Container carriers boost Port of Richmond volume

Container carriers boost Port of Richmond volume The Port of Richmond said it handled 464,279 tons of cargo in 2007, a 4 percent increase over 2006.
   The port said container traffic, as measured in TEUs, rose 23 percent over the prior year to 51,557 both because of new service by Eimskip Shipping Line that connects the port with Canada and Iceland, as well as an 11 percent growth in traffic by Independent Container Line.
   Total waterborne tonnage was up 11 percent to 430,150 tons. The port also handled about 34,000 of domestic rail cargo, acting as a rail unloading and transshipment center for breakbulk cargo such as steel for shippers in central Virginia using CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern rail service.
   Martin J. Moynihan, executive director, said the port is continuing to work with steamship agency T. Parker Host of Norfolk on seeking seed funding and cargo commitments for a proposed short sea barge service that would connect Richmond and Hampton Roads terminals.
   Moynihan said the port believes there is sufficient demand by local companies in industries such as chemicals, tobacco, and machinery, to support a barge service that would shuttle ocean containers between Richmond and the Norfolk area.