The Port of Virginia’s $320 million expansion at the Virginia International Gateway (VIG) container terminal has been completed.
The completion of this project represents a significant milestone as the port works to increase cargo and container capacity at its two major terminals, with an overall goal of increasing capacity by 40 percent.
“The completion of the VIG expansion enables the Port to move cargo more safely, efficiently, and sustainably than ever before, and cements Virginia’s status as home to a world-class port,” said Virginia Governor Ralph Northam. “That reputation will help drive economic investment and job creation across the Commonwealth.”
The 800-foot extension of the berth at VIG will allow the terminal to service as many as three ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs) simultaneously. VIG now boasts 26 new rail-mounted gantry cranes, as well, which support 13 new container stacks, creating more room to stack and sort containers. In January, four new 170-foot-tall ship-to-shore cranes arrived at the port. These cranes are the largest on the U.S. East Coast and will be able to service container vessels, regardless of their size, for decades to come.
“The Port of Virginia is a catalyst for commerce, generating $88 billion of economic impact annually throughout the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine. “The completion of this project will enable the Port to continue to connect Virginia’s economy and America’s businesses and consumers to markets around the globe.”
Throughout the expansion at VIG, the Port of Virginia maintained service levels, handling a record-setting 3 million TEUs of cargo in fiscal year 2019. As the container terminal expansion was completed ahead of time, the terminal is well positioned to handle peak season volumes.
