The Port of Virginia is nearing the end of fiscal year 2018 and the total volume of TEUs, is 3.6 percent, or 83,000 units, ahead of where it was at this time last year.

In April, the port processed 219,281 TEUs, which is a dip of 2.6 percent, or 5,900 fewer units when compared with last April. Cargo volumes at Virginia Inland Port (VIP) and Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT) were up 5.6 and 15.5 percent, respectively. Barge volume was up 6 percent, rail was off by five percent and truck volume declined slightly, down 1.7 percent.

“We are showing modest growth for the fiscal year and we are still trying to reach consistency on a month-to-month basis as volumes are a somewhat unpredictable,” said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority (VPA). “We expect volumes to increase, according to forecast, and remain steady as summer’s peak season nears. Our focus is on reliable delivery of service as we go forward in our capacity expansion projects at Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) and Virginia International Gateway (VIG).

“Our performance at the gates – primarily VIG – is regaining consistency, but we still have work to do. We continue to listen to our motor carriers, keep a close watch on operations and look for those areas where we can improve. All this is taking place as construction progresses, delivery of new cranes picks up pace and we take meaningful strides toward our goal of having the VIG expansion complete in 2019.”

The port’s fiscal-year (July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018) volumes continue to track ahead of last year: VIP volume is up nearly 4 percent; RMT, up nearly 17 percent; total barge traffic up 5.4 percent; truck volume up 6.6 percent; vehicle units down 7.2 percent; breakbulk tonnage up nearly 2 percent; and rail volume was stable.

“We are planning a May 12 launch of our new terminal operating system at VIG and this piece of critical technology infrastructure is really the driver of the terminal,” Reinhart said. “This system seamlessly links together all of the terminal’s operations and allows for greater data sharing and collection, which will drive efficiency.”

The N4 terminal operating system is already in use at NIT, Portsmouth Marine Terminal and Richmond Marine Terminal. Having a common terminal operating system will allow for the expansion of the port’s motor carrier reservation system and more data sharing via PRO-PASS, the port’s web-based hub for motor carrier resources and operational information. In addition, the port will begin introducing new capacity at VIG with three new container stacks coming online the week of May 14.

“This will increase useful capacity at VIG by 20 percent and in June three more stacks will come online,” Reinhart said. “At VIG, we are a week away from beginning to put our investment to work.”