Port continues RMT investments; federal grant allows for power-pack, equipment purchases

In recent weeks the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that the port will receive $189,840 from the U. S. Maritime Administration’s America’s Marine Highway Programme; Virginia was one of nine grant recipients. The federal grant will be matched with $47,460 from the port to purchase a large portable generator capable of providing continuous power to multiple refrigerated containers during transit, four large steel bins used for storing equipment used to secure containers and a specialised rack for storing and transporting the steel bins. This equipment, said John Reinhart, CEO and Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority, will provide a more efficient level of service to current and future customers. “There is high demand for reefer service to RMT and the addition of this power pack [generator] will enable the port to meet the needs of the cargo owners using the barge,” Reinhart said. “We now have refrigerated capacity on both barges, which is important to the owners of cold cargo and to the growth of our reefer business. “The storage bins and rack will create greater efficiency during on- and off-loading. It takes about 40 minutes to offload and load the steel bins at each stop and during this time the containers cannot be lifted. The rack will bring everything off at once allowing us to get to work more quickly and provide greater service to the cargo owners.” Two years ago a similar power pack was purchased using federal grant money from the Marine Highway Projects grant programme and matching money from the port. In 2018, the port received funding under the America’s Marine Highway Programme to buy a new – second – barge, called the Richmond Express, to support the service’s growing demand. The second barge allows for the flexibility to increase the number of weekly sailings, based on demand, and a more regular maintenance schedule. “We are investing at RMT to create efficiency and more opportunities for cargo owners,” Reinhart said. “We are grateful for the federal government’s recognition of the effectiveness of the barge service and the growing importance of RMT in America’s Marine Highway Programme.” In 2019, the thrice-weekly barge service moved more than 37,700 containers, an increase of nearly 20 percent vs. 2018.