Port of Virginia Blog

Port's First Fuel Switch Underway with Arrival of Maersk Wyoming

Norfolk – As it had done so many times before, the Maersk Wyoming sat at idle on a clear Friday evening at APM Terminals, its auxiliary engine hummed quietly as cargo operations were underway, but one thing was very different about this call.

As the vessel idled, its engine was using ultra low-sulfur marine diesel, a fuel that releases far fewer emissions when burned. Moreover, the vessel’s use of low-sulfur fuel while it was moored at APM Terminals represented a new milestone for the Virginia Port Authority’s Green Operator – GO -- program.

“The GO program was designed to get cleaner trucks into the region’s fleet with assistance from the VPA,” said Heather Wood, the VPA’s director of environmental affairs. “We’ve expanded the program to include ocean carriers and Maersk was the first carrier to sign on to our GO fuel switch program. This is a perfect example of a port and ocean carrier having a common environmental goal, which is this case is clean air.”

Through the fuel-switching program, Maersk Line will take advantage of a $300,000 incentive from VPA to burn the low-sulfur fuel in its vessels when they are pier side at The Port of Virginia. Once moored, Maersk Line vessels will draw fuel for their auxiliary engines from an on-board tank filled with the cleaner burning fuel, which contains less that 0.1 percent sulfur.

Maersk Line vessels call The Port of Virginia on a weekly basis and last year the ocean carrier accounted for 300 vessels calls in Virginia.

“We estimate that the fuel switch will reduce emissions of sulfur oxides by 20 metric tons in the first six months,” said Lee Kindberg, director of environment and sustainability at Maersk Line.

Norfolk-based Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) will have 18 ships participating in the program. The fuel switch program will run for 13 months and involve 41 Maersk Line ships making more than 210 port calls.

GO Program

The GO program is the VPA’s ongoing effort to clean up drayage trucks serving The Port of Virginia and it now includes incentives for fuel switching and alternative auxiliary power options for ocean carriers. The GO program provides incentives to retrofit older vehicles with more emission-efficient engines and recognizes partners for setting and achieving goals for reducing air pollution and greenhouse gases associated with the transport of goods. GO partners include both carriers and shippers, each doing their part to clean up the air.

Operational Cost

Through the $300,000 incentive, the VPA will subsidize Maersk Line’s cost to purchase the ultra low-sulfur marine diesel for one year. The money for the incentive comes from three sources: the VPA, $75,000; the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, $75,000; and $150,000 from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant program. Over the course of the next five years the VPA will receive $4 million in CMAQ funding for the program.

MSC to Make Double-Call in Virginia; Will be Last-Out Call

Norfolk – The Port of Virginia will benefit from MSC's (Mediterranean Shipping Co.) plans to shuffle the U.S. East Coast port rotation of its Golden Gate Service from the Far East in February.

The service will make double call at The Port of Virginia, meaning it will stop in Virginia twice during its East Coast port rotation; its last stop will be in Virginia before heading back to Asia. That last stop is important because MSC can take advantage of the deepest shipping channels on the East Coast and sail full-laden ships without regard to depth or height restrictions.

"It gives us the opportunity to capture more export traffic and take advantage of MSC's big ships — load them heavy — and capitalize on our 50-foot channels," said Virginia Port Authority Executive Director Jerry A. Bridges."We expect to pick up more export cargo coming New York, Northern Virginia/Washington, DC and North Carolina."

In the Golden Gate service MSC employs vessels that are in excess of 9,200 TEUs. At other East Coast ports those vessels cannot operate fully-laden because of depth or height restrictions. Making Virginia the last East Coast call sets MSC up to begin capitalizing on the on-dock rail capabilities offered at The Port of Virginia and the economies those large ships offer.

"While other East Coast ports are battling one another over federal dollars to dredge to get ready for the opening of an expanded Panama Canal, Virginia is ready," Bridgess said. "It is decisions like the one we announced today that prove we're ready for the big ships that will come through both the Panama and Suez canals."

The revised port rotation of the Golden Gate Service will be: Hong Kong, Chiwan, Yantian, Shanghai, Ningbo, Singapore, Salalah, Suez Canal transit, New York, Norfolk, Baltimore, Savannah, Freeport (Bahamas), Charleston, Norfolk, Suez Canal transit, Jeddah, Colombo, Singapore, Chiwan and back to Hong Kong.

Above: The MSC Bruxelles, the largest ship ever to call Virginia, is among the vessels deployed in the Golden Gate Service.

VPA Expands Green Operator Program to Vessels; Announces Fuel-Switch Agreement

Norfolk – The Virginia Port Authority announced today (Jan. 26) an expansion of its Green Operator – GO -- program that will provide an incentive to ocean carriers to burn ultra low-sulfur marine gas oil or use alternative power technology while their vessels are moored at VPA-owned terminals.

As a result of that expansion, the VPA announced today Maersk Line will be the first ocean carrier calling The Port of Virginia to take advantage of the incentive. Beginning in February, all Maersk Line vessels calling the port will burn the low-sulfur fuel while its vessels are at idle during cargo operations.

Last year the VPA began looking for ways to expand GO, which is a program offering financial support to replace older, more polluting short-haul trucks that serve ports in the Mid-Atlantic. The logical step, said Heather Wood, the VPA's director of environmental affairs, was to expand the program to the ocean carriers with the focus being a reduction in air pollutants coming from vessels at idle.

"In three years there will be a federal mandate requiring all vessels plying North American waters to burn this low-sulfur fuel," Wood said. "This is the beginning of our effort – and a first in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast -- to help ocean carriers get ahead of that mandate but we're doing it with an eye on the positive effects for air quality Hampton Roads.

"Maersk has always had a very progressive environmental program and it has participated in some similar programs elsewhere, so it seemed like a logical fit."

The announcement of the fuel-switching agreement between VPA and Maersk Line was made at the Elizabeth River Project's (ERP) annual awards ceremony where the VPA was inducted into the ERP's Hall of fame. The ERP is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring the river to the highest practical level of environmental quality through government, business and community partnerships.

"The Port of Virginia fuel switch is the first such initiative in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, and its implementation will create immediate benefits to the region by reducing emissions and improving air quality," Gov. Bob McDonnell said. "The partnership with Maersk Line represents a model that applies environmentally-conscious business practices while keeping our region's economy moving forward."

Through the fuel-switching program, Maersk Line will take advantage of a $300,000 incentive from VPA to burn the ultra low-sulfur fuel in its vessels when they are pier side at The Port of Virginia. Once moored, Maersk Line vessels will draw fuel from an on-board tank filled with the cleaner burning fuel.

Maersk Line vessels call The Port of Virginia on a weekly basis and last year the ocean carrier accounted for 300 vessels calls in Virginia. The ultra low-sulfur marine diesel contains less that 0.1 percent sulfur.

"The fuel switch in the Port of Virginia is part of Maersk Line's commitment to reduce emissions and improve our environmental performance," said Lee Kindberg, director of environment and sustainability at Maersk Line. "We estimate that the fuel switch will reduce emissions of sulfur oxides by 20 metric tons in the first six months. When local residents see a Maersk container or ship, they will know that we are doing our part to improve air quality in Hampton Roads."

Norfolk-based Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) will have 18 ships participating in the program. The fuel switch program will run for 13 months and involve 41 Maersk Line ships making more than 210 port calls.

"We are pleased to participate in an effort that will improve air quality in our hometown," said Patrick Callahan, director of health, safety, security, environment and quality at Maersk Line Limited. "The collaboration with VPA and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality enabled the rapid start-up of a program that will provide real environmental and health benefits to our community."

Operational Cost

Through the $300,000 incentive, the VPA will subsidize Maersk Line's cost to purchase the ultra low-sulfur marine diesel for one year. The money for the incentive comes from three sources: the VPA, $75,000; the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, $75,000; and $150,000 from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant program. Over the course of the next five years the VPA will receive $4 million in CMAQ funding for the program.

Operational Fuel Switch Details

Switching involves changing which tank is supplying the fuel and controlling the rate of temperature changes during the transition. Vessel personnel follow the engine manufacturer's recommendations during the switch.

Incentive for the Use of Alternative Power technology

The VPA is also offering a one-time, $500,000 per vessel incentive to ocean carriers that want to employ technology that uses no fuel while a vessel is at idle during cargo operations. This technology, Wood said, essentially would have a vessel using a battery-powered energy management system to fuel its auxiliary engines.

VPA Tapped for River Star Hall of Fame Induction

Norfolk – The Virginia Port Authority's sustained commitment its environmental program has earned the agency its most significant environmental accolade: induction into the Inside Business Hall River Star of Fame.

Today's induction announcement coincides with the presentation of the VPA's 11^th River Star Award for Sustained Distinguished Performance for its continued, voluntary proactive effort to help restore the Elizabeth River and keep its surrounding environment clean. The River Star is given by the Elizabeth River Project (ERP) as that organization's highest honor given to businesses along the river for their efforts to keep the waterway healthy.

"There isn't an aspect of environmental stewardship that they haven't focused on," says Pam Boatwright, River Star businesses program manager. "Visit any of the port's three terminals on the Elizabeth River and you might see environmental innovation in action: From an under-wharf storm water retention system at Norfolk International Terminals, to low-emissions locomotives and trucks, to electric cranes and state-of-the-art storm water treatment at APM Terminals.

"To do its part to restore urban wildlife habitat, the port has gone beyond basic requirements for mitigation projects to achieve significant new wetlands, oyster reefs and one-of-a-kind parks, including Plum Point in Norfolk and Paradise Creek Nature Park, which is currently in the making. 

The port authority has been active in the River Star Businesses program since its first year, 1997, and has documented achievements more years since than any other River Star except last year's first Hall of Fame winner, BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair. Boatwright describes Heather Wood, the VPA's director of environmental affairs, as an "outstanding mentor" who has recruited multiple other River Star businesses.    

It is, though, induction into the Hall of Fame that has Wood most proud.

"Our effort is not to win awards, but rather to be a good steward of this waterway and that has always been our guiding principle," she said. "You have to understand what your impact(s) on the environment are and take proactive steps to mitigate them; in our view, that is the only way to do business today. It is nice to be recognized for our effort and it is our guarantee that the effort will continue."

"With this award, we recognize the business that has done the most to exemplify the spirit of the River Stars program," said Bill Blake, director of sales for Inside Business, the Hall of Fame's primary sponsor. "The Virginia Port Authority has demonstrated exemplary leadership over the length of its involvement in the program to 'do right by the river' through responsible environmental stewardship practices that typically save money, improve employee morale and reduce safety risks at the facility, while safeguarding the health of our harbor river here in Hampton Roads."

The River Stars program is one of the most successful local pollution prevention and habitat restoration programs in Virginia. The ERP is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring the river to the highest practical level of environmental quality through government, business and community partnerships. Each year the ERP, through its River Star awards, honors those companies, communities, individuals and businesses that have done their part to take care of the river, its shoreline and its tributaries.

Environmental Highlights from 2011:

• The VPA signed-on to a three year $25,000 sponsorship of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's oyster gardening program that is aimed at helping to restore oyster stocks in the bay.
• The VPA's Green Operator, or "GO," program was the recipient of the Environmental Enhancement Award from the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), a trade group representing leading port authorities throughout the Western Hemisphere. Additionally, the success of the GO program, led it to become the model for development of the Mid-Atlantic Dray Truck Replacement Program that offers financial support to replace older, more polluting short-haul trucks that serve ports in the Mid-Atlantic. (Only the Port of Los Angeles/long Beach has put more clean trucks on the road.)
• More than 80 volunteers from the VPA, its operating company, Virginia International Terminals, Inc., and the local maritime industry spent the morning of June 4 scouring nearly four miles of Elizabeth River shoreline for any speck of trash they could find.
• The VPA completed a comprehensive, independent review of its environmental management programs and processes at all three of the VPA-owned and -operated marine terminals. The audit resulted in receipt of ISO 14001 Environmental Management System re-certification, which will be good through the summer of 2014.
• VPA and VIT sponsored an electronic recycling event at the VPA's Portsmouth Operations Center in honor of Earth Day.
• The VPA took delivery of two new ultra low-emission GenSet locomotives that are used to build trains in the on-dock rail operation at Norfolk International Terminals.
• VPA joined the Coalition for Responsible Trucking as a Charter Port Member, marking the first time that CRT's membership has expanded to include public sector representatives.

NS’ Heartland Connector Improves Port’s Access to Cincinnati, Detriot

Norfolk –Norfolk Southern has cleared the way for more double-stack intermodal trains to use its Heartland Corridor with the opening this week of a newly improved double-stack rail line between Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Heartland Connector will reduce transit times by one to two days and increase service reliability for double-stack freight traveling to and from the Port of Virginia and Cincinnati and Detroit.

The improvements also will provide Norfolk Southern with the potential to connect Ohio Valley markets to other major East Coast container ports.

The Heartland Connector project is a public-private partnership among Norfolk Southern, Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Rail Development Commission, and Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Council of Governments to upgrade the NS rail line to accommodate double-stack trains. Previously, containers only could be single-stacked on trains moving over the connector.

The project included raising clearances at five locations along the 124-mile route between Cincinnati and Columbus and adding tracks at Norfolk Southern's Rickenbacker Intermodal Terminal near Columbus. Prior to the upgrades, double-stack intermodal trains leaving the Port of Virginia for Cincinnati and Detroit followed longer routes through Tennessee or Pennsylvania. Now, double-stack trains bound for Detroit use a route that is 212 miles shorter, and trains traveling to Cincinnati travel 69 fewer miles and save up to two days transit time.

"Routing trains over the Heartland Connector improves transit times and allows Norfolk Southern to provide more reliable service and handle additional intermodal freight," said Jeff Heller, NS group vice president international intermodal marketing. "The Heartland Connector is significant for the Port of Virginia because it increases the efficiency of the Heartland Corridor to move goods to and from Ohio and other Midwest consumer markets and adds to the competitiveness of the Hampton Roads region."

Norfolk Southern's Heartland Corridor is the shortest, fastest double-stack route from the Port of Virginia to the Midwest. A single NS intermodal train takes up to 300 trucks off America's highways, reducing traffic congestion and repair costs. In addition, rail transportation is nearly four times more fuel efficient than trucking, resulting in fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Above: The first double-stack train to run between Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, crosses under a bridge near Middletown, Ohio, where the track was lowered to allow containers to be stacked two-high.

Port Ends ’11 with Growth in All Core Business Areas

Norfolk – The Virginia Port Authority wrapped up calendar year 2011 with a 1.2 percent increase in cargo volume, surpassing the mark set in 2010 by 23,011 TEUs; the VPA completed the year having handled 1,918,029 TEUs.

"We posted growth in all core areas including container volume, in our rail, breakbulk and auto operations and at VIP (Virginia Inland Port)," said Jerry A. Bridges, the VPA executive director. "What should be taken into account is that we grew in spite of a weak economy and some larger trade issues that we had absolutely no control over that an adverse impact on our volumes.

“Posting positive numbers under those conditions tells me that 2012 is going to be different: The economy continues to inch forward, there is considerable interest in the Richmond barge service, CSX has started its on-dock rail operation, both NS and CSX have expanded their rail reach from our port and we have multiple port users that are coming on-line in the later part of this year. An important development is the fact that we have had very productive discussions with some ocean carriers that are considering a change in their East Coast port rotations in order to take advantage of our deep water.”

The year-end trade balance average for 2011 was 59 percent exports and 41 percent imports. The breakdown totals for the core areas of business is as follows:

• Export TEUs: 2011 = 1,032,136 / 2010 = 1,005,370
• Import TEUs: 2011 = 885,893 / 2010 = 889,648
• Rail Containers: 2011 = 330,330 / 2010 = 261,399
• VIP Containers: 2011 = 34,105 / 2010 = 30,414
• Breakbulk Tonnage: 2011 = 347,558 / 2010 = 253,854
• Ship Calls: 2011 = 1,828 / 2010 = 1,841
• Vehicle Units (cars): 2011 = 31,147 / 2010 = 22,948

Calendar year TEU totals by month, 2011 vs. 2010:

• December 2011 = 154,300
• December 2010 = 138,452
• November 2011 = 163,945
• November 2010 = 163,211
• October 2011 =172,776
• October 2010 = 175,518
• September 2011 = 164,050
• September 2010 = 153,006
• August 2011 = 151,980
• August 2010 = 175,122
• July 2011 = 167,076
• July 2010 = 153,944
• June 2011 = 151,448
• June 2010 = 160,701
• May 2011 = 158,538
• May 2010 = 161,535
• April 2011 = 167,157
• April 2010 = 147,119
• March 2011 = 159,753
• March 2010 = 167,262
• February 2011 = 153,646
• February 2010 = 155,049
• January 2011 = 159,265
• January 2010 = 144,097

“A Region United” Details Freight Movement, Economic Significance

Norfolk – The Freight Transportation Advisory Committee (FTAC) has created a short video explaining the importance of developing efficient transportation systems to move freight in and out of Hampton Roads in order benefit the economies of the region, state and the nation.

The FTAC is a subcommittee of the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization. The Committee's mission is to advocate on behalf of the movement of freight in the region. Its members include representatives from Newport News Shipbuilding, Norfolk Southern, Givens Logistics, K-Line America, The CrossGlobe Group and the Virginia Maritime Association.

The YouTube video, entitled "A Region United," can be seen by going to The Port of Virginia's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/portofvirginia?feature=guide. Or users can search YouTube under "A Region United."

CSX to Begin its On-Dock Service at APMT on Jan. 3, 2012

Norfolk -- CSX Transportation will begin the start of on-dock rail services at the Virginia Port Authority's APM Terminal in Portsmouth on Jan. 3, 2012.

With the conversion to on-dock rail service at APMT, customers will have the service that has been offered via drayage, but CSX will now use a rail connection with the Commonwealth Railway in Suffolk to access APMT. The new on-dock rail service builds upon the railroad's National Gateway initiative to improve connectivity and efficiency between US East Coast ports and the Midwest.

As transition to this improved service connection, note the following:

• Customers with rail traffic originating at or destined to APMT should continue to rail bill their shipments as 'Portsmouth APMT'.
• Existing CSX rates for Portsmouth APMT will still apply after the service is converted to rail.
• All traffic en route at the time of the service conversion will be monitored closely and transferred by dray to APMT if it arrives at the CSX Portsmouth local ramp.

CSX will continue to provide rail service at the CSX Portsmouth ramp as well as drayage service between Norfolk International Terminal (NIT) and Portsmouth ramp in coordination with Virginia International Terminals.

Federal Government Continues its Commitment to Craney Island Project

Washington, DC – The federal government's commitment to the eastward expansion of Craney Island continues as $26.8 million has been included for the project in a new federal spending package, which is awaiting the President's signature.

"This is the third consecutive year that the project has been supported by the federal government and I think that is a sign of the commitment to the project," said Jeff Keever, senior deputy executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. "We would not be in this position if it weren't for the work of our senators and the Congressional delegation."

U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb requested the appropriation in the spending legislation Congress approved for the 2012 fiscal year.

In a joint statement Webb and Warner said the expansion is expected to generate more than 1,100 immediate jobs now and 54,000 after construction. Officials anticipate the expansion to be complete in 2020.

Craney Island is the site of the fourth state-owned marine cargo terminal. But before any surface construction begins, the VPA must first expand the island by 600 acres to provide a site suitable for construction of a marine terminal. The terminal will be built in phases and the first phase is the 600-acre expansion.

In December 2010 work began on the first stage of developing the cross dikes. The work consists of dredging 1.2 million cubic yards of sand from the Atlantic Ocean Channel and building the initial sand lifts required to construct two cross dikes.

The total cost of the eastward expansion is $700 million and that will be done through a 50-50 cost-share agreement with the federal government. The projected cost for completion of multi-phase terminal project is $2.2 billion.

"We think that by this time next year we should begin seeing the outline of the project – the eastward expansion – breaking the waterline," Keever said. "This is when the project will become real for a lot of people because they'll actually be able to see it; right now all the work is being done below the surface."

Above: An rendering of the completed Craney Island Marine Terminal.

New Intermodal Ramp Will Give Port Greater Access to Tri-State Market

Washington, DC -- The U.S Department of Transportation yesterday announced the West Virginia Ports Authority will receive a $12 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery III (TIGER III) grant from the to help fund construction of a long-planned intermodal terminal along Norfolk Southern Railway's Heartland Corridor near Prichard, WVA.

In 2010, the port authority delayed development of the facility because of the soft economy and a lack of private developer interest in the terminal. Now, construction is slated to start next year. The facility will provide industries in the tri-state area of West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio more modern and efficient freight container service and enhanced access to international rail lines.

The terminal is part of NS' Heartland Corridor, a double-stack intermodal route between The Port of Virginia and Chicago that opened the corridor in September 2010. The development of this intermodal site will give The Port of Virginia greater access to customers in the tri-state area, officials from the Virginia Port Authority said.

Rubbermaid Expanding Operations, Building DC Near Inland Port

Richmond – Governor Bob McDonnell has announced that Rubbermaid Commercial Products will invest $67.25 million to expand operations in the City of Winchester and establish a distribution operation in Frederick County.

The company, best known for its commercial cleaning, materials management, washroom and foodservice products, will add a total of 71 new jobs. In Winchester, Rubbermaid is investing in high-technology, energy-efficient injection molding machines to upgrade the facility's production capability. In Frederick County, the company will retrofit an existing 454,000-square-foot facility into a state-of-the-art logistics center.

"Rubbermaid Commercial Products has been in operation in Winchester since 1968, and I am pleased that the company will now establish a distribution center in nearby Frederick County," McDonnell said. "This significant investment is a logistics strategy that will streamline the manufacture and distribution of the products."

"Proximity to the Virginia Inland Port and the Port of Virginia gives the company direct access to its international and domestic customers, and is an advantage that sets the Commonwealth apart from its competition," said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. "In addition, the availability of an existing facility in Frederick County, located near the company's operation in Winchester, was attractive to Rubbermaid to retrofit for its new logistics center."

Rubbermaid Commercial Products, headquartered in Winchester, is a manufacturer of products in the food services, sanitary maintenance, waste handling, material transport, away-from-home and washroom and safety products for commercial and institutional markets worldwide.

McDonnell to Host Transportation Conference Dec. 7-9

Norfolk – Governor Bob McDonnell will host the 2011 Governor's Transportation Conference, themed Virginia - The Gateway to the World. The conference will be held Dec.7-9 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel, 235 E. Main Street in downtown Norfolk.

The governor will be joined by Transportation Secretary Sean T. Connaughton, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez and numerous transportation, government and legislative leaders to discuss Virginia's transportation projects and programs, as well as upcoming transportation and legislative initiatives.

“This is an exciting time for transportation in Virginia. With our nearly $4 billion transportation plan advanced by the General Assembly earlier this year, the public and private sector are working together to make critical investments in Virginia's roads, rail, transit, port, aviation and spaceport,” McDonnell said. “These investments will chart Virginia's future, benefiting commuters and creating jobs, economic development and enhancing the Commonwealth's competitive edge in the global economy. We welcome participants and guests alike to this event in one of Virginia's premier transportation centers.”

The conference will feature sessions on:

• Projects of statewide and regional significance
• Launching the future from Virginia's commercial spaceport
• The importance of multimodal transportation to Virginia's global competitiveness
• Creating connections through transportation choices
• DMV as a gateway to service
• Advancing the transportation program through VDOT's new business plan
• Virginia's global aviation access
• Alternative fuel infrastructure in Virginia
• 2012 transportation funding and legislative initiatives

The Commonwealth Transportation Board and other committee meetings will be conducted during the week. A boat tour of APM Terminals in Portsmouth, the new Jordan Bridge and the Midtown/Downtown Tunnels project will be available to attendees. Static displays will also be featured at an outdoor and indoor “Transportation Village.” Passes to ride Norfolk’s light rail system will be available upon request to the conference’s guests.

The governor will speak to the conferees on Thursday, Dec. 8. The full agenda and registration can be found at: www.vatransconf.org.

On Dec. 6, the Inaugural Virginia Freight Transportation Summit will be held at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel.

New CSX Rail Service Links Port with NW Ohio

Norfolk – CSXT announced today (Oct. 7) that it is offering international container service that will link The Port of Virginia to the railroad's intermodal ramp in Northwest, Ohio; the service begins Oct. 10.

This development will connect customers using The Port of Virginia to the markets of Findlay and Toledo, Ohio as well as Ft. Wayne, IN. In those three markets combined, there are several manufacturers. The service is seen as another asset that helps the port expand its reach into the nation.

The Northwest Ohio ramp will have service to/from the following locations: Chicago, 59th Street, Portsmouth and at APM Terminals beginning in the first quarter of 2012.

New Rail Service Expands Port’s Reach into the Southeast

 

Norfolk – A new double-stack rail service that expands The Port of Virginia's reach into central North Carolina, an important and growing Southeastern market, will be inaugurated in mid-October, port and railroad officials confirmed recently.

"Many North Carolina-based cargo owners have expressed a very genuine interest in this service because of the economics of bringing their cargo through our port and into this market by rail," said Jerry A. Bridges, the VPA's executive director. "This service diversifies and enhances our reach into what we see as an area with a lot of potential."

The six-day-a-week service is owned and operated by Norfolk Southern. It will serve Greensboro with a focus on the textile, furniture, retail, chemical and agriculture industries; the city is considered a load center for imports and exports of those cargoes in central North Carolina. The service is already supported by two ocean carriers that have committed to its use and it is generating interest from other carriers as well.

Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point compose central North Carolina's Piedmont Triad and in that region there are an estimated 1.6 million people. Greensboro is the largest of the three cities; interstates 40 and 85 intersect just outside the city.

Bridges said he sees an opportunity for Virginia to test the "big-ship, big-reach theory." As the frequency of big vessels calling Virginia increases, the amount of cargo moving across the port will grow as well and much of that cargo, Bridges said, will be heading to new markets.

"The rail extends from Greensboro to Charlotte on down to Atlanta and over to Memphis so the infrastructure to reach into the South is there; this service is a good start and we're going to capitalize on it," he said.

Other advantages of this service include:

• Provides cargo owners an alternative to the truck market out of ports in South Carolina and Georgia;
• Seven-day-a-week container availability at the Greensboro rail ramp with 24-hour-a-day availability Monday through Friday as well as weekend limited hours of service;
• Faster truck turn times that will help maximize truckers' driving time under Hours-of-Service rules;
• The possibility of multiple truck turns per day at the ramp because of its proximity to cargo owners versus longer dray moves to, or fewer turns at a port;
• The container yard adjacent to the ramp offers the ability to terminate and dispatch equipment, thereby facilitating one-way moves, matchbacks and empty container storage;
• Neutral chassis pool (HRCP2) on-site;
• A 63 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when compared with trucks; and
• The lowest environmental impact when compared to moving cargo via other major Southeast ports.

Train schedules are available at: http://www.nscorp.com/nscintermodal/Intermodal/System_Info/Terminals/norfolk.html

Wood Earns Harrison Award, the VPA’s Highest Honor

 

Norfolk – Heather Wood (right), the director of environmental affairs for the Virginia Port Authority, is the recipient of the 2011 W. Wright Harrison Award, the agency's highest honor.

The service award is presented annually by the Virginia Port Authority Board of Commissioners to an outstanding employee of the agency. The award is named after the late W. Wright Harrison, who was a vice chairman of the VPA board; nominees are chosen by their peers.

As director of environmental affairs, Wood oversees all of the agency's environmental programs, including its long-term sustainability policy. Moreover, she is responsible for securing federal grant money that helps to pay for many of the VPA's environmental initiatives.

Wood began her career with the VPA in 2000. Her award was presented by Michael J. Quillen, chairman of the VPA Board of Commissioners, at the regularly scheduled board meeting held Sept. 27.

"Through Heather's efforts, The Port of Virginia has the most progressive and proactive environmental program on the US East Coast, and this something to truly be proud of," Quillen said.