Virginia sees record container volume in June

   The Port of Virginia saw container volume rise 11.2 percent year-on-year in June to 168,430 TEUs, the best month in the history of the port, Virginia Port Authority Executive Director Jerry Bridges said.
   Year-to-date, the port has handled 994,727 TEUs, an increase of 5.4 percent over the first half of 2011.
   Total rail containers handled in June were 30,954, a 9.3 percent increase on June 2011. For the first half of the year, rail container traffic reached 179,748, an increase of 12 percent.
   The number of containers moved between the Port of Richmond and the Hampton Roads Harbor on the 64 Express barge service in June was 803, an increase of 147 percent compared with May. The year-to-date total for the barge is up 104 percent: 4,797 containers versus 2,248 containers handled during the same period in 2011.
   The port said the increase in business has led Virginia International Terminals Inc. (VIT), the VPA’s private terminal operator, to expand weekday gate hours at APM Terminals in Portsmouth to help motor carriers.
   “In response to double-digit growth over the past few months driven by three new vessel services calling the port, VIT will expand its gate hours at APMT an additional three hours, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday,” said Joe Ruddy, VIT’s chief operating officer. “As we approach the traditional peak season period, I anticipate volumes to remain strong through November. That being the case, we will be forthcoming with a plan to address gate hours at Norfolk International Terminals in the very near future.”
   The port’s breakbulk tonnage fell 24.6 percent in June to 34,347 tons, but is up 11 percent year-to-date at 187,762 tons. – Eric Johnson