Port of Virginia Blog

Winter Storm Advisory Notice

Norfolk -- Winter storm advisory affecting Virginia Port Authority terminals in the Hampton Roads area. Terminals affected include Norfolk International Terminals, Portsmouth Marine Terminal and Newport News Marine Terminal. The storm is expected to produce 8 to 10 inches of snow locally beginning late Friday night, Jan. 29 and will continue through early Sunday morning, Jan. 31. We expect that vessels scheduled to call on Saturday may be delayed. Snow removal will begin immediately after the storm with the intent of having the terminals open to receive and dispatch cargo by 8 a.m. Monday, Feb. 1. For terminal operational updates, please go to www.vit.org.

Jodie Love, VPA Community Relations Coordinator, Named to Board of Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Virginia

Norfolk -- VPA Community Relations Coordinator Jodie Love has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Virginia. The mission of the Club is to enable all young people, especially those most in need, to realize their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. The Club operates in 10 locations throughout Southeast Virginia. Next month, on Feb. 18, the Club will hold its board meeting at the VPA office in the downtown Norfolk World Trade Center. 

Jodie Love 

Port’s TEU Tally for 2009 Tops 1.7 Million

Norfolk -- The Port of Virginia in December 2009 handled 148,198 TEUs, down 2,737 TEUs when compared with the same month in 2008. The port ended 2009 having handled 1,745,277 TEUs, compared with 2,038,278 in 2008, a decline of 16.2 percent.

Also in December 2008 the port handled 19,320 tons of breakbulk cargo, down 9,196 tons when compared with the same month in 2008. The total breakbulk tonnage for 2009 was 228,905, down 113,979 tons when compared with the 2008 totals.

The port's December trade balance was 60 percent exports and 40 percent imports; the 2009 trade balance average was 57 percent exports and 43 percent imports.

"Last year was difficult for this port and the industry in general; in the history of this industry we've never an economic climate like what we have just experienced," said Jerry A. Bridges, executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. "I think it is safe to say that 2010 is going to be better, but it is going to take time and a lot of confidence, patience and hard work to regain those losses.

"I am, though, very confident we will recover and as I have said all along, this port has an exceptionally bright future. Deep water; no height restrictions; a strong intermodal network; a solid reputation in the marketplace; good labor relations; and an aggressive plan for growth I believe are the recipe for this port's success."

VPA Board Meeting Scheduled for Jan. 26

Norfolk – The Virginia Port Authority Board of Commissioners will meet in its regular session on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 11 a.m., in the board room of the VPA offices on the sixth floor of the World Trade Center building in downtown Norfolk (23510). The agenda and meeting materials can be viewed at the following Web address, though some materials are still being updated: http://www.portofvirginia.com/corporate/board-room.aspx.

Hampton Roads Business Brief: State of the Economy

Norfolk -- On January 13th, Bank of America-Merrill Lynch Economist & Assistant V.P., Gary Bigg, addressed the second annual Hampton Roads Business Brief, sponsored by the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. Bigg painted a picture of cautious optimism regarding economic recovery in Virginia and the United States over the next 12-24 months.

For calendar year 2010, real gross domestic product is forecast to grow by 3.2%. That growth in GDP should increase to 3.4% in 2011. Citing a weak dollar, Bigg expects solid growth in the heavy equipment and software manufacturing segments.

As for the Port of Virginia, Bigg forecast, "...an export and import revival over the next two years that should help port activity." Regarding inflation, Bigg expects relative stability.

Focusing specifically on the Virginia economy, Bigg said, "Government is a large component of this area's economy and that sector is probably going to remain fairly strong over the next several years." He was not as optimistic regarding the local housing market, stating, "There will be a slow recovery in the Region for the housing sector simply because of the massive amount of inventory that's here (on the market)."

Photo courtesy of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce

Region’s “Roadmap” for Success, Growth, Open for Public Comment

Norfolk -- The Hampton Roads Partnership has released its Vision Hampton Roads document (draft) and it is now available for public comment. The document is essentially a strategic plan – "roadmap" -- for the region as it lays out a series of objectives, strategies and actions that are focused on the following goal:

To have Hampton Roads recognized as a region for centers of excellence fueled by innovation, intellectual and human capital, infrastructure and a sense of place.

The 30-day public comment period, which closes Feb. 5, is required by the Economic Development Administration (EDA). The document can be viewed/downloaded the document, at http://VisionHamptonRoads.com. 

The Vision document is the product of more than eight months of work, involving more than 150 volunteers who served on one or more of the five committees/sub-committees established to develop or oversee the plan. Presentations will continue to be made during this period to organizations and local government leaders.

A Public Responsiveness Summary will follow the 30-day comment period, showing respondents how their feedback impacts the plan. In early February, before the next Strategy Committee meeting, (scheduled for Feb. 19) the edited document will be developed for final review, approval and submission to the EDA.

 

International Trade Workshop Will Focus on Agriculture

Norfolk -- The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), Virginia Farm Bureau Federation (VFBF), the Virginia Port Authority and Virginia Tech's Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics will hold a workshop on the international trade of agricultural products March 3-4 at the Sheraton Waterside in Norfolk.

The theme for the event is Agricultural Trade: From Farm, to Port, to the Global Marketplace.

"I don't think any other state is better situated for global trade than Virginia," said VDACS Commissioner Todd Haymore. "We not only grow and process a wide variety of products in Virginia, but we also have a tremendous year-round ice free port. Agricultural exports from Virginia have contributed to the positive side of the state's trade equation even in this down economy, exceeding two billion dollars annually. Exports create jobs and they help make farming profitable. Through this workshop, we hope to give even more of our farmers and producers the information and access needed to break into the international marketplace."

The workshop is designed to provide farmers, private sector businesses, industry officials and policymakers a forum to discuss export opportunities for U.S. and Virginia agriculture, federal and state programs to promote agricultural exports and specific opportunities and obstacles to agricultural and food exports.

Internationally recognized speakers include Richard T. Crowder, former U.S. chief agriculture trade negotiator; Dr. Joe Glauber, chief economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and Larry Pope, CEO of Smithfield Foods. Dr. Alan Grant, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech; VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor and representatives from the Virginia Port Authority also will speak.

Embassy representatives from Brazil, Canada and the European Union will participate in a panel discussion.

Registration is limited. For more information and to register call Spencer Neale at 804.290.1153 or visit VaFarmBureau.org/trade/welcome.htm.

   

Port Handles 154,577 TEUs in November

Norfolk -- The Port of Virginia in November 2009 handled 154,577 TEUs, down 17,770 TEUs when compared with the same month in 2008. From January to November 2009, the port handled 1,597,029 TEUs, compared with 1,932,343 TEUs handled the same period in 2008, a change of 17.4 percent.

Also in November the port handled 12,646 tons of breakbulk cargo. The breakbulk total from January to November 2009 is 209,858 tons.

The port's November trade balance was 59 percent exports and 41 percent imports; the January through November 2009 average is 56 percent exports and 44 percent imports.

VPA Holiday Food Drive Successful

Norfolk -- Employees of the Virginia Port Authority collected $860 and 487 lbs. of canned and dry goods during the VPA's annual holiday food drive held in December. The money and food items were given to the FoodBank of Southeastern Virginia to help feed the needy during the holiday season. The money was enough to provide 2,529 meals and the food items amounted to 381 meals.

AAPA Leader Emphasizes Importance of Ports

The following is a statement from Kurt Nagle, president and CEO of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), on the importance of seaports to the nation's economy.

"Today, as we confront a host of national challenges — chief among them, recovery from the current economic crisis — there is a clear and critical role for our seaports.

Deep-draft ports — coastal and fresh water — are dynamic, vibrant centers of trade and commerce that rely on partnerships, both public (e.g., national and local governments) and private (e.g., shipping lines, tenants, investors and stakeholders).

In the U.S., seaports invest more than $2.5 billion annually to maintain and enhance their infrastructure. However, this commitment isn't being adequately matched by the federal government. Many of the land and water connections are insufficient and outdated, affecting the ports' ability to move the nation's goods. In turn, this hurts business, hurts workers and hurts our national economy.

Despite the current downturn, the volume of international trade through our ports will rebound and grow dramatically in the years ahead."

In 2007, U.S. seaports were responsible for nearly $3.2 trillion in economic activity; generated more than $212 billion in tax revenue; moved more than 99 percent of the country's overseas cargo; handled more than 2 billion tons of cargo; and supported more than 13 million american jobs, accounting for $649 billion in personal income.