“Our message about the strength of our rail connections to critical Midwest markets is resonating with the market,” said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “Rail volume at the port is up 15 percent and 10 percent for the calendar and fiscal year, respectively.”
In addition to the strong rail business, Virginia Inland Port (VIP) and Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT) also showed growth in March, in comparison with March 2015. Container volume at RMT grew by 58 percent and VIP realized an increase of 45 percent when compared with same period.
“Since Richmond Marine Terminal has been under our management, this is the first month that volumes there have exceeded 2,000 units,” Reinhart said. “Richmond and the inland port are showing their capabilities and potential and they will be vital as we go forward with our plans to significantly increase capacity at our primary, deep-water terminals over the next three to four years.”
March’s TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) volume was down 7 percent and resulted in a 13 percent reduction in gate moves when compared with March 2015. Reinhart said the March TEU volumes were expected.
“Last March’s strong volume was driven by inclement weather at the end of February (2015) that pushed vessel calls into March and by uncertainty on the West Coast that fueled temporary cargo growth on the East Coast,” Reinhart said. “However, March 2016 TEU and container volumes were the second highest March in the history of the port (after March 2015), so our volumes are still solid and our fiscal year results are 3.6 percent above the same period last year. Further, the service times for the motor carriers calling our terminals improved as well.
Port of Virginia sets all-time monthly rail volume mark in March
