The Port of Virginia has set a new record for March’s monthly TEU throughput, handling nearly 280,000 TEU.
March 2021’s record volume, 279,514 TEU, was up 27.4% compared to March 2020.
March’s volume was 354 TEU short of tying the port’s all-time monthly volume record, which was set in November 2020.
The surge in cargo was driven by heavy loaded import volume, which saw an increase by 31% compared to March 2020, and a number of empty containers for export, up by nearly 94%.
The port handled an average of some 4,760 gate moves per day.
Stephen A. Edwards, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority, said that the port is anticipating strong volumes in April and May as the port begins to receive ships and cargo that were delayed as a result of the blockage of the Suez Canal.
The port will be extending operating hours by an hour at Norfolk International Terminals (NIT), Virginia International Gateway (VIG), Pinners Point Container Yard (PPCY) and the Reefer Service Area (RSA) through 4 June 2021.
“We are consistently processing nearly 40,000 lifts a week at the terminals and we anticipate that number will near the 50,000-level during the last half of April and into May,” added Edwards.
In late March, the port added 10 new Kalmar Hybrid Shuttle Carriers to its shuttle carrier fleet at VIG to help drive operational efficiency and build upon the port’s sustainability effort. A further 10 shuttle carriers are set to arrive by the end of April.
