Gov. Ralph Northam today announced the completion of the Port of Virginia’s $320 million expansion at the Virginia International Gateway container terminal.
The completion of this project represents a significant milestone as the Port works to increase cargo and container capacity at its two major terminals, with an overall goal of increasing capacity by 40 percent.
“The completion of the VIG expansion enables the Port to move cargo more safely, efficiently, and sustainably than ever before, and cements Virginia’s status as home to a world-class port,” said Northam. “That reputation will help drive economic investment and job creation across the Commonwealth.”
The 800-foot extension of the berth at VIG will allow the terminal to service as many as three Ultra-Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) simultaneously. VIG now boasts 26 new rail-mounted gantry cranes as well, which support 13 new container stacks, creating more room to stack and sort containers. In January, four new 170-foot-tall ship-to-shore cranes arrived at the Port. These cranes are the largest on the U.S. East Coast and will be able to service container vessels, regardless of their size, for decades to come.
“The Port of Virginia is a catalyst for commerce, generating $88 billion of economic impact annually throughout the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine. “The completion of this project will enable the Port to continue to connect Virginia’s economy and America’s businesses and consumers to markets around the globe.”
Throughout the expansion at VIG, the Port maintained service levels, handling a record-setting three million TEUs of cargo in FY2019. As the container terminal expansion was completed ahead of time, the terminal is well positioned to handle peak season volumes.
“Today we celebrate a major milestone in the most ambitious construction project ever undertaken at The Port of Virginia,” said Virginia Port Authority CEO and Executive Director John Reinhart. “Construction at Virginia International Gateway is complete. Thanks in large part to the Administration and the General Assembly, we’ve made the investments that our customers have asked for, and we are ready for peak season – and beyond. We are excited about taking this next step on a path to sustainability and success that will help drive job creation and investments across the Commonwealth.”
In addition to achieving best-in-class results, the VIG terminal is seeing turn times for motor carriers calling at the terminal well below the industry standard of one hour. This is in part due to a newly-implemented reservation system, which is driving an even flow of trucks through the gates each day and helping terminal staff prepare for the next day, as well as increasing to four the number of lanes at the truck-processing gate. Additionally, productivity increases can be linked to a larger rail yard, greater capacity for refrigerated cargo, and technology advancements.
“With the continued support of Gov. Northam and the General Assembly, we have rebuilt The Port of Virginia for the new century,” said John G. Milliken, Chairman of the Virginia Port Authority Board of Commissioners. “Virginia International Gateway is a world-class terminal that is among the most modern, efficient, and productive in the Western Hemisphere. The industry is taking notice and our message is clear: Virginia can handle your cargo, accommodate your largest ships, and move your product economically and quickly to its destination. Virginia wants your business.”
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