THE Port of Virginia's container throughput rose by eight per cent year on year in August to a record 258,821 TEU
THE Port of Virginia's container throughput rose by eight per cent year on year in August to a record 258,821 TEU. 'August was the second most productive month in our history and in the first two months of fiscal year 2019 our TEU volume has increased by more than 36,600 units, or about eight per cent (compared with FY18),' said Virginia Port Authority CEO John Reinhart, reported the American Journal of Transportation.
'In addition to peak season volumes, we are seeing some inbound cargo that is moving in anticipation of expanded tariffs on select imports. Overall, our team from Virginia Inland port to Richmond to the Norfolk harbour handled the volume with efficiency and performed well.'
August's growth was driven by exports: loaded exports increased by 11 per cent while import volumes rose by 3.4 per cent. The port's inland operations also grew, as volumes at Virginia Inland port (VIP) and Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT) were up 21 per cent and 58 per cent, respectively.
Truck volume grew by five per cent, rail was up 10 per cent and total barge volume rose by 27 per cent.
Mr Reinhart said as the port expands its container handling capacity and capability at Virginia International Gateway (VIG) and Norfolk International Terminals (NIT), volumes, efficiency and service levels will rise.
At Virginia International Gateway all 26 of the new rail-mounted gantry cranes have been delivered and the operations team is testing the equipment and preparing to bring it into service.
'The last stack at VIG comes online at VIG in January 2019 but all others will be operational by October,' said Mr Reinhart.
'At NIT we took delivery of six more RMGs this past weekend [September 8-9] and the first stack is on schedule to be completed the end of September. We're making significant progress and are tracking for completion of work at VIG by early summer 2019 and summer 2020 for NIT.'
