“It’s time; I’ve been here for 34 years and it is time,” Dorto said. “You always hear, ‘leave on a high note’ and we just completed the second best year in our history, so I think this is the right time.”

Dorto joined the Virginia Port Authority in 1979 as the director of trade development shortly after all of the municipally-owned general cargo terminals in the Hampton Roads Harbor were unified under the VPA flag.

Nine years later Dorto moved over to the VPA’s private terminal operating company, VIT, where he eventually became its chief executive officer. Dorto, throughout his career in Virginia, has had the responsibility of negotiating contracts with global steamship lines that call at The Port of Virginia. It was Dorto who was instrumental in getting 95 percent of the steamship lines calling the port signed to long-term, 10-year contracts.

“Joe has contributed greatly to the long term success the port has enjoyed and he has played a key role in crafting contracts and agreements that have helped make the port the major economic driver it has become,” said William H. Fralin, chairman of the VPA’s Board of Commissioners.

With a 45 tonne lifting capacity, the new SMV 4531 TB5 HLT features a hybrid diesel/electric driveline, an electrified hydraulic lifting system, and a super capacitor based energy storage – significantly cutting fuel consumption and emissions.

Estimated fuel consumption will be around 10 liters/hour during normal handling of fully loaded containers, significantly less than with conventional reach stackers. This is achieved by electrifying all flows of energy across the driveline, the hydraulic lifting system and the energy storage system. Its unique features will also provide improved acceleration performance and lifting response to driver commands.

Tony Rooney, Cooper SH Director, commented: “This project has been on-going for around 2 years and we are delighted that it has now entered it’s field-test mode. It is further proof that SMV (Konecranes) truly are the innovators within the industry having brought to market such designs as glass ‘wrap-around’ pillar less operator cabs, load sensing hydraulics, ECO drive fuel management technology, which competitors have since followed, and now this new hybrid technology.”

Says Anders Nilsson, Technical Director, Konecranes Lift Trucks: “Propulsion and lifting are powered by dedicated electric motors that can all operate in regenerative mode. The energy generated from braking and load lowering is recovered and stored for later re-use. This translates into a significant reduction in diesel fuel consumption and environmental impact. Meanwhile, productivity is increased in terms of quicker response and higher acceleration.”

The new hybrid Konecranes reach stacker has been and will continue being field-tested at the Port of Helsingborg’s container terminal which is one of Sweden’s leading container terminals and operates a significant fleet of Konecranes units.

In results announced at the SCPA’s regular meeting, container volume in Charleston was up 9.6 percent in calendar year 2012, with 1.5 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEU) handled at the port’s two container terminals. Volume was up 13 percent in December compared to the same month last year, with 124,120 TEUs traded across the docks. Charleston also was the fastest-growing East Coast container port January through November, the latest month of volume data available from competing ports.

“These results are encouraging and a testament to the professionalism of our staff and the entire maritime community,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the SCPA.

“However, we have very ambitious goals and a $1.3-billion capital plan to implement in this decade, so we must continue to grow above the market.”

Midway through the fiscal year that began July 1, container traffic has grown nearly 12 percent on the strength of loaded exports and the performance of new carrier services that have expanded Charleston’s reach to foreign markets, such as Vietnam and Australia.

Newsome described that the SCPA is continuing its aggressive approach to cargo development across segments, including transloading operations of agricultural and forest products, growing refrigerated cargo and imported containers related to e-commerce retailers.

Breakbulk pier tonnage in Charleston and Georgetown made substantial gains in 2012. The Port of Charleston handled more than 1 million tons of non-containerized freight over the past 12 months, a nearly 26 percent increase from the previous year. Drivers of this growth included power-generation equipment and BMW exports at Columbus Street Terminal, as well as additional activity at Union Pier, such as steel billets, and at Veterans Terminal.

In Georgetown, activity for the calendar year was up 17 percent, with 532,472 pier tons handled in 2012. Bulk cement, petroleum coke and steel are top cargoes.

In the fiscal year to date (July through December), total breakbulk at the two ports was up ­­22 percent.

Newsome highlighted progress on key initiatives, including the South Carolina Inland Port, which has been met with “incredible interest” from both existing and prospective port users, he stated. He also predicted that the SCPA’s ocean carrier customers will continue to emphasize big ship deployments in 2013, and that Charleston is at a distinct advantage given the port’s deep shipping channels and role in handling heavier shipments from the export-rich Southeast.

“As we continue the momentum on our next harbor deepening project, I expect further growth from our port in exports, especially as we further develop transloading facilities and our state’s intermodal rail network,” Newsome said.

New expediting measures through the Corps of Engineers as well as inclusion in the Administration’s We Can’t Wait initiative mean that the deepening of Charleston Harbor to 50 feet is slated for completion by 2019, or five years earlier than initially projected.

The new record of 1,059,740 tonnes was set on Tuesday 15 January 2013 and beat the previous record set in June 2012 by more than 19,000 tonnes. It was also the first time six cape-sized vessels sailed on a single tide to achieve the milestone. Deputy Harbour Master Leon Strydom said the new record could not have been achieved without the precise execution by the whole operations team.

“This achievement is yet another milestone in the port and is certain to repeat itself through the determination of all port users, to promote our vision to be the world’s leading port, helping to create a sustainable region,” he said.