May — by June, we'll be fully-operational at VIG," said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. "The product we're creating is world-class and we are beginning to see results in terms of improved turn-times for motor carriers, better overall cargo flow and reduced dwell times for rail boxes."

Expansion continues at the port's Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) as well. Twelve of 30 new container stacks have been delivered and are helping to improve performance, officials said.