Port of Virginia Sets TEU Record in May
The Port of Virginia said it set a record for 20-foot equivalent-unit volume in May, eclipsing the previous record that was set in March.
The port handled 230,511 TEUs, a 13% increase from the same month last year, and truck moves jumped 21.5% to 87,455. March’s previous record was 229,000 TEUs.
For the calendar year, TEU volume is up 9.5% compared with the same period last year; truck moves are up 12%; vessel calls are up 2%; rail containers are up 8%; Virginia Inland Port volume is down 3.8%; barge containers are down 5%; and vehicle units are up 48%.
Vessel calls were up 0.6%, rail containers rose 3%, Virginia Inland Port volume slipped 0.3% and barge containers declined 4.5%.
“We are on pace to show significant growth — and set records — for both the calendar and fiscal year,” said John Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “So our effort is to continue to reinvest in facilities, equipment and people to be able to deliver consistency to all port users and improve service for motor carriers.”
“We continue to be tested with these mounting monthly volumes; our busy peak season is not far off, and we anticipate that we will see cargo volume that exceeds May’s result,” Reinhart said. “We continue to prepare and are in a better position to strategically act to handle volume and build velocity with consistent service.”
Some of the port’s reinvestments include:
• A temporary yard/stack for rail containers at Virginia International Gateway, which is set for completion at the end of June, that will create more velocity in the main stack for motor carriers;
• The addition of 1,000 new chassis to Hampton Roads Chassis Pool by summer’s end — 500 lease and 500 purchased;
• An investment of $40 million-plus on container handling equipment.
• Implementation of an automated gate at Norfolk International Terminals;
• Continuing Saturday gate hours at VIG, NIT and the Pinners Point Container Yard;
• The addition of several new members to the port’s operations team; and
• Improvements and repairs to the berth at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal, along with maintenance dredging to ensure 43 feet of alongside depth.
