Port of Virginia uses federal grant for reefer barge, terminal forklift

The mid-Atlantic port installed a 40-plug central power unit on the Richmond Express barge, as well as a specialized, heavy-lift forklift with a 52,000-lb. lift capacity at the Richmond MarineTerminal this week using federal grant funds.    The Port of Virginia received a grant from the federal government that it used on projects aimed at expediting cargo movements through the Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT) and for refrigerated cargo on the Richmond Express barge service, the port said Tuesday.
   This week, the mid-Atlantic port installed a portable, 40-plug central power unit that can be mounted on the Richmond Express barge, as well as a specialized, heavy-lift forklift with a 52,000-lb. lift capacity that will be used in the cargo operation at RMT. Both pieces of equipment were purchased using $446,747 in grant money from the federal government’s Marine Highway Projects grant program, with the power unit costing $222,700 and the forklift $373,234, the port said. The port will contribute $119,186 in matching funds.
   Reinhart said the expanded refrigerated cargo capability on the barge is part of the port’s larger strategic growth plan in combination with the port’s participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Southeast In-Transit Cold Treatment Pilot program.
   “We have several current and potential users of RMT that are in the food and beverage, refrigerated and discount grocery industry that are expressing interest in using the barge to move reefer (refrigerated) cargo,” said John. F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “The power unit enables us to provide a more comprehensive level of barge service to current and potential customers and continue to serve as a catalyst for commerce in the Richmond metro area and beyond,” said Reinhart.
   “An advantage to using RMT is that we can now provide services – using the forklift — such as unloading and loading of containers to the maximum allowable weight. Those heavy containers are taken off of I-64 and safely moved west on the barge and when they reach Richmond, we now have the equipment to handle the heavy lift,” said Reinhart.
   According to the port, the Marine Highway Projects program is administered by the U.S. Maritime Administration and focuses on expanding existing service on a designated Marine Highway Route that provides new modal choices to shippers of cargo, reduces transportation costs, provides public benefits including reduced air emissions, reduced road maintenance costs and improved safety and resiliency.