The Port of Virginia is celebrating a big milestone this week. How big? $320 million big.
The massive expansion at the Virginia International Gateway (VIG) container terminal is officially complete, Governor Ralph Northam announced Tuesday.
The berth at VIG has been extended by 800 feet, allowing the terminal to accomodate three Ultra-Large Container Vessels at a time. VIG has 26 new rail-mounted gantry cranes and four new 170-foot-tall ship-to-shore cranes. These are the largest of their kind on the East Coast.
“The completion of the VIG expansion enables the Port to move cargo more safely, efficiently, and sustainably than ever before and cements Virginia’s position as home to a world-class port,” said Governor Northam.
The port says the project was finished under budget and ahead of schedule, which means it’s ready to handle peak-season volumes.
The VIG construction is part of a larger, $700 million project that started in February 2017. The goal is increase capacity at the Port of Virginia’s two primary container terminals by 40 percent. The improvements at VIG are already showing positive results.
The terminal is seeing better-than-ever turnaround times for trucks moving in and out. A new reservation system, expanded lanes at the truck-processing gate, a larger rail yard, and great capacity for refrigerated cargo have all contributed.
The Port of Virginia is currently the third-largest container port on the East Coast.
-Meg Walburn Viviano
